Polycarbonate or Metal Hubcentric Rings?

by **cklinh** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 5:12 am

So, in my quest to have everything ready for the wheels before I pick them up... I went ahead and ordered hubcentric rings...

From two different auctions, I see:

"Do not be fooled by the so-called Poly Carbon rings. Metal rings are much better quality than plastic/poly carbon rings and are made to a more exact, closer tolerance for a proper fitment. They won't crack, melt or break over time like plastic rings do." -DiscountTireDirect

and

"DON'T BE FOOLED BY METAL HUBRINGS. POLYCARBONATE RINGS ARE BETTER THAN METAL RINGS. POLYCARBON RINGS DO NOT CORRODE, CAUSE RATTLING, OR SHOW SIGNS OF WEAR LIKE METAL! POLYCARBON IS EXTREMELY DURABLE AND FORMS A TIGHTER SEAL BETWEEN THE HUB AND THE WHEEL. THESE WILL NOT MELT, CRACK, OR BREAK OVER TIME UNDER NORMAL USE. SUITABLE FOR STREET AND TRACK USE. USE COMMON SENSE, DO YOU WANT SOMETHING METAL RATTLING AROUND IN BETWEEN YOUR WHEELS, POSSIBLY DAMAGING THEM, OR POLYCARBONATE THAT WORKS MORE LIKE A WASHER AND WONT SCRATCH YOUR RIMS?" -EuroSportGarage

Kinda in direct conflict, no? So, which is true? I went with the metal ones because I thought DiscountTireDirect would be more "honest".

Which type are you using, and does it really matter?

by **'00vegas-solara** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 6:18 am

My wheels came with plastic rings from Tirerack.com. I'm not familiar enough with either one to really know which is better.
Good Luck

by **hskrsolara** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 7:54 am

i have the metal and have had no problems at all. just think, who cares if it scratches inside the hub of your wheel, you never see that anyway. mine have been on for 8 months and everytime i take the wheels off, i see no damage to the wheels or the rings. the rings are still shiny green and just like new.

by **DatSRBoi** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 7:57 am

To be honest, both are just as good and strong. Only if your going to keep your rims on for ever and dont do HEAVY track racing Id get the Plastic rings. They havnt wore out on me yet and Ive had them for a long time on two cars.

Metal is if you take your rims off allot to clean off the rust that builds on them depending on what weather you live in. Also they Can somewhat handle heavy track corner racing more... BUUTTTTT then it doesnt last for ever nor longer then the plastic one either.

by **wiz2** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 6:12 pm

Both are OK for normal driving. I switched to metal because the poly ones melted to my hub and had to be scraped off. I've had metal ever since, even though I rarely push my car lately.

by **Gr8Dane** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 7:07 am

I work at Discount Tire, and I've used both poly and metal rings on cars we work on. Most rings get all nasty anyway because of the surface rust behind the wheel. Most rings will fit snug and not rattle. To be honest the only rings I've seen broken are plastic ones we didn't install, or ones we break when servicing the cars.