Technical Wheel Mistake ...

[tminus3]

Hi everybody.

I bought 4x101 PCD wheels (ultralite mini wheels) Thought they were 4x98 PCD, but alas they are not.

I want to make them work with the 4x98. I'm looking for ideas.

One Idea I had was to make the wheel holes bigger so they encompass the 4x98 pattern and then use wobble bolts to hold the wheel in place.

The other idea is to use an adapter, but 15mm is too much of an offset even after my current offset with these wheels.

Any other ideas? I do not want to return these wheels I really like them and would like to make them work on the car.

thanks

 

[tminus3]

Some pictures... to show my wheels...btw, the picture with the wheels on the car was photoshopped by a friend.

 

[the hobbler]

The 'wobble' bolts would work, but personally, I think that the safest thing to do would be to sell the wheels and get the correct specification (98pcd)---put it down to experience!

 

[YvesAns]

Must say they do look good!

 

[Fiona500f]

Are the gold coloured wheels also photoshopped on your car or are they the current wheels you have on. If they are already on the car ie the correct pcd could you not have them painted up to look like your preferred black ones.

 

[tminus3]

Thank you guys for the compliment on the photoshopped wheels! LOL I know right, it looks amazing. The gold wheels are also photoshopped. I had a friend do that for me, while I was comparing many different wheels on my car. He sent me roughly 8 or 10 pictures like that with different wheels.
hobbler - I agree the 4x98PCD would be the "safest" choice. But I just don't see why I can't find some creative engineering to make these work. I would love to add that level of uniqueness to the car, but still maintain safety obviously.

So here is an intereseting thing, the drums in the back have lightly bigger holes and just because they are bigger they line up PERFECTLY with the wheels. But alas, the actual hub that the wheel bolts into is still not aligned. Which gave me the idea that if the wheel lug holes were drilled out to be the same size as the drum, wobble bolts included...this could work.

Current plan, I have two mechanical engineers and one drafting specialist, helping me make sense out of this on paper. Lets see....

 

[tminus3]

UPDATE: Worked with my friend on detailed CAD drawings of the hole pattern modeled in 3D. We overlayed the 4x98 of the hub with the 4x101.6 of the wheel. The wheel holes are currently 12mm, if they were drilled out to be 16mm, that would make them line up and viola, with wobble bolts it works. Next he suggested that I make sure the hub center bore also match the wheel center bore, so that there is zero chance of play. Great idea! So he is CNC machining the exact bore adapter for me, so that I can heat it, pop it on, let it cool and bind. Then put the wheel on it, so that the bolts align as well as the center bore is snug! WOW so excited to get this working.

 

[Toshi 975]

Do those alloy wheels have steel inserts at the bolt holes. I had some old 101.6 PCs Wolfrace wheels. I just pressed out the inserts and made some off centre ones on a lathe, very simple.

 

[tminus3]

Do those alloy wheels have steel inserts at the bolt holes. I had some old 101.6 PCs Wolfrace wheels. I just pressed out the inserts and made some off centre ones on a lathe, very simple.

They don't. Just aluminum wheels. Most of the people I've talked to are so concerned about torque / forces / sideload / etc. Then when I explain to them the size/weight/power of the car, they are shocked. Most of them are thinking a car that weights 2500 - 3000 lbs, with 200+ hp being driven aggressively.

 

[tminus3]

Hey Guys...I keep getting emails that people are responding to this thread, but when I come here, I see NOTHING other than a few comments and my posts.

 

[tminus3]

Update: So it turns out they make standard adapters that fit the 65mm center bore on the wheel with the 58mm bore on the hub. I had to measure all the hubs to make sure they were ALL 58mm. Yup they are. So, I might just invest in these adapters and call it a day.

Some had questions about the new wheel holes being off-center with respect too the hub and how that would either be accomplished or if that could be an issue. I am NOT drilling a new 4x98 PCD pattern on the wheels. I am merely opening up the pre-existing lug nut holes from 12mm to 16mm. So with respect to the center bore, the holes and pattern are still centered.

The center bore adapter is really added insurance to take any potential side load off the bolts.

 

[chris3234]

Update: So it turns out they make standard adapters that fit the 65mm center bore on the wheel with the 58mm bore on the hub. I had to measure all the hubs to make sure they were ALL 58mm. Yup they are. So, I might just invest in these adapters and call it a day.

Some had questions about the new wheel holes being off-center with respect too the hub and how that would either be accomplished or if that could be an issue. I am NOT drilling a new 4x98 PCD pattern on the wheels. I am merely opening up the pre-existing lug nut holes from 12mm to 16mm. So with respect to the center bore, the holes and pattern are still centered.

The center bore adapter is really added insurance to take any potential side load off the bolts.

The centre bore is critical ifit dosnt fit correctly the wheel bolts would likely end up taking the full weight of corner of the car through them

 

[tminus3]

The centre bore is critical ifit dosnt fit correctly the wheel bolts would likely end up taking the full weight of corner of the car through them

Chris, I agree with you 100%. I think making sure the center bore is properly supported and has the right adapter is going to make this a solid solution. Will report back when I have it all working

But first I must put my car back together! LOL its in lego form HAHHAH