View Full Version : Steelies dont fit PERFECTLY?
JaYson
11-03-2008, 06:11 PM
Hey guys. just wondering if anyone can help me.
So I bought a set of winter tires and steelies (aftermarket)
i have a 06 mazda3 GT sport.
the steelies dont fit Perfectly over the hub; prior to tightening all the nuts, there is quite a bit of "wobble" (as opposed to when i use my stock aloy rims where they sit perfectly over the center hub and there is no "wobble" before i tighten the nuts.
so i had brought the steelies back to the shop and the guy at the desk said
"I have sold/installed these steelies on hundreds of mazda3s before, its fine, there will be a little "wobble" prior, but once you tighten down the nuts it'll self center itself, so you dont need spacers or anythings, (these) are the rims you need for your car"
just wondering if anyone else has experienced this "problem" before. or if anyone else is running on after market steelies that done quite fit snuggly over the center???
anyinput would be much appreciated. thanks
JaYson
11-03-2008, 06:13 PM
i forgot to mention.....i would say that the gab between that center "hub" where the rim usually sits would be about a 1/16th of an inch all the way around the diameter of that hub.
condor888000
11-03-2008, 06:19 PM
If it worries you get a caliper, measure the hub space on the steelie and buy a set of rings that adapt from that to 67.1mm.
Axelarate
11-03-2008, 06:28 PM
The rims you got are not hubcentric. That's why they don't fit snug like your oem ones. Why didn't you buy from Allen?
JaYson
11-03-2008, 06:37 PM
it was a deal from the place i was getting them. my sisters boyfriend was helping me out because he was getting rims aswell.
its totally okay that my rims arnt hubcentric right?
JaYson
11-03-2008, 06:40 PM
correction! he was getting winter tires as well
Marsh
11-03-2008, 06:53 PM
Non hub centric wheels are fine as long as they are tightened correctly. If they aren't the only symptom will be vibration at high speeds (feels just like a bent wheel). If that happens, jack the car up, loosen the nuts, and re-tighten them in sequence and a little bit at a tim. This should straighten out the wheel.
I've been running non-hubcentric wheels for my street tires on my miata of years. LOTS of people do it without problems.
JaYson
11-03-2008, 06:54 PM
AIGHT. sounds good to me. thanks man!
how much did you pay for these rims....cause allen was selling oem fit rims for $190 if you bought tires also and $200 if you were only buying rims...and these were oem fit rims
JaYson
11-03-2008, 09:23 PM
damn....same price...190 for 4 rims...CRAP! lol
damn....same price...190 for 4 rims...CRAP! lol
I personaly don't like any vibartion.....so i wouldn't be able to drive with them on..lol
JaYson
11-03-2008, 10:27 PM
welllll im gona keep my fingers crossed
Wild Weasel
11-04-2008, 10:10 AM
Damn. If you were gonna get some generic universal wheels, they should have at least been cheaper!
kevcol74
11-04-2008, 10:28 AM
Mine arn't hub centric and I get no vibrations... and the girl I bought the rims off of curbed them (only minor), small ding in the lip and a small chunk of sidewall missing too! Just tighten them up OFF the ground in a star pattern and they with line up fine. Most aftermarket rims are not hub centric.
Mine arn't hub centric and I get no vibrations... and the girl I bought the rims off of curbed them (only minor), small ding in the lip and a small chunk of sidewall missing too! Just tighten them up OFF the ground in a star pattern and they with line up fine. Most aftermarket rims are not hub centric.
Yes most after market rims are not hub centric but you can buy the rings that make it hud centric:)
Wild Weasel
11-04-2008, 11:55 AM
Yes most after market rims are not hub centric but you can buy the rings that make it hud centric:)
I don't know about steelies, but most aftermarket alloy wheels are meant to be hubcentric. They're machined around the hub specifically to be used with adapter rings.
I don't know whether steelies have this option, as you need the bevelled edge on the back to fit them properly.
I don't know about steelies, but most aftermarket alloy wheels are meant to be hubcentric. They're machined around the hub specifically to be used with adapter rings.
I don't know whether steelies have this option, as you need the bevelled edge on the back to fit them properly.
I don't think steelies have that option
Olestra
11-07-2008, 03:08 PM
All good information. But I'm going to just fill in some missing peices.
I was wondering about this two a few weeks ago. I bought steelies from Cdn tire which are multi-fit (so not hub centric).
If you buy steelies that are not hub centric, then they are called lug-centric.
That means that the steel rim is centered on the lugs alone and the hub does not help keep the rim centered at all. I think you need cone shaped lugs to be able to tighten correctly (the lug tapers to a cone on the side that contacts the wheel), which OEM Mazda3 lugs are.
Someone also mentioned you should tighten the wheel down in a proper sequence (a star pattern).
Here is a visual:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=107
About aftermarket alloys being hubcentric - most are not. They are all machined with a large hub so that they fit all hubs. Then you buy hub centric rings to adapt the wheel so that it becomes hub centric.
I haven't found out of you can do this with steelies but ppl above are already mentioning that you can't.
So if you have noticeable vibrations, I would retighten the lugs properly and with a torque wrench.
Walrus
11-07-2008, 03:27 PM
Mine arn't hub centric and I get no vibrations... and the girl I bought the rims off of curbed them (only minor), small ding in the lip and a small chunk of sidewall missing too! Just tighten them up OFF the ground in a star pattern and they with line up fine. Most aftermarket rims are not hub centric.
Ditto. I bought a used set last year, and one of the rims was curbed. On the balance machine, you can see the tread wobble, so the whole rim is warped.
They aren't hub centric, and they run smooth as butter, even with the warped rim (put that one on the back).
Olestra
11-10-2008, 09:04 PM
Just got my CT 17" steelies installed with winter tires. They are lug centric. The guy at the tire shop confirmed that you cannot get hub centric rings for steelies. I didn't feel any vibrations under 70 km/h. I have yet to get on the highway.
I had lots of trouble finding this information and spent alot of time worried about fitment.
CT 17" steelies: Product #09-6000-6
(http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444329 2698&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672508&bmUID=1208026802676&deptid=1408474396672395&ctgrid=1408474396672407&subctgrid=1408474396672508)
Offset +40mm
Bolt Pattern 5x114.5
Width 6.5"
Multi fit (so not hub centric)
Tire 205 50 R17
They fit Mazda3 GT fine.
JaYson
11-11-2008, 02:30 AM
just a follow up for everyone.
i did infact stick with the NON-HUNCENTRIC steelies. and they are perfectly fine!
not a wobble to be felt even on the highway.
as recommended, they were installed slowly while tightening each lug nut in sequence. no problemo!
kinda makes me want it to snow!
Olestra
11-11-2008, 01:25 PM
Thanks for the update Jayson!
I also did around 50kms yesterday and did some highway driving. I got up to 100km/h no problem with little to no wobble.
I've always had slight wobble in my steering wheel no matter how many alignments and wheel balances I've done. So I think it might be my motor shaking, I'm thinking my motor mounts have gone soft...
It's nothing serious, I only notice it when I let go of the wheel and only hold it lightly with my fingers.
Back on topic though, my steelies should hold up fine.
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