Hub-centric or lug-centric?

[c2cummin]

Hi. I was hoping someone could answer this for me. I found steel wheels online for a decent price. The only thing that worries me is that the center bore 66.6mm because they are universal and the seller tells me not to worry since vibes are 'lug-centric' and not 'hub-centric'. I was just wondering if there is any truth to this? He claims the wheels did come off a vibe. I just always thought that it was a wheel that was either hub-centric or lug-centric and not the car.

If someone could help that would be great!

[star_deceiver]

Lug-centric means that the lugs hold all the weight of the wheel. There will be a gap between the inner ring of the rim and raised ring of the disc/drum. You can buy spacers, they range form dirt cheap and functional to well over $100.

When I had my Vibe, the summer rims were 57.1mm while the hub was 54mm. I bought the cheapest spacers I could find, $9.95 for four! Fit perfectly.

The stock steelies that came with the Vibe were hub-centric. The stock alloy rims that came with other model Vibes are also hub-centric. That guy fed you a line...

[revstohigh]

all the lug centric toyota wheels are the kind with the washers and nut that has a shank that goes into the lug wholes , if you use them on steelies they will come lose after a few pot holes . deff get centric rings and the apropriate nuts for the wheels there are two basic types of nuts the rounded seat and the angled seat type . hope that helps

[c2cummin]

Thanks!

Can I get rings for steel wheels? I've looked around online and alot sites say rings aren't really meant for steel wheels....

I never ended up buying the wheels mentioned above. The guy finally said they are the universal ones from Costco. I just don't like the idea of all the weight on the studs.

As far as the lug nuts go......if my stock wheels are steel will my lug nuts not work with a second set of steelies?

[09SnowyVibe]

I bought 4 steel wheels from the dealer, and bought 4 hubcaps meant for the base. What I didn't realize was the nuts cost, close to 8 bucks a piece!!

Mounted 4 Hankook W409 Winter I'Pikes, size 205/55r16. Makes the car look sharp. Set me back almost 1400 bucks!!

[star_deceiver]

$1400 for winter tires and rims... that's a lot... and the same amount that studded winter tires and rims for my truck cost... installed...

How does it feel to hoon the AWD in the snow?

[AustinG]

Are winter tires really that much more!? I paid $750 + shipping all together for my 17 inch wheels and summer tires.

^I'd say I do! Every time it snows I go out in my car just to have fun. During the last storm, me and my friend were doing snow drifts in the walmart parking lot (he has a blazer zr2), before some plow guy kicked us out.

[vibenvy]

Are winter tires really that much more!? I paid $750 + shipping all together for my 17 inch wheels and summer tires.

It cost that much because he bought everything brand new from the dealer.

I got a set of Toyota Camry 16" steel wheels and brand new 205/55/16 Kelly Explorer all season tires for each of our 2 2009 Vibe GTs for the winter months. I got 4 of the wheels on eBay, 3 from a local guy on Craig's List and 1 from a local junkyard. All of the wheels were "take offs" and all had less than 1000 miles on them. The tires were brand new through a local tire shop. I got lucky and was able to score 2 sets of OEM steel wheel/wheel cover-specific lug nuts from 2 different members on here a couple years ago. The one set was brand new and I think I only paid like $20.00. The other set was used and I traded a local member for some different lug nuts that I had. In late 2011, I bought brand new OEM wheel covers for our winter wheels and tires. Probably all total, I still have not spent $1400.00 on our winter wheel and tire setup even with the brand new OEM wheel covers (only about $32.00 a piece).

Moral of the story... dealership prices are insane !

[star_deceiver]

It cost that much because he bought everything brand new from the dealer.

And we're from Canada.... tires cost a lot more up here unfortunately.

Moral of the story... dealership prices are insane !

Indeed... but not as bad as it could be. The cheapest 265-70-17 winter tires I could find, short notice, that could be studded, were $195 each at Cambodian tire. Add in the $20ish for studding (per tire), mount/balance/install, rims, sensors, programming (it's not just an idiot light in the Silverado so not easily ignored), taxes... the dealer price was pretty good... not to mention that I knew how these tires would handle the adverse weather and that they were ready when I signed the dotted line!

[09SnowyVibe]

The Hankooks are expensive, even at cost. Everything else was at or close to near cost actually. Its also in Canada, we pay more for stuff here. I also had to buy new sensors for the wheels so I could keep the ones in my summer wheels, and not have to switch them. The wheels nuts are 7.50 a piece, not what I was anticipating. I also got the hubcaps at the dealer. Also, the sales tax was something like 160.

I could have gone with cheaper tires, but price isn't an issue when it comes to wife's saftey, and these Hankooks work good on icy roads, which we travel everyday.

[c2cummin]

Has anyone ever found a set of hubcentric rings that go from 57.1mm to 54.1mm? I bought some after market rims online and the centre bore is 57.1 but I change them around myself and want to make sure I'm putting them on perfectly. I've searched around online and haven't had much luck finding them in that size.....

[star_deceiver]

Yes. I bought a set of 4 from Canadian Tire. They're plastic but fit perfectly and cost $9.95.

[c2cummin]

Awesome! I'll have to call them today. I saw them on their website but just haven't called them yet. Partsource couldn't find them for me which is surprising since they're owned by Canadian Tire.