I switched to my winter tires today, what a job! The centering rings for my aftermarket 17" wheels were stuck on one of the front hubs. I couldn't budge it at all! I eventually had to get nasty and get a pair of vicegrips on it, even that took some real effort, ruined that ring in the process. Does anyone know a way to prevent this? The centering rings are plastic, are alloy/aluminium centering rings available? Is it possible I got my hubs so hot at a track event that it more or less melted the plastic centering ring?

Cheers,

Paul

 

1010tires.com sells alloy rings.

 

The centering rings are indeed hard plastic and are designed to take only so much heat. Like anything if enough heat is applied-sure it will melt and fuse. I guess the moral of the story is that you have to drive in such a way to be careful about overheating your components be it the engine, the tires, or the brakes given the equiptment you have.

When I went to driving school my instructor was very sensitive about running the car in such a way near the end of the track session to take it easy and not overheat the brakes. It's only as strong as the weakest component.

Alloy centering rings should help. I suppose a little silicon cannot be that bad on the ring as it faces the hub before you tighten things up on the wheel. Do re-tighten after 20-25 miles.

You must have been going really hard on your brakes to do this and mess up the stock rotors too.

 

I haven't heard about anyone melting their plastic hubrings, but I'm sure it's possible. Give Randy a jingle or e-mail - he uses plastic hubrings for his race wheels.

My only other thought; did you get the correct size? The MINI's hub is 56.1mm
Good luck,
Ryan

 

I had seen plastic rings getting melted, and plastic centercaps getting warped. Typically this is around agressive track driving - whenever possible I sub in metal rings at n/c!

Alex