Hub centric rings… Yay or nay?

[Shandyman]

Greetings people! Recently had my tires balanced and rotated on my 21’ Ranger Tremor. The shop mentioned that I dont have hub centric rings. Is it a must? One or two other shops said I didn’t need them. They are aftermarket tires and rims. Bfgoodrichs and pro comp wheels! TIA!

Sponsored

 

[Colo_Ranger]

If the installer is doing their job correctly, hub centric rings are not needed. If they are ugga-duggaing the lug nuts and not feathering them in to center the wheel, you can get vibrations.

I've had many wheels and never used hub centric rings. I also know how to install the wheel so the lugs center the wheel. They're cheap, usually, so... six in one hand, half dozen in the other.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

I’ll gladly echo Colo_Ranger’s comments above. They’re cheap insurance against vibrations when most of the people rotating your tires or checking brake wear won’t be taking the time to do it just right.

 

[My12SecRanger]

defiantly do the hub rings on aftermarket wheels

 

[Msfitoy]

If the installer is doing their job correctly, hub centric rings are not needed. If they are ugga-duggaing the lug nuts and not feathering them in to center the wheel, you can get vibrations.

I've had many wheels and never used hub centric rings. I also know how to install the wheel so the lugs center the wheel. They're cheap, usually, so... six in one hand, half dozen in the other.

I second that...

 

[Dereku]

Ford trucks come with hub centric wheels. Meaning the hub ring take the weight of the vehicle. The lugs in stock form only hold the tire on. Your call how you want to proceed. Im not your dad. But your lugs are now taking the weight of the vehicle.

 

[Msfitoy]

Ford trucks come with hub centric wheels. Meaning the hub ring take the weight of the vehicle. The lugs in stock form only hold the tire on. Your call how you want to proceed. Im not your dad. But your lugs are now taking the weight of the vehicle.

After tightening, the wheels/tires weight are held to hub by the clamping/friction force...not mechanically by lugs or hub centric rings...

 

[TxOTRRanger]

If the installer is doing their job correctly, hub centric rings are not needed. If they are ugga-duggaing the lug nuts and not feathering them in to center the wheel, you can get vibrations.

I've had many wheels and never used hub centric rings. I also know how to install the wheel so the lugs center the wheel. They're cheap, usually, so... six in one hand, half dozen in the other.

I second that...

I agree.

 

[Mighty Little Blue]

Use the rings, otherwise to do it correctly the lug nuts need to be tightened and torqued alternately with the tire off the ground.

 

[Shandyman]

Thanks for everyone’s input. I know it’s personal preference. Anyhow I measure the diameter with the wheel off. It was 5” or 127mm in diameter. My question is what size of hub centric ring to get? Is it the exact fit? TIA!

 

[Mighty Little Blue]

The Ranger hub is 93.1mm most aftermarket rims I looked at where sized for a Toyota 106.1. For those you need the ring to reduce from 106.1 to 93.1 either aluminum or plastic. I like the aluminum option over plastic.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

After tightening, the wheels/tires weight are held to hub by the clamping/friction force...not mechanically by lugs or hub centric rings...

Yeah, it’s kinda like those four #8 screws holding a fifty pound upper kitchen cabinet to the wall when it’s loaded with another fifty to seventy-five pounds of dishes. Those screws are taking minimal vertical shear force compared to the friction holding that sucker to the wall.

 

[Dereku]

After tightening, the wheels/tires weight are held to hub by the clamping/friction force...not mechanically by lugs or hub centric rings...

Im not going to argue that one bit. Maybe its a bigger deal on 1 ton trucks. Thats where most of my truck knowledge is from. Still gives me the warm fuzzies. I would do an aluminum ring regardless of the physics behind it.

 

[Mighty Little Blue]

All I know is I have a fairly heavy tire and rim combo almost 90lbs total, and using centering rings have never had any problems with vibration from the wheels. Just normal balancing and rotation.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

defiantly do the hub rings on aftermarket wheels

I do everything defiantly.

Use the rings, otherwise to do it correctly the lug nuts need to be tightened and torqued alternately with the tire off the ground.

You should always torque the wheels off the ground. If you don't have someone to hold the brake while you torque, lower it just enough for the ground to keep the tire/wheel from spinning. This is the correct procedure.

Sponsored