10mm spacers + hub centric rings - mounting separately

**EURO_DOLL** · 04-30-2013 07:02 PM

I searched, asked around, etc. But I haven't found anything. If there's already a thread out there, point me in the right direction and I'll love you forevah.

I've always avoided buying wheels that I've needed spacers for, but I've always had to run hub centric spacers. This time around to make my AMG wheels fit, I need to run both 10mm spacers as well as 66.6 to 57.1 hub centric rings.

My question is this: is it possible to run both a 10mm wheel spacer AND hub centric rings? How would they end up mounting together with the wheels? I know they also have spacers that have a hub centric "lip" if you will, as well as ones without. (See pictures below.)

FLAT:

LIP:

I don't have a low profile jack at the moment and I can no longer fit my old one under my car - therefore I can't take my wheels off to check the fitment. Friday I'm getting my wheels and tires mounted, and I hate trusting shops. I wanna know what has to be done and how.

I understand they make wheel spacers that have hub rings as well, but I've yet to find a set that are 9-10mm, go from 66.6 to 57.1, and aren't ~$150 per pair. And being that I need to have all of this done by Saturday, I need to get on this ASAP.

Thanks guys.

And again, I searched, and I've yet to find a kinda thread that resembles something as idiotic as this.

**MikTip** · 04-30-2013 07:33 PM

Get adapter spacers....

http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B6_A4-...ers/ES1899553/

Or the plastic hub centric rings which adapt the wheels down to 57.1 and 57.1 hub centric spacers. I run this with my 2012 Ti edition skinny fives.

**AudiTechS4** · 04-30-2013 07:36 PM

http://www.frsport.com/H-R-DR-10mm-W...FWQ6QgodIBwA6g

then run your hubcentric rings on these

**jeffrey146** · 04-30-2013 07:37 PM

Buy Audi UP spacers. Cheaper than anything else... includes the right lugs. Has the hub centric built in. http://www.audiup.com/

**AudiTechS4** · 04-30-2013 07:38 PM

only 12mm,15mm and 17.5mm

**schmally** · 04-30-2013 07:44 PM

im running merc spec wheel too that need rings. the rings will fit right inside the hub of the wheel, just line up the spacers and install. BOOM YOURE GOLD. If you go over 10mm spacer get long bolts.

**MikTip** · 04-30-2013 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by jeffrey146

Buy Audi UP spacers. Cheaper than anything else... includes the right lugs. Has the hub centric built in. http://www.audiup.com/

They are nice spacers...I have their 12mm with bolts.

**walky_talky20** · 04-30-2013 08:07 PM

Depending on which hardware you get, you may not be able to use 10mm spacers with separate rings. Why, you ask?

10mm spacers have a special issue because they are nearly the same thickness as the protruding hub spigot on the car. This leaves no room for the necessary material to recreate the hub spigot exactly. Spacer manufacturers get around this by taking up the space where the wheels are machined (chamfered) on the back side. This chamfered area is always present on stock Audi wheels, but not always on aftermarket wheels. This is why the manufacturers will often state that their 10mm spacers are 'only for use with OEM wheels'.

Certain hub centric rings may not work with 10mm spacers for the exact same reason that the aftermarket wheels may not work: the 7mm/45-degree-angle risen area surrounding the recreated spigot can interfere with the fitment of the rings (yo). They may not work together because the profile of the spacer is different than that of the factory hub. 15mm spacers do not have this issue. THey have enough offset to faithfully reproduce the hub profile without the 7mm/45 degree angle risen area surrounding the spigot.

Some rings appear to be designed with the risen area of these spacers in mind. Like these ones:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B6_A4-...ngs/ES2200656/

But some appear not to be designed this way. Like these ones:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B6_A4-...ngs/ES2200627/

So the answer is: "it depends". The best, and safest, option is to get spacers which adapt the center hub to be the correct size for the wheels you have. Having multiple fiddle-y bits in your wheel bolt-up situation is never a great idea. And at the very least is annoying during install.

**victimdumper** · 04-30-2013 09:04 PM

Take note of what walky said about the 10mm spacers, I wish someone explained that to me when I first bought a set.

that being said, it is possible to sand regular hubcentric rings down to a thinner depth so that they completely avoid the bevel while still providing the actual hub-centric quality

**ECS Tuning-Audi** · 05-01-2013 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by victimdumper

Take note of what walky said about the 10mm spacers, I wish someone explained that to me when I first bought a set.

that being said, it is possible to sand regular hubcentric rings down to a thinner depth so that they completely avoid the bevel while still providing the actual hub-centric quality

If anything you would want to sand them so they match the part going into them. Any bit of play in the hub centering area can cause unwanted vibration.

Jason

**mrbacardi35** · 05-01-2013 01:00 PM

H & R makes this type of spacers. Just scroll all the way down. No need for the hubcentric ring.
http://www.hrsprings.com/application...ults/3/40/2003

**evo_ski** · 05-01-2013 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by walky_talky20

Depending on which hardware you get, you may not be able to use 10mm spacers with separate rings. Why, you ask?

