universal wheels really work?

[KST]

Benn looking for some wheels to throw my snow tires on. i see some steel multi pattern wheels available.

If I get some,will i have any problem with them in terms of the hub and such?

 

[kkreit01]

I would not buy them unless you can test fit them first. You have to worry about backspacing/offset, hub bore, bolt pattern, etc. There's no such thing as "univeral fit-all wheels". Some have 4, 5, 6 bolts, etc.

Find some used wheels for your car on Craigslist. Or search a reputable sight like Tirerack or DiscountTireDirect.

 

[bepperb]

Quite possibly. Universal as in it can handle two bolt patterns. You also need to know the offset of your car. Some are weird, like my Highlander. Even though both my cars have the same bolt pattern, the offset of one is 55, the other 38, so we're talking a 17mm difference in the centerline (which won't look or drive well).

 

[Spazdog]

If you have a hub-centric car like a Mercedes Benz, no.

I can't remember how many Mercedes Benzes came into my shop with problems caused by fitting lug-centric (usually big 20"+) wheels, but it was a substantial number.

 

[sciphi]

We got some kinda-universal 4x100 bolt pattern 16" wheels for the Fit's snows. They came with hub-centric rings and their own tuner lug nuts. No odd vibrations or balance issues that we've noted.

 

[rpn453]

It's not ideal. Ideally, you'd have the OEM offset and a hub-centric fit. But they work. My ex's winter wheels have more outset than OEM and are not hub-centric, but they've been fine for the few years she's had them. No balance or steering issues. The only new OEM-fit wheels I could find were three times the price, so I tried them. I figured Canadian Tire wouldn't be selling them if there were any risks involved.