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Using Wheels with 1mm Larger-than-stock Bolt Holes?

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NathanF

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I've got a set of four 16 inch diameter snow tires left over from my Cash for Clunker-ed Town and Country 99' minivan. I was curious if I could use them on my RAV4 09'.

The bolt pattern is the same, but the hole is about 1mm bigger as measured by my digital calipers. Is that too small to matter, or will it make the wheels slightly offset and rip my car apart as I drive down the street? :p
 
#2 ·
which hole is bigger? the center core that goes over the hub or the bolt holes?
 
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#3 ·
Doesn't matter. The acorn tapered lugnuts will center the wheel and if you've ever run across a wheel that was rusted onto the hub you'd be glad to replace it with one that had a larger center hole.
 
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Discussion starter · #4 ·
Stupidly, I didn't measure the central hole, thinking it wasn't used for support. For the center core, there is a sizable difference - about 10mm larger on the snow tires versus the stock tires.

Is that a deal breaker?
 
#5 ·
As stick47 says, the taper of the lug nut adjust for any difference in the stud holes. As for the center or hub hole, many after market wheels have bigger holes so they can fit on more vehicles that may have the same bolt pattern. For example, a Camry and Rav may have the same bolt pattern but different hub sizes. The wheel manufacturer makes the hole a bit bigger so you can use the wheel on both cars. This isn’t a problem, tightening the nuts will center the wheel. Just be sure to alternate tightening the nuts in a star pattern so the wheel centers correctly.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
dajazzee said:
As stick47 says, the taper of the lug nut adjust for any difference in the stud holes. As for the center or hub hole, many after market wheels have bigger holes so they can fit on more vehicles that may have the same bolt pattern. For example, a Camry and Rav may have the same bolt pattern but different hub sizes. The wheel manufacturer makes the hole a bit bigger so you can use the wheel on both cars. This isn’t a problem, tightening the nuts will center the wheel. Just be sure to alternate tightening the nuts in a star pattern so the wheel centers correctly.
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Thanks for the info!

So, my original thought that the center hole/hub size doesn't do anything but look pretty is correct? IE, it's not used for any sort of support for the wheel - only the nuts do that?
 
#7 ·
It depends on whether or not that Chrysler wheel was hub centric or lug centric. If it was hub centric the holes for the studs might not be tapered and the tapered wheels nuts might not be much help in centering it. If it was lug centric then the tapered nuts will centre it. I believe most Toyota wheels are hub centric. You could buy some hub centric rings for your wheels and that would solve the problem.

Factory wheels are hub-centric. The lug nuts have a flat seating surface, therefore the wheels need to be mounted on the hub from possible shifting around at high-speeds or when hitting bumps.

Aftermarket wheels are lug-centric since their center bores are large to fit a variety of vehicles. The lug holes on the wheels have a angled seating service (60 deg), so the lug nuts have this same angled design (that is how the lugs nuts center the wheel and are therefore called lug-centric wheels). None of the weight is on the hub anymore, but on the lugs.

Using a hub-centric ring will allow the wheel to be centered as soon as you mount it (like factory wheels), not relying on the lugs nuts to "self center" the wheel. With the rings your aftermarket wheels are now HUB *AND* LUG-centric.
Click to expand...
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
It's been a while since I posted about this, but now it's getting to be winter around here, so I've decided that now is the time to sell the tires and rims if they're not going to work out.

So, I just took a look at the snow tires (which, to refresh everyone's memory have lug nut holes that are 1mm larger than the stock RAV4 rims, and a central hole that is 10mm bigger) and they are definitely tapered. So I have three questions:

1) Would a 1mm difference be safely taken care and centered with the use of tapered lug nuts, such that I don't need to worry about the central hole or buy adapter rings? The answer to this seems to be yes from above posts, but I want to be absolutely certain.

2) Are the stock RAV4 lug nuts tapered, or would I have to purchase some new ones?

3) Will there be any problems in using 16 inch tires even though they are smaller than the stock? (And I'm not concerned about the spedometer being slightly off, or anything like that.)

Thanks for the info, everyone.



