Winter Wheels - Centering Ring

BrendonR · **Posted:** Mon Oct 17, 2011 10:17 am

So some folks may remember - I did a winter wheel and tire package last year from Tire-rack. Shipped with the package were a set of centering rings, quite thin and light weight.

Now when winter was over, I removed the winter wheels - and when i tried to put my OEM tires/wheels back on, I remembered the centering ring, and had to remove them. I found that the rings were too tight to remove intact, and I used a small screwdriver to pry them/bend them till they broke, and came off.

My question is, what were they really doing, and do I really need them? Am I going to have to buy a new set before installing my winter wheels again?

Thanks.

BrendonR · **Posted:** Mon Oct 17, 2011 10:19 am

And because people here are picture happy:

BrendonR · **Posted:** Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:58 am

Well I contacted Tire Rack (Alot of help YOU GUYS are... :roll:

sheesh)..

I was told that the centering ring's purpose is to center the wheel on the hub before the lug nuts go on. Whether or not this would really effect anything after the lugs are on, i dunno. Supposedly failing to put the centering ring back on can cause wheel vibration (not centered/out of balance) at higher speeds.

Either way, tirerack.com stepped up to the plate and offered to send me a new set for free (usually $8), and suggested I use some anti seize compound this year.

black and blue · **Posted:** Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:26 pm

was it like a hub-centric adapter so your winter wheels fit the Liberty Hub? B/c the stock hub already has the feature that centers the wheel before the lug nuts go on...

hrogi · **Posted:** Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:46 pm

Yes you will want them..

It will help keep everything centered..

I have seen vidoes from Bridgestone/Firestone where things go wrong..
Mostly uneven wear on the tires and bearing.

The Lug nuts do not always center things as good as you think they would....

But with anything, use good judgement and if your wheel feel wonky, then adjust your Nutz

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:50 pm

Centering rings are not needed unless you have wheel bolts(VW,BMW,Audi).I've ran lug centric rims for 20 years and never had one issue.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:19 pm

They have something that helps put on VW wheels?????
I just though they were a pain you had to deal with.
(mainly because someone who doesn't know how to work on their car - decided that VW's were fun.... yeah right)

I'm not sure I've ever seen a centering ring
(and the photos show wheel/tire package - what part of that is a centering ring?????)

cgass · **Posted:** Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:23 pm

Looks like a thin metal ring

Winter Wheels - Centering Ring

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