Apparently, the Hub-centric Rings that came with my new O.Z. Sinfonia wheels were the wrong size for my car.

The guy at the tire shop said that he would order the correct ones, but that it would be okay to ride around without them for now.

My questions are:

1) What do Hub-centric Rings do?

2) He said I may experience some shimmying, but everything would be fine until the correct rings arrive next week. Does this sound right?

3) He said some cars don't even need the rings, but he'll order the correct rings since the wheels are supposed to come with them. I actually took the car out for about an hour on city streets and the highway, and experienced no shimmying or vibrations. Do I really need to put them on?

4) Is it okay to drive aggressively without these rings once my tires are broken in?

5) Is there any reason NOT to install these rings when they arrive?

Thanks for any info you can give me - Rog

'99 Silver 2.8QMS

I wouldn't want to drive around w/o my hub centering rings in place. The hub is supposed to be the load bearing surface..not the bolts. If you drive w/o the ring you subject the wheel bolts to a fair amount of sheer stress. I think wheel bolts are supposed to be good for tinsile strength...i.e. they don't mind some elongation...but sheer stress is no good.

Regards,

James R.

99 1.8TMS (Neuspeed K04, K&N Filter, S4 Wheel Well Liner Mod, Remus Exhaust, Neuspeed Sport Springs, Neuspeed Front Anti Sway, Bilstein Sport Shocks, Brembo Rotors, Mintex Red Box, Ronal R28's 17", Euro Corners, Clear Sides, Full Tint...and some other stuff I probably forgot)

As posted by James, the wheels load is supported by the hub of the car, not the bolts. The bolts sole purpose on an Audi are to make sure the wheel does not come off :) They are not designed or meant to support the wheel. If this "wheel guy" of yours told you that, I would run, and run fast from him. He clearly does not know what he is talking about. If you want to potentially ruin your wheels, and maybe something else on the car, run it without. but I strongly suggest you wait.

Well, since my initial post I've already put about a hundred miles on my car. The wheels still feel rock solid without any weird vibrations or shimmying. I've been taking it easy on my car, but I'm pretty much stuck with having to drive it until the rings come in. :(

Well, at least I know to have them definitely installed now.

- Rog

'99 Silver 2.8QMS

nt

The rings I got with my 5-spoke look-alikes from Discount tire, look like they hardly support the wheel at all. It doesn't even center the wheel very well. I had to "fiddle" with the wheel just to center it on the hub to keep it from vibrating. This doesn't seem right at all. Surely the bolts take a lot of the load. There's bound to be some gap between the hub and wheel or else it would be very hard to even put the wheel on the hub.