In the market for a new set of aftermarket wheels? You may have seen the terms ‘hub-centric’ or ‘lug-centric’ more than once. The terms both refer to how a wheel is centered on your vehicle, but what does that mean and why is it important to know the difference?
The easiest way to tell the difference between the two designs is to look at the hub of a hub and wheel assembly. If the hole in the center of the wheel fits snugly against the hub, then it is hub-centric. If there is a gap between the center hole of the wheel and the hub, then it is lug-centric.
Automotive applications usually use the hub centric design because the support and centering of the wheel better resists impact loads from being used on typical roads. Other low-speed and low-impact applications use lug-centric designs which are less costly and strong enough for these applications. Golf carts, for example, often use lug-centric designs.
Aftermarket wheel manufacturers typically sell lug-centric attachments because the wheels will work on a wider variety of vehicles without having a specific wheel shape for a hub. Some aftermarket manufacturers provide a spacer that goes in the gap to mimic a hub-centric design. The spacer looks like a large washer that fits in the gap between the hub and wheel. It is designed to contact both the wheel and hub and acts as a means of transferring lug loads to the hub.
Hub-Centric Wheels
Hub-centric wheels are designed for the hub center bore of the wheel to be a perfect match to the vehicle. This allows the wheel to be centered on the vehicle hub, which is the most accurate way to center the wheel. Most OEM wheels are designed to be hub-centric because the manufacturer designs wheels specifically for each vehicle.
Lug-Centric Wheels
As opposed to hub-centric wheels, lug-centric wheels are centered on the vehicle using the lug holes. Most aftermarket wheels are lug-centric wheels because this allows the manufacturer to make the wheels with larger hub bore diameters so that the wheel can fit a wider array of vehicles. Manufacturers make the center bore larger because a center bore that is smaller than the vehicle hub will not be able to safely fasten to the vehicle.
Hub-Centric Rings
Hub-centric rings, or hub rings, can be installed on lug-centric wheels. A hub-centric ring is a plastic or metal ring that sits inside the hub bore of the wheel, filling the gap between the hub bore in the wheel and the vehicle hub. Hub rings essentially make lug-centric wheels hub-centric. While hub-centric rings are not required, they can dramatically help eliminate any high speed vibrations by simply creating a seamless bond to your vehicle.
If you have any questions or require any assistance, reach out to the experts at Wheel Suppliers and we’d be happy to help you out.
