newbie with a tyre problem

[Anthonyg]

Hi folks, I am new to the forum and have joined because my daughter has just bought herself a 2004 Punto.

Like most young people her nice 'new' car needed that little bit extra!!! She decided that her car needed alloy wheels. whe had a set off her old car and started the process of putting them on. Boy did that start a party of events.

After three weeks we have purchased longer wheel nuts and spacers for the rear as the o/s tyre rubbed on the suspension strut. That done and of to work down the motorway today she phoned me to say she has a wobble at the front at 50 mph. Didn't have the wobble before and we're unsure what might cause it. Anyone got any ideas. (wheels were fine on her old car.)

 

[Eklipze3k]

Welcome to the forum

What wheels have you fitted? Did they also come off of a Fiat? If not, what were they fitted to previously? You say you used spacers - what size?

My concern is that the wheels have come from a 4-stud 4x100 vehicle, the Punto uses a 4x98 stud pattern so they'd need PCD correction bolts to fit, my other concern is that you've used universal spacers which are not holding the wheel correctly to the hub (especially if the wheels have come from a vehicle with a larger centre bore) so basically they're loosening themselves off with every tiny imperfection in the road.

PCD should be easily corrected, centre bore (as long as it's too big compared to Fiat's 58.1mm) can also be corrected, offset (the requirement for spacers) can also be corrected but the amount it is out by will determine whether or not hubcentric spacers are required or whether universal ones will be 'OK'.

 

[Anthonyg]

thanks for your your response.

the wheels were bought from Halfords (ripspeed mugello). the new bolts we have bought do adjust the PCD (that was an exercise in itself to get the right ones but we had a lot of help from the supplier who asked lots of questions!!!)

the spacers are only fitted on the rear, we didn't see a need to do the fronts.

The only other thing we had to do to fit the alloys was to remove the two wheel locator lugs from each hub but i don't think that has caused any problem.

the wheels were first fitted to a 1.4 standard renault megane.

 

[Anthonyg]

forgot to add... we used a 5mm spacer on the rear and replaced the 25mm bolt with new 30mm ones

 

[Eklipze3k]

You ought to have spacers on both axles really, I am surprised that there are no fouling issues up front considering they did at the rear.
Regardless, I think the centre bore is the issue, and spigot rings are the answer. I've no idea what Renault's centre bore size is, but I dare say Halfords should have a selection of spigots which will allow the wheel to sit properly on the hub.

 

[dave]

did you fit the right spigot rings? if not the centre hole in the wheel wont be right so wheel wont be sitting right, the vibration will eventually kill wheel bearings and/or work wheel nuts loose.
its a bad ida to try and bodge wheels to fit if you dont know what you are doing, its better to sell them and buy a set that fit right

 

[Anthonyg]

in further reading your comments. I wondered if the tyre kit (which includes the wheel sleeve) was the right one for the car. Have checked with Halfords and it is a different kit for the fiat. do you think if I change the sleeves this will correct the problem?

 

[Anthonyg]

thanks folks.... with your help I think replacing the spiggot rings is the solution. Truly wouldn't have fathomed this out without your input. Duaghter is gonna pick them up on her way home.. another job for an old man when she gets home!

 

[ysidfa]

Glad someone could help!

You ought to buy her a Haynes manual and a tool box for christmas
Cheers
Tom

 

[jip0]

in further reading your comments. I wondered if the tyre kit (which includes the wheel sleeve) was the right one for the car. Have checked with Halfords and it is a different kit for the fiat. do you think if I change the sleeves this will correct the problem?

what is in the wheel kit

if it is designed for the standard fiat wheels then it wont work with the new after market alloys