You may have heard about hub-centric or lug-centric wheels. To understand what hub-centric rings are, you’ll need to learn a few keywords.
Here’s some quick vocabulary:
- Vehicle Hub: Sometimes called a hub pilot, it refers to the center of your vehicle’s axle on which the wheel rotates.
- Center Bore: The hole in the center of the wheel that attaches directly to the vehicle's wheel hub.
- Hub-Centric Wheels: Wheels that have a center bore that matches the size of the vehicle’s hub.
- Lug-Centric Wheels: Wheels that have a larger center bore than the vehicle’s hub.
WHAT DO HUB-CENTRIC RINGS DO?
Most aftermarket wheels are lug-centric, which means the center bore of the wheel is larger than the hub pilot of the vehicle. Hub-centric rings fill the gap between the wheel’s center bore and the vehicle hub for lug-centric vehicles. This aligns and centers the tire and wheel assembly on the vehicle, helping to minimize vibration.
Note: Hub-centric rings don’t carry any load and are not required for a secure installation.
DO I NEED HUB-CENTRIC RINGS?
If you have OE wheels (the wheels that came with your vehicle), you don’t need hub-centric rings. OE wheels are designed to fit your vehicle exactly, so hub rings are unnecessary.
On the other hand, if you’re installing aftermarket wheels, you can use wheel centering rings to ensure a perfect bond and minimize the chance of higher speed vibrations. This is not required, however.
If you’re not sure whether or not you need hub rings, feel free to give us a call or schedule an appointment. We can determine if your wheels will accept a hub-centric ring and if you even need one at all.
WHAT SIZE HUB-CENTRIC RINGS DO I NEED?
Hub-centric rings are made in various sizes to accommodate most wheel/ vehicle combinations. If you decide to use hub-centric rings, you’ll need to make sure they’re the right size to ensure they perform properly.
Hub-centric rings are sized from the outer diameter to the inner diameter and are measured in millimeters. The outer diameter is the hub bore, while the inner diameter is the diameter of the vehicle hub itself.
For example: a hub-centric ring size of 73-67.1 would mean that the wheel center bore is 73 mm wide and the vehicle hub is 67.1 mm wide.
Need help making sure you get the right size? Feel free to give us a call or stop by any of our store locations and we'll get you taken care of! Get a shorter wait time in-store when you buy and book online!