BT: Hubcentric rings - work fine or lazy engineering?
04-09-2007, 09:24 AM
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BT: Hubcentric rings - work fine or lazy engineering?
Over the weekend I installed my new track wheels, 17" Flik Hornets w/Falken Azenis (yes, they clear the StopTechs; pics later).
The kit came with plastic hubcentric rings, which I installed. I then had the wheels balanced and inspected on the car this morning at my mechanic's shop.
When compared to my "street" setup (18" BBS RXIIs w/Toyo T1-Rs), there is slightly more vibration at freeway speeds.
Are the hubcentric rings common for wheels on the S4? Are they usually metal or plastic? Any experience with increased vibration?
The kit came with plastic hubcentric rings, which I installed. I then had the wheels balanced and inspected on the car this morning at my mechanic's shop.
When compared to my "street" setup (18" BBS RXIIs w/Toyo T1-Rs), there is slightly more vibration at freeway speeds.
Are the hubcentric rings common for wheels on the S4? Are they usually metal or plastic? Any experience with increased vibration?
04-09-2007, 09:49 AM
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Most aftermarket wheels have a large hub bore and use centering rings to be able to fit a broader
range of vehicles. So its a cost-savings measure on the part of the wheel manufacturers. That said, a properly sized hub ring (plastic or metal) should not yield any vibrations. Are you sure there isn't an issue with the wheel balance or a slightly bent rim?
Of course, given the choice, I'd have the following preference order:
1) wheels with the proper bore (so no centering rings are needed)
2) metal rings
3) plastic/nylon rings
I was very pleased to find that both my (BBS made) Abt Z6 wheels and the ASA ST2 wheels I bought for my wife's allroad have the Audi center bore so no hubcentric rings are needed.
-Dave Pramanik
Of course, given the choice, I'd have the following preference order:
1) wheels with the proper bore (so no centering rings are needed)
2) metal rings
3) plastic/nylon rings
I was very pleased to find that both my (BBS made) Abt Z6 wheels and the ASA ST2 wheels I bought for my wife's allroad have the Audi center bore so no hubcentric rings are needed.
-Dave Pramanik
04-09-2007, 10:06 AM
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2 of 2 sets that i've gotten w/ wheels have been plastic (Ronal & Flik). no vibration issues.
04-09-2007, 10:12 AM
#6
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maybe need to road force balance.
04-09-2007, 10:43 AM
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Have the wheel bolts been torqued to spec while off the ground (and in star fashion)?
with a properly machined bore, it shouldn't be so critical, but with the rings installed...it might be a good idea to torque to spec with the wheels off the ground, just to eliminate an "off-center" condition causing the issue.
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04-09-2007, 12:43 PM
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It's not just a question of being on tight...
If you have load on the wheel while you're torquing the bolts, it's possible the wheel it not sitting 100% on-center (remember, those adapters are plastic), and that could be causing the vibrations. If you keep the wheel in the air and torque down the nuts, there is a higher probability that the wheel stays centered while you're torquing it down.
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