Anyone know what this is - and does it need to be on the car? As you can see I had all the wheels off - and the right rear is the only one that would not sit as nicely up against the axle - because of this plastic thing. What is it and does it need to be there?

 

Can't say for sure, but I have exta wheels and tires for my car for the winter. My winter tires have a plastic insert that need to be there for proper fit.

Could this be one from a past wheel that was left there that isn't needed now ?
Does the other wheels have this ?

 

Crap hub ring to help installing after market wheel with wrong center hole diameter. Crap because is plastic.

Better get ready for a endless debate that it carry the weight of the car.

 

As has been suggested, it's likely an adapter ring for aftermarket wheels to fit the MINI hub. Perhaps it came off the inside of the wheel in your photo. Check the other three wheels to see if there's an adapter ring on each.

 

It appears that none of the other wheels have this. After finding this, I spent several minutes looking over the wheels and axles before putting anything back on.


If it was a wheel adapter, it would sit inside the lip of the wheel, right?

 

Yep, a centering ring slips into the bore of the wheel. The ones I have for some SSR wheels are aluminum and very snug fit.

 

Yeah this doesn't fit into the bore of any of my wheels. I wonder if that's what caused the wobble I was experiencing. Now I'm also wondering where it came from and how long its been there.

 

Update: Wobble gone.