Is anybody actually using wheel adapters?

[rumptis]

I have seen a lot of talk about wheel adapters but I don't know of anybody that has used them. I was thinking about going this way so I have a larger choose of wheels. Here is the product I was thinking about getting and has also been mentioned on the forum.

http://www.technotoytuning.com/t3_site_pages/products/wheel_adapters.html

[supramad77]

They should be alright. I would sugest sorting out what size and offset rims you are going to use though before getting the adaptors.
Me and Dangerous Ken are doing a swap soon for adaptors. He is going to have my 32mm while I am having his 20mm.
I just want my rear wheels to sit out a bit further.

[rumptis]

with the adapters I pointed out you will need around a 40 offset which there seems there are plenty of wheels with that offset.

[Nukes25]

yeah, I've got t3's wheel adapters (4x4.5-5x4.5) to run my advan sa3r's, although the car isnt running yet, it should be good, wheels sit right flush with the fenders, (they are only 205's, I have to change that next year)

[Dangerous Ken]

with the adapters I pointed out you will need around a 40 offset which there seems there are plenty of wheels with that offset.

Yes, nothing wrong with the quality, weight, performance of 'FWD' offsett wheels if they are the 4-114.3 by mounting them with adapters.

I prefer 'lip' and you give that up using an adaptor. (adaptor thickness = lip you could have had).

On the front wheels, an adaptor is usually needed anyway to mount 'fatty' caliper upgrades, so there is a use for the L type offsett after all...

Ken

[Supra GTR]

These are not what I would recommend as adapters. You need adapters that have a hub so you can make your wheels hubcentric. You risk vibration which can lead to loose lugs.. which can lead to lost wheel or chiselling your wheel off your hub.

http://www.wheeladapter.com/images/Wheeladapters02.jpg
You need ones that look like the ones on the right. Not the ones on the left. Noticed the hub that sticks out.

If you're going to put something between your wheel and hub, you might as well do it right.


Regards,
James R

[Dangerous Ken]

http://www.wheeladapter.com/images/Wheeladapters02.jpg
You need ones that look like the ones on the right. Not the ones on the left. Noticed the hub that sticks out.

Regards,
James R

Well, the one on the left can be used if you just put a hub centric ring in the rim.
For example, I found a custom adapter fabricator that makes the style on the left for 60.1mm centerbore.

Point being is James R pointed out the need for hub centricity, and that can be achieved with both styles in the pic posted.

Ken

[turbogoo1]

ok just for the record im really confuzzed... how exactly to adapters work? meaning... do you bolt them to your rotor?

Or do they slip on, then you use longer wheel studs?

Or do you take your old studs out bolt them to the rotor and use the ones that are on the adapters?

sorry for the questions...really like info

[supramad77]

you Bolt them straight on to the hub. The spacer has new studs already atttached.

[935motorsports]

It seems like there is lots of room to work with on the rear, but not on the front. You will end up with huge offset rims on the front and no lip as mentioned.

I would suggest doing a real 5 lug conversion on the front, then use adapters on the rear, where you get more offset to play with.

[rsdeo]

Yes using them for years. Bought a set when they first started making them to fit some rims on my car. Not much wheel selection back then.

Why use adapters when Centerlines are so reasonably priced?

[935motorsports]

Why use adapters when Centerlines are so reasonably priced?

I thought the same thing. BUT, I know how it is. You don't want to look the same as the other guy. Considering 95% of MK2s all look the same, some probably want to make theirs stand out.

I didn't go for the ROH rims because so many other people had bought them. It's always fun to be different.

In the end though, going Centerline is way easier.

[1suprafan]

I have always liked the torque thrust D's buy american racing. I think I would go with 5 lug adapters.

[Supra GTR]

Well, the one on the left can be used if you just put a hub centric ring in the rim.
For example, I found a custom adapter fabricator that makes the style on the left for 60.1mm centerbore.

Point being is James R pointed out the need for hub centricity, and that can be achieved with both styles in the pic posted.

Ken

Ken: I think some are thinking in error when you do this. The one on the left has no hub on the adapter.. so it would be pointless to put a hubcentric ring in the wheel. You should always get the style on the right. The adapter is hubcentric with your car and the wheel is hubcentric with your adapter.


Regards,
James R

[Dangerous Ken]

Ken: I think some are thinking in error when you do this. The one on the left has no hub on the adapter.. so it would be pointless to put a hubcentric ring in the wheel. You should always get the style on the right. The adapter is hubcentric with your car and the wheel is hubcentric with your adapter.


Regards,
James R

Correct James.

The one on the left does not have a hub.
But if it was machined to 60.1mm bore, it centers itself perfectly.
Then just get a ring for the wheel and everything is hub centric. The adapter is hub centric to the car, the wheel with ring is hub centric to the car.

The wheel does Not have to be hubcentric With the adapter if all parts are hubcentric to the Car.

Point I was trying to make is you don't need a 'hub ring on the adapter' adapter if the adapter, like the one one the left in the picture, is 60.1mm centerbore to start out with. Just a machinists design choice.

Ken

[Supra GTR]

You are right about the hub adapter not needing a ring if you have it machined with the proper centerbore. But the wheel should be hubcentric with the adapter... less chance of it being knocked loose. Doesn't have to be.. but that's like wheel not being hubcentric with your hub.. but worse.

Regards,
James R

[Dangerous Ken]

You are right about the hub adapter not needing a ring if you have it machined with the proper centerbore. But the wheel should be hubcentric with the adapter... less chance of it being knocked loose. Doesn't have to be.. but that's like wheel not being hubcentric with your hub.. but worse.

Regards,
James R

Ok, with respect to you James I will back down from a purely engineering standpoint versus a marketing standpoint.

I will just state that the wheel does not have to be 'attached' to the adaptor. The overall goal is 'hubcentricity', which is centered to the car.

The wheel will never be knocked loose from the adapter because of the wheel stud bolt pattern, which was designed to keep the wheel on the car and approved by every country the car was sold in. As long as that standard is met, there is no chance of the adapter 'coming loose' from the wheel. If the adapter is hubcentric, and the wheel is hubcentric with the use of a hub ring, there is No reason the adapter Has to be attached to the rim.

Ken

[rsdeo]

I have always liked the torque thrust D's buy american racing. I think I would go with 5 lug adapters.

Do the 5 bolt conversion for 5 bolt wheels. Easier than adapters.

[zank]

I was working on my friends car today and I noticed that he has some spacers on his car kind of like those

http://www.celicasupra.com/vbforums/showthread.php?t=15786

[Dangerous Ken]

Zank,

Those spacers don't have a 60.1mm centerbore, so I hope the rims have hub rings to center...

Ken

[cheappower82]

I ran wheel adapters on the P-type for a short while. They were not hub-centric, but I had no problems. The holes were countersunk so the adapters would center. I would definitely prefer hub-centric though.

I'm thinking of selling mine for about $150. They're 4x114.3 to 4x100 (the most popular 4 lug pattern).

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/402000-402999/402756_13_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/402000-402999/402756_1_full.jpg