10mm spacers have a special issue because they are nearly the same thickness as the protruding hub spigot on the car. This leaves no room for the necessary material to recreate the hub spigot exactly. Spacer manufacturers get around this by taking up the space where the wheels are machined (chamfered) on the back side. This chamfered area is always present on stock Audi wheels, but not always on aftermarket wheels. This is why the manufacturers will often state that their 10mm spacers are 'only for use with OEM wheels'.

Certain hub centric rings may not work with 10mm spacers for the exact same reason that the aftermarket wheels may not work: the 7mm/45-degree-angle risen area surrounding the recreated spigot can interfere with the fitment of the rings (yo). They may not work together because the profile of the spacer is different than that of the factory hub. 15mm spacers do not have this issue. THey have enough offset to faithfully reproduce the hub profile without the 7mm/45 degree angle risen area surrounding the spigot.

Some rings appear to be designed with the risen area of these spacers in mind. Like these ones:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B6_A4-...ngs/ES2200656/

But some appear not to be designed this way. Like these ones:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B6_A4-...ngs/ES2200627/

So the answer is: "it depends". The best, and safest, option is to get spacers which adapt the center hub to be the correct size for the wheels you have. Having multiple fiddle-y bits in your wheel bolt-up situation is never a great idea. And at the very least is annoying during install.

This x100.

I bought some 12mm spacers and ran into the exact issue he has described. You need to go to at least 15mm to be able to get the hub centric part back. I would recommend going for the spacer adapters and then you should be set.

**chris@fifteen52** · 05-01-2013 01:34 PM

Contact Adaptec Speedware. They can make the spacers with the correct 66.6mm hub on the wheel side and 57.1mm on the hub side.

**MikTip** · 05-01-2013 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by chris@fifteen52

Contact Adaptec Speedware. They can make the spacers with the correct 66.6mm hub on the wheel side and 57.1mm on the hub side.

H&R already makes'm....

http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B6_A4-...ers/ES1899553/

**chris@fifteen52** · 05-01-2013 04:06 PM

The Adaptec come with the bolts and are cheaper and they can do any width you want

**MikTip** · 05-01-2013 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by chris@fifteen52

The Adaptec come with the bolts and are cheaper and they can do any width you want

Custom=cheaper?

**MikTip** · 05-01-2013 04:56 PM

Are they called Stance Works now?

http://www.stanceworks.com

**jcg05c** · 05-01-2013 06:46 PM

8.5 Privat wheels, but back have 17.5 and 10 back ECS Hubcentric. Bought them off here.

**EURO_DOLL** · 05-01-2013 07:28 PM

I'm damn happy I posted this thread. Would have been an epic fail on my part if I didn't.

I'm probably gonna bite the bullet, spend a little more money per pair, and grab the 10mm H&R TRAK+ hub adapters given they work properly with non-Audi/VW OEM wheels. Being that I'm running Mercedes wheels, I already have longer bolts that I grabbed when I got the wheels - so that shouldn't be too much of an issue.

My whole reason for wanting to run hub rings and spacers separately is so I had 10mm spacers that I could hold onto and use for my next setup (given it doesn't need to compensate for 66.6 to 57.1). But having spacers that work properly are a hell of a lot more important to me.

@walky_talky20 Thank you so much for the in depth description. I never even considered any of that before. Not being able to take my current wheels off to play around with test-fitting has been a total PITA. I really appreciate all the help!

**walky_talky20** · 05-01-2013 08:12 PM

No problem. You will be much happier and safer with the correct adapters.

Having a metal-to-metal connection to the hub is more important than people often think. Sure a spacer and a plastic ring will get them bolted up without vibrations, but the "strength" is gone. When the wheel takes a huge shock load (like a nasty pothole, for instance), instead of the force being directly transferred to the wheel hub (as in the OEM fitment), your hub spigot is now made of plastic, so the force is applied laterally to the lug bolts instead. If they are nice and tight, you're ok - it will take it. But remember your bolts aren't superb OEM quality anymore. They are probably chinese, and extended bolts at that! After a few of these shock loads the bolts can begin to stretch, even if just slightly. Now they are looser and the problem is even worse next time - causing even more stretch. This is a rapid "runaway" situation. With no hub spigot to speak of (plastic, remember), any looseness of the lug bolts is not very forgiving at all. The bolts are the only support and will shear off in no time. You don't get nearly as much warning before complete failure occurs.

When you are depending on the bolts alone for support, checking them for tightness often is critical. Avoiding that setup and sticking with a metal-to-metal hub centric system is always preferable for added strength and reduced maintenance requirement. Your chances of encountering an on-road, spacer-induced "situation" go down dramatically.

**EURO_DOLL** · 05-12-2013 04:37 PM

Thanks again for all the help guys, and walky for your in depth explanations

I ended up ditching the plastic hub centric rings I ordered two sets of 10mm H&R Trak+ wheel adapters that'll take care of the 66.56-57.1 difference as well as the offset issues.

I appreciate the clarification