Can I have the hub opening enlarged on steelies?

[bulwnkl]

I bought a pair of snow tires on steel rims from a guy up the road a ways. I checked offset and bolt pattern/diameter beforehand and they're correct for my vehicle. What I didn't think to think of is the hub opening diameter in the center. It's too small for my car, and it's exactly all that close.

Do you think I can get a machine shop (or whatever) to punch out a larger hole in the center for me? The wheels need not necessarily be hub-centric. Any other bright ideas? I'm not really wanting to go to the local tire shop and buy another set of steelies. Thanks.

 

[alreadygone]

Probably cost as much as 2 more wheels.

Bob

 

[rg200amp]

That can be tricky. It may or may not upset the rims integrety.

Post pics, so we can see where the lugs will be in contrast to your "new" hole size.

 

[wcbcruzer]

Best to have a machine shop do it, although some people do it with a hole saw. You don't want the rim to get out of balance.

 

[scoobie]

i would use the hole saw. the part of the wheel closest to the centre has only a miniscule effect on the dynamic balance of the wheel.

 

[eljefino]

Some steelies have little tabs that protrude in a few millimeters to meet the hub. I imagine those could be removed safely.

I would use a large die grinder myself.

 

[bulwnkl]

Well, I'm glad to see that my brain was working the same direction as the creative folks' here. This morning I was thinking: I'll bet I can do this with a hole saw.

There's a 'lip,' around the hub opening in the wheels now, presumably to center this wheel on the Honda/Toyota/whoever hub that it was built for in the first place. If I cut the center basically right at the outer edge of that lip I'll have the diameter I need. If I can find a hole saw whose I.D. is pretty close to the O.D. of that lip, I'll be assured that the new hole is centered. A hole saw should be waaayyy cheaper than a pair of rims and dismount/mount/balance fees.

For the reason mentioned by scoobie, I'm not too concerned about balance re: metal removed in at the center of the wheel.

rg200amp: I'm not touching the lug holes nor anything near them; only the hole in the actual center of the wheel for the hub.

Thanks, fellas.

 

[bulwnkl]

Worked like a charm!

 

[eljefino]

Pics? Did you go in from the back so the shape of the rim recentered your hole saw?

I hope you paint/grease that naked metal or she'll rust and stick in no time.

 

[bulwnkl]

There was a 'lip' at the original hub opening on the wheel that pointed outward. I bought a 2 7/8" hole saw, which fit snugly around the outside of that 'lip.' I figured that was as well-centered as I could possibly get without a lathe or mill or something similar. I tried going in from the back side, but that was a rounded arc shape on the wheel and the hole saw wouldn't center, it'd just jump around.

The 2 7/8 hole is bigger than I needed (only needed a little shy of 2 3/4"), but the 2 7/8 was the exact size that would go snugly over the existing lip.

I decided to make my first effort to deal with potential rust a SiliKroil dousing. If the wheels don't want to come off in a week or 3, I'll hit them with some real grease. The rattle-can paint I have will practically scuff off with a stiff fingernail, so I opted against that approach.

For whatever reason, probably impatience, I didn't take pics before I started. Sorry.

 

[IndyIan]

I had the same problem, I ended up using my angle grinder and just ground the lip off even to the rest of the rim, then ripped at the edge with a big round file. I only needed like 0.5 mm so it didn't take long.
Good idea with the holesaw though, I'll keep it in mind for next time.
Ian