Scoobs said:
It depends on whether or not that Chrysler wheel was hub centric or lug centric. If it was hub centric the holes for the studs might not be tapered and the tapered wheels nuts might not be much help in centering it. If it was lug centric then the tapered nuts will centre it. I believe most Toyota wheels are hub centric. You could buy some hub centric rings for your wheels and that would solve the problem.

Factory wheels are hub-centric. The lug nuts have a flat seating surface, therefore the wheels need to be mounted on the hub from possible shifting around at high-speeds or when hitting bumps.

Aftermarket wheels are lug-centric since their center bores are large to fit a variety of vehicles. The lug holes on the wheels have a angled seating service (60 deg), so the lug nuts have this same angled design (that is how the lugs nuts center the wheel and are therefore called lug-centric wheels). None of the weight is on the hub anymore, but on the lugs.

Using a hub-centric ring will allow the wheel to be centered as soon as you mount it (like factory wheels), not relying on the lugs nuts to "self center" the wheel. With the rings your aftermarket wheels are now HUB *AND* LUG-centric.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
#10 ·
Hi,

I have the exact same question as NathanF since I have a set of snow tires left over from a previous vehicle. Same 5x114.3 bolt pattern but the hub is 66.1 and I believe Toyotas are 60.1. I have inquired about hub centric rings and they do cost quite a bit for what they are ($40 at local shops or approx $34 online).

To my recollection the steel rims are tapered to allow the bolts to centre the wheel onto the hub, but I still have to test fit them to make sure they will clear the front calipers (I believe they are bigger on the front, so if it clears the front, it will clear the rear).

Anyone else on here that can offer some first-hand experience? Did you have to use hub centric rings with steelies and snow tires from another make and model?

Thanks!
 
#11 ·
NathanF said:
It's been a while since I posted about this, but now it's getting to be winter around here, so I've decided that now is the time to sell the tires and rims if they're not going to work out.

So, I just took a look at the snow tires (which, to refresh everyone's memory have lug nut holes that are 1mm larger than the stock RAV4 rims, and a central hole that is 10mm bigger) and they are definitely tapered. So I have three questions:

1) Would a 1mm difference be safely taken care and centered with the use of tapered lug nuts, such that I don't need to worry about the central hole or buy adapter rings? The answer to this seems to be yes from above posts, but I want to be absolutely certain.

2) Are the stock RAV4 lug nuts tapered, or would I have to purchase some new ones?

3) Will there be any problems in using 16 inch tires even though they are smaller than the stock? (And I'm not concerned about the spedometer being slightly off, or anything like that.)

Thanks for the info, everyone.
Click to expand...
1) Yes. The center hole is useless. You cover it to prevent dirt from getting in. That area is usually covered as that's where the bolt is that locks the rod to the car. So centercap or not, it really doesn't matter.
2) Yes. It should work but it's not a guarantee.
3) The only thing you have to worry about is the rim clearning the brake calipers. The Base Rav4 on steel wheels uses 16" rims.
 
#12 ·
NathanF said:
1) Would a 1mm difference be safely taken care and centered with the use of tapered lug nuts, such that I don't need to worry about the central hole or buy adapter rings? The answer to this seems to be yes from above posts, but I want to be absolutely certain.

2) Are the stock RAV4 lug nuts tapered, or would I have to purchase some new ones?

3) Will there be any problems in using 16 inch tires even though they are smaller than the stock? (And I'm not concerned about the spedometer being slightly off, or anything like that.)

Thanks for the info, everyone.
Click to expand...
questions 1 & 2: Stock lugnuts are tapered. For the ones that have mags, it has a taper on the end and also the flat surface to mount on mags so even if you have ones with mags, the lug nut can do mags or the tapered steelies.

question 3: 16" wheels are fine as long as they clear your brake calipers. I have 16's on my Rav4 Sport. However, you want to try to get tires that will give you the same overall diameter of your stock tires. If you use smaller ones, just make sure you still have good enough clearance and ensure the load rating of the tires are high enough for the Rav4.
 
#14 ·
I would be very careful with this. Hub-centric wheels put the loading directly into the hub. Yes, if the nuts are tapered it'll "center" the wheel, but now you're putting all the load into the studs, which are NOT meant for it. 10mm difference in a hub-centric wheel is huge. I'd never do it and get a rim made for the vehicle.
 
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