I just purchased a set of used winter tires (same size as the original factory 195/65/15) with steel rims. This morning, I took a closer look at the center hub and notice that the steel rim hub diameter is slightly larger than the wheel hub diameter. The difference is about 1.0-1.5mm (see posted picture). I don't notice any wheel vibrations when driving on highway speed other than higher road noise than the all-season set. The Prius original alloy wheel hub diameter is about 54.2mm while the steel rim is about 56mm. Is this common with after-market steel rims? Do I need a tight fit like the factory original rims?
it might work, but better would be a hub centric ring/ usually tire dealers have them for like us$ 10.- for a set/ edit: they're not as cheap as they used to, but I would buy them neway/ spigot rings - 56.1 mm -> 54.1 mm - HubCentric-Rings.com
My winter steelies might have a similar problem, but to be honest I've never checked - however, it is most important to use tapered lug-nuts with the steelies (…supplied with the rims I purchased from TireRack), the lug-nuts on the OEM Alloy wheels are flat-faced and have a flat washer and so might not work correctly with the steelies (they'll torque up OK, but will they self centre and remain nice and snug? …now there is the question!) - I would recommend you use the correct lug-nuts and torque them down with your own (calibrated) torque-wrench! - Good luck! - hope this helps - Wil
^^^ Agree. If you do install aftermarket wheels you need to use the correct lug nuts that are designed for the wheels. The use of non hubcentric wheels can be dangerous if the wrong lug nuts are used. As stated^^^, the use of adapter rings is the best option.
I had been using the taped lug nuts for the past 10 years for the spare winter tires and I have no complains......
Thanks so much for all your quick replies. The nuts I am using with the steel rims are not the originals that came with the factory rims. I am using a different set of "ball taper lug nuts" and I will hand-torque them to make sure they are all tight.
Hi Starcaller, Thanks for your detail answer. With regards to the spigot hub ring 56.1 to 54.1, is this the correct size I should be using?
Toyota steel rims (Corolla for example) will be exact fit. But yeah, any aftermarket steel rims have oversized hub openings. They have to, to accommodate a variety of hub sizes. And as @StarCaller says: it'd be best to get adapter rings: ID to match the hub, OD to match the hub opening.
assuming you're 100% sure about the hub diameter of your steel rims, yes/ the diameter on the car is 54.1mm /
Spigot does not ship to Canada. I've searched on line but seems like 26.1-24.1 is not a commom size. Also tried a few tire stores but not available. Does any one know of a Canadian vendor? Or may be online vendors that carry this size?
I would go to one of the big tire stores & just tell them that the prius centerbore is 54.1mm & your rims are 56.1mm. if this specific store doesn't have the rings, they can probably call around to get them for you/ on the other hand, here it says "worldwide free shipping".... / another one on ebay for half the price: 4x Alloy Wheels Hub Spigot Rings Centric Rings 56.1mm / 54.1mm for Honda | eBay
