Hub or lug centric?

[yoda13]

Hey folks, I am thinking about new wheels for my JT. One of the reviews on one of the wheels I was looking at say they need hub centric rings to run those wheels. The specs or description of the wheel, said nothing of the sort. Nor did any of the other 20 or so reviews. On my first JT, I just ran the stock wheels, but it had the wider axles. My sport does not. I need some different offset and backspacing, which I understand, but this hub and lug centric stuff, not so much. Can you explain to me whether or not I need to worry about this on my Gladiator and what it is? Last time I replaced a wheel on a Jeep, it was my JK. I put some soft 8s on it and this never came up…

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[Camaroboi13]

I have never really seen anything that was “lug centric” before… that just sounds like a normal bolt pattern to me. I’ve also never personally seen anyone use hub centric rings for wheels on a jeep before. Not that it’s never happened, I’ve just never encountered one. Make sure you have the right bolt pattern and if the shoe fits… throw it at someone.

 

[yoda13]

I have never really seen anything that was “lug centric” before… that just sounds like a normal bolt pattern to me. I’ve also never personally seen anyone use hub centric rings for wheels on a jeep before. Not that it’s never happened, I’ve just never encountered one. Make sure you have the right bolt pattern and if the shoe fits… throw it at someone.

That’s what I’ve always done with all my jeeps over the years. Thank you!

 

[Gregj]

Hey folks, I am thinking about new wheels for my JT. One of the reviews on one of the wheels I was looking at say they need hub centric rings to run those wheels. The specs or description of the wheel, said nothing of the sort. Nor did any of the other 20 or so reviews. On my first JT, I just ran the stock wheels, but it had the wider axles. My sport does not. I need some different offset and backspacing, which I understand, but this hub and lug centric stuff, not so much. Can you explain to me whether or not I need to worry about this on my Gladiator and what it is? Last time I replaced a wheel on a Jeep, it was my JK. I put some soft 8s on it and this never came up…

Jeep wheels are hub centric, you need hub centric wheels. What they are telling you is the center bore of the wheel is too big and you need a spacer so the wheel fits the Jeep. If you get those wheels get the spacers. It is something else to keep track of when rotating tires though.
An explanation from Discount Tire
Gregj

 

[yoda13]

OK, so I read that, and thank you for the explanation and link, btw…so it is not a safety issue, it’s a potential balance issue? That article says it’s not required, so that’s why I am asking. I ran two different sets of aftermarket wheels on my JK, and didn’t have any rings.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

Bolt pattern (and then proper backspacing, etc.) is what matters.

I’ve never seen, for example, a Jeep bolt pattern wheel not sit “centered” on a Jeep hub.

I’m betting this is more of an issue with euro-spec vehicles that have lug bolts as opposed to lug nuts as those wheels literally have to sit on the hub while you thread the bolts through. So having them centered would be crucial.

With standard studs though you put the wheel on the studs and it’s on, done.

 

[yoda13]

Bolt pattern (and then proper backspacing, etc.) is what matters.

I’ve never seen, for example, a Jeep bolt pattern wheel not sit “centered” on a Jeep hub.

I’m betting this is more of an issue with euro-spec vehicles that have lug bolts as opposed to lug nuts as those wheels literally have to sit on the hub while you thread the bolts through. So having them centered would be crucial.

With standard studs though you put the wheel on the studs and it’s on, done.

That’s what I have always thought. I did find a list of hub-centric wheels over at JLwranglerforums. They are going to have the same 71.50mm bore as us, correct?

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

That’s what I have always thought. I did find a list of hub-centric wheels over at JLwranglerforums. They are going to have the same 71.50mm bore as us, correct?

I believe so. The JL and JT use the same wheels

 

[chorky]

This is more common on the older Jeeps. TJ's especially have a ton of wheel options that are specifically lug centric. I have never liked lug centric. The hub should be bearing the weight of the vehicle not the lug nuts. Lug nuts should only be firmly compressing the wheel to the hub/axle.

 

[Vtur]

This is more common on the older Jeeps. TJ's especially have a ton of wheel options that are specifically lug centric. I have never liked lug centric. The hub should be bearing the weight of the vehicle not the lug nuts. Lug nuts should only be firmly compressing the wheel to the hub/axle.

This is more common on the older Jeeps. TJ's especially have a ton of wheel options that are specifically lug centric. I have never liked lug centric. The hub should be bearing the weight of the vehicle not the lug nuts. Lug nuts should only be firmly compressing the wheel to the hub/axle.

This ^^^.
Hub center bore bearing vertical load and lug studs provide rotational shear loads.

 

[Andy29847]

Lug centric wheels work fine as long as they are installed correctly. The procedure for installing lug centric wheels (5 bolt) is to install all the lug nuts hand tight, lightly torque the nut in the 12 o'clock position, rotate the wheel past the next lug nut to where the second one from the original is at 12 o'clock, lightly torque that one, and continue rotating and tightening lug nuts taking 3 to 4 steps to get to final torque values.

Putting a lug centric wheel on the axle and tightening the first lug nut to near final torque using an impact wrench can pin the wheel into an off-center position. The result is poor ride, poor tire wear, and/or handling problems.

I had lug centric wheels on my TJ and I used hub centric adapters on the wheels to help prevent off center problems. I had to modify the hub covers to use the adapters.

Here is how you should mount your aftermarket rims, after a rotation, new rims or tires, or a good old cleaning

1. Jack car up and secure it with a jack stand (Safety First )
2. Loosen all lug nuts and either put on rim, rotate or whatever the hell you need to do.
3. Thread on all the lug nuts, but DO NOT tighten to where you can not move them.
4. Rotate the tire/rim until one of the 5 lugs is at the 12 o clock position.
5. Tighten lug nut with thumb and forefinger to the point that you can not do it anymore.
6. Rotate the tire clockwise, skipping one lug nut.
7. After skipping the one nut, put the 3rd nut in the 12 o clock position. Tighten this one the same as Step 5
8. Skip one more nut, and repeat Step 5. This last nut will be right next to the first one.
9. Let the truck down to where the tires barely touch the ground. Use a wrench and tighten all bolts with about 25% of your strength. Just enough to grab.
10. I then let the truck down all the way and torqued the bolts to 90.
11. Repeat all steps above for the rest of the truck and throw a couple of beers in there

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