6mtV6

With aftermarket wheels, is it neccessary to use hub rings? I was told the hub rings are neccessary to keep the wheels from vibrating.
Do you have to buy new lug nuts and wheel locks? Can you just reuse your OEM ones?

SMF-TLS

6mtV6 - I'm currently in the market for aftermarket wheels. The lug nut and locks question depends on the type of aftermarket wheels. The the acura oem parts may have a different "seat" than the new wheels and therefore your lug nuts may not mate to the new wheels properly. You can easily purchase new lug nuts and/or locks from various auto part stores. Also - many places provide the new lugs free when you buy 4 wheels.

The hub rings - I think they are needed when the hub measurement on the wheel is different than that on the car. May also be needed for spacing, but I'm not totally sure. I would love to know more about them as I have a 6MT as well and am wondering if they may be needed to clear the brembos.

260 HP

iTrader: (3)

For PERFECT fit, center hub ring is necessary because almost all aftermarket wheels have big bore diameter to fit wide variety of cars. However, if the wheels are torqued while still hanging in the air, most of the time they won't vibrate even without hub rings.

Center hub ring won't alter anything. If you're talking about the wheels to clear the Brembos, you might be thinking about spacers.

PoochaKannInc

This might be a bunch of stupid questions but here goes:

-What does hub-centric mean?
-What is the difference between spacers and hub rings?

Thanks.

260 HP

iTrader: (3)

Ah, there's no questions too stupid for me. Ask and ye shall receive:

Hubcentric:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/centerb.jsp

Spacer:
http://www.hrsprings.com/site/products/trak.html

The answer's out there.....

6mtV6

Does anyone know if discount tire direct provides lug nuts, wheel locks and hub rings with purchase of a set of wheels and tires?

PoochaKannInc

Thank ya sir. I was one of those that assumed the hubcentric rings and the spacers meant the same thing. Thanks for the clarification.

260 HP

iTrader: (3)

I haven't purchased anything from Discount Tire Direct, but I believe the give you an option to buy the matching lugnuts, locks, and center hub ring when you're buying wheels/packages from them. They call it install kit. Add any wheels into the shopping cart and you'll see the install kit in the shopping cart too.

And PoochaKannInc: You're welcome.

6mtV6

Which hub rings are better? Rubber or Aluminum?

Sniper 55

Rubber

260 HP

iTrader: (3)

No, aluminum is better. I've seen rubber and plastic centerhub rings melt to your wheel or hub, especially on tracked cars. The cause here is heat generated by your brakes.

Rubber also by its very nature, is flexible. You don't want to put anything flexible there. You want it to be as rigid as possible.