I've got a question for the smart guys on here. For our aftermarket aluminum wheels, do we need to get them hub centric or lug centric balanced? I don't know the difference, so somebody please explain. Here is a definition, but I don't understand it.


Hub-Centric
A hub and wheel design in which the wheel is centered on a raised center portion of the hub: Here, the lug nuts/bolts then serve only to hold the wheel in place on the hub. Most tire balancing machines use a conical wheel mounting mechanism to locate the wheel/tire on the machine for balancing.
Lug-Centric
A hub and wheel design in which the wheel is centered by the lug nuts/bolts themselves, often with clearance between the center of the hub and the cut out in the wheel. Toyota wheels are lug-centric and as such require a special lug-centric fixture to be properly balanced on a cone-type balancing machine, as the wheel center hole may not be exactly centered on the lug center point.

 

well i also used the lug method, dunno if its right nor what but with tightening the wheels down its gonna land where it lands i suppose right? i mean - in the end you gotta be at the mercy of the lugnuts for its final resting position.

 

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I need to find something to drink to make me smarter. I still don't understand, but that's OK, it's not because you didn't try.

 

I was wondering the same thing, as I am about to have my new tires mounted on my new aluminum rims later this week. The steel wheels (Mag 500's, Styled Steel, etc) are supposed to be balanced via the lugs due to machining differences between the hub center and the lug center. Plus, it is my guess the tolerance for the hub center is greater so they are a "sure fit" over a wide variety of cars. Some of the vendors note in their catalogs that you must balance the steel rims via the lug-centric method.

I would think the same reasoning would apply to the aftermarket aluminum rims, as the rim is not designed just for a Mustang, etc, it is designed for a bolt pattern. Does that make sense? The tolerance is looser for the hub diameter, but if they are drilled for a 5 on 4 1/2" lug pattern, that is more important.

That is my train of thought anyway, although that train might be going to the wrong station..............

So on that note, I will have my rims and tires balanced via the lug centric method.

 

OK, well Scott did say that unless the aftermarket wheels require lug centric balancing then hub centric balance it. Now, do these wheels actually say whether or not they need to be lug centric? I don't remember my Mag 500's having a tag on them specifying either method.

 

As I understand it, on hub centric wheels/hubs, the majority of the vehicle weight is supported by a protrusion on the hub that fits snuggly in the center of the wheel. On lug centric wheels/hubs the protrusion isn't necessary, or may not even be present because the weight is supported by the lugs themselves. I believe there are different types of lug nuts for the different types of wheels also.

Here are a few links that describe the differences between the two types of wheels/hubs.
http://www.miata.net/garage/hubcentric.html
http://www.americanracing.com/techce...p;section=tech
http://www.moderntiredealer.com/t_in...96&pgNum=2

 

Aux289 nailed it. I haven't heard of an aluminum wheel that needs to be lug centric balanced. My guess is that it is because the center hole and lugs are machined to tight tolerances so the hub is perfectly centered within the wheel.

My repop '65 Styled Steel Wheels specifically stated in the instructions (not stamped on the wheel) to have them balanced by the lugs. I'd venture your steel Mag 500's are the same way. That said, if your tires don't give you a noticeable shimmy and they are wearing normal, I wouldn't worry about it. I've found that not all places can even do lug centric balancing any more. The America's Tire by me had to get the adaptor from one of their other local stores to do it.

 

Soaring,

The drink is beer!!! Just think it made Bud wiser!!!!!

 

I'll give this one a shot. Stock wheels are generally hubcentric. It uses the hub or axle to hold the wheel centered while the tappered lugs are tightened. A Mag wheel,. like a 5 slotted dish mag is Lugcentric because it only uses the lugs to center the wheel. If you have ever put Mags on you know what I mean. Just because the Mags are hubcentric mostcan stillbe balanced hubcentricly because they have a machined hole in the center. The hole is not machined to a tolerance that will allow it to be hubcentric because they want the wheel to work for many applications. So they make the hole big enough to to work on may different cars. Beacuse a wheel is lugcentric doesn't mean that it must be balanced lugcentricly. The Styled steel wheels are one type that are a pain because they don't have a machined center that will allow them to be hubcentricly balanced so they are lugcentric. Does that make sense?