autocrossing oct.19th and thinkin to get some of these for my wheels....i was told by some to get em for sure and then i realized that my lugs are coned at the bottom...wouldnt that align my wheel just fine? need advice thanx

 

The rings are used to make sure the wheel is centered on the hub. Most aftermarket wheels have a center bore larger than what many cars require. Personal experience says get them to match the wheel bore and the actual hub diameter. That way you will have no problems when mounting. And they are inexpensive in plastic.

 

you do not need hubcentric rings.

just torque your lugs properly - two step, once off the ground (40 or so ft-lbs) and then the final torque on the ground.

 

thanx guys....

 

Mine (plastic rings that came with my Enkeis) melted years ago. Been driving without ever since with no problems.

 

my rings melted as well (k1's), i just called tirerack and said they are defective if they melt and to send me a new set. i always carry a couple extra with me just in case.

 

Get the metal ones they work great.

 

I am not sure what folks are using for rings-but the ones I have are holding up very well. I do know there are several different ones out there.
As for relying on the stud/and cone interface to center the wheel-that is not the best solution.

 

[QUOTE=.RJ]you do not need hubcentric rings.

RJ, I don't think that's sound advice. For a handfull of autocrosses OK; but over the long haul, experts encourage the use of hub centric wheels/rings to properly transfer loads to the hub flange so that the lugs and hub share the work. High brake temps will melt plastic rings. Go with alum rings!

 

Totally with RJ on this one - hubcentric rings are to help Sears shop monkeys get your wheel on there before they wail the first nut on with the rattle-gun. The clampling force attained with properly torqued lug nuts - combined with the individual at-the-stud centering provided by spherical or conical nut seats - is WAY the hell out of sight.

I defy anyone to show me a case where lack of a hubcentric ring has led to premature part failure or accident, with correctly torqued nuts.

K

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Track rat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">RJ, I don't think that's sound advice. For a handfull of autocrosses OK; but over the long haul, experts encourage the use of hub centric wheels/rings to properly transfer loads to the hub flange so that the lugs and hub share the work. High brake temps will melt plastic rings. Go with alum rings!</TD></TR></TABLE>

After 2 years of events on track and several autocross, i've never had a problem otherwise. None of the sets of wheels i've used have been hubcentric either.

 

Hmmm, gotta do some research! I read/heard a pretty convincing pro-hubcentric durability argument somewhere!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Track rat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hmmm, gotta do some research! I read/heard a pretty convincing pro-hubcentric durability argument somewhere! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Well i have nothing against them - if i bought a set of wheels that came with a set of aluminum ones, hell i'd probably use them. Makes monkeying the wheel on to the car easier. But i dont think they're neccessary. I also always antisieze my nuts and torque lugs before almost every session.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... I also always antisieze my nuts ...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks for that picture...

K

 

Seized nuts are never a good thing.

The rings are nice if you have them, or can get them cheap. They help you hold the wheel in the right place while you get the lug nuts seated. After torqueing, the rings do nothing.

 

not having owned a set of non-hubCentric wheels before, but heard passing comment from other racers in the paddocks, they seem to suggest that when you torque the lugnuts, make sure you do it twice, oncei n the air, and again on the ground. seems to make sense to me, not sure if its practically necessary.... i suppose the results of not the wheel not centered correctly would result in an imbalance easily detected at speed tho.

 

Another problem with hub-rings is you have to use them when the wheels are spun-balanced. The one and only time I used them the car vibrated so bad I thought something was broke. Removed the rings and I was back to normal.

Never used them before then, and I'll never use them again. I don't see the need.

$.02