For context: I installed the ECS Tuning 10mm hubcentric spacers a couple of days ago on my 2019 JCW in order to fit a set of aftermarket wheels and tires over the front brakes. I verified that the year and bolt pattern were correct before buying the spacers. I also had these wheels and tires on my previous MINI and never experienced any vibrations or shaking while they were mounted on that car.

Link for spacers: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...002411ecskt19/

Let's get into it.

At first, the vibrations were horrible. Vibrated the steering wheel back and forth going over 40 mph. I thought it was a balance issue as the spacers were mounted with the aftermarket wheels and tires at the same time so I took it to Firestone and had them rotate and balance them this morning. I asked them to be very slow and check everything before giving me the green light. They said it was fine. The vibration is a lot better but I can still feel it vibrating a little bit in the steering wheel when turning to the left and right at a certain degree and at about 70-75 mph. I would assume an alignment would be the next step to see if it would fix it. I just wanted to check here and see if anyone had any ideas. Should I drive it for a few days and see if it settles in or take it back and get the alignment done? The spacers and wheels seem to be mounted securely when I checked before I left the shop. Thanks in advance.

 

Do you need to run hubcentric rings? Otherwise it might be alignment related

 

Not 100% sure on that? I called my shop of choice and they said to reseat the spacers and torque the lugs down more and maybe try an alignment. Do you think hubcentric rings would help?

 

I had the same issue.
The spacers fit on the hub with no problem, the issue is the spacer lip is not long enough to sit in the rim properly.
Look at the bore in your rim, its tapered.
I could not resolve the vibration

 

Also, center on some aftermarket wheels are cut very tight, sometimes not as big as the Genuine MINI wheels. That might not seat all the way. They are ok on Genuine MINI wheels, BBS seem to be fine and NM eng. and some others.

 

I would start by making sure the spacer and wheel are seating flat together. I doubt its the spacers causing the issue. Then, when mounting the wheel, slowly tighten the bolts evenly across the bolt pattern. Remember, 5-lug wheels are tightened in a star pattern. Try setting your torque wrench to 30 ft-lbs, then 60, then full torque.

 

The problem is that the the center on these spacers are too short to properly line up in the wheel center bore.
The taper won't fit in the wheel.

 

Not necessary. If you snug up the bolts before torqueing to spec, the bolts will pull the wheel into place.

 

No, they would not pull into place, hence the wheel never seated flush. This was the 10mm

Had to use a larger spacer from ECS, the 15mm and larger had the right longer hub center.

 

I thought you couldn’t get a 10mm hubcentric spacer for a MINI because the factory hub was 10mm, or very close, so the hub on the spacer wouldn’t really have enough material to “attach” to. I don’t recall my 12mm spacers looking like that, but maybe that’s why your 10mm spacer has that step/chamfer on it. Unless the wheel has a chamfer at the edge of the center bore to clear it, it will bottom out before before sitting flush.

Does the ECS 15mm spacer have that same step on it?

 

Yes, you get it!!

The 15mm had less of the step. That large step on the 10mm is used for reinforcement, and does not fit properly into the wheel.

The wheel wouldn't seat flat.

That was a couple of years ago, I decided to stop playing with spacers.

 

Thanks guys. Looking at the picture of the 10mm spacer I see it now

 

So turns out that the front passenger was missing a wheel ring and that’s what was causing the vibration. $16 on Amazon later and it’s fixed m.