what is the big deal w center lock wheels?

tranquility · 12-11-2021, 03:33 PM

Talking about FUNCTION as I don't care if ppl think they look better than the conventional 4 or 5 bolts wheel. It seems like a pita when you have to remove the wheels as you have to gingerly make sure it comes off straight. I also imagine there are safety concerns since if it's not torqued right the wheel could fall off vs the inherent failsafe of having to screw up all 4 or 5 bolts.

So, what's the big deal and is there any advantage for center locks (save for supposedly faster removal, but that may be debatable; and maybe marginally lighter)?

Red Bread · 12-11-2021, 03:47 PM

Lighter overall and in theory you can run a smaller hub and have better brake cooling/ducting.

tranquility · 12-11-2021, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Lighter overall and in theory you can run a smaller hub and have better brake cooling/ducting.

Is it a tangible difference though, and worth the fuss given what I believe in the OP?

Red Bread · 12-11-2021, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Lighter overall and in theory you can run a smaller hub and have better brake cooling/ducting.

Is it a tangible difference though, and worth the fuss given what I believe in the OP?

Are you getting paid to win races? If not, it's all about the looks.

tranquility · 12-11-2021, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Are you getting paid to win races? If not, it's all about the looks.

That's what I figured, negligible for everyday use then.

Murf993 · 12-11-2021, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

That's what I figured, negligible for everyday use then.

Yup, just like spoilers and all aero for that matter, hot exhaust, superchargers, turbo chargers, remapping, and wild woodpecker stickers. 99% of the time it's all about looks but really that's life, (might be the rum talking) but most of this is about self expression/customizing.

Humdizzle · 12-11-2021, 07:18 PM

its small. but every little bit helps.

porsche RS car usually have things like thinner glass, centerlocks, pccb, carbon bucket seats, no back seats, lithium battery, some people even uncheck the front axle lifter due to weight over the front axle.... individually it isn't much but added all together it makes a difference.

beats · 12-11-2021, 07:40 PM

Once you get used to them they don't take much longer to change than 5 bolt - there is a learning curve though (and expensive new tools needed). Biggest upside IMO is if you track, you don't keep checking the torque once installed (properly).

tranquility · 12-11-2021, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murf993

Yup, just like spoilers and all aero for that matter, hot exhaust, superchargers, turbo chargers, remapping, and wild woodpecker stickers. 99% of the time it's all about looks but really that's life, (might be the rum talking) but most of this is about self expression/customizing.

Some of those have real significant performance gains so pretty sure it's the rum talking lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by beats

Once you get used to them they don't take much longer to change than 5 bolt - there is a learning curve though (and expensive new tools needed). Biggest upside IMO is if you track, you don't keep checking the torque once installed (properly).

Hmmm, I guess I'm not sold then haha. Weird it takes longer than 5 bolts to change, I would've thought it should be faster, then I saw some vids on ppl changing them and it was painful to watch like they were delivering a baby, treated the parts so gingerly....perhaps there's difference between real race cars' centre locks vs those equipped in street cars?

KMP259 · 12-11-2021, 08:02 PM

Many of the European Performance cars have bolts instead of studs.....which is a bit more difficult to install the wheel.....also vehicles with Carbon Ceramic Brakes have to be cautious installing wheels.....& Center-Lock wheels are just much easier to install without lining up bolt holes and taking a chance on hitting the rotor during the install process.

LOW4LYF · 12-12-2021, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KMP259

Many of the European Performance cars have bolts instead of studs.....which is a bit more difficult to install the wheel.....also vehicles with Carbon Ceramic Brakes have to be cautious installing wheels.....& Center-Lock wheels are just much easier to install without lining up bolt holes and taking a chance on hitting the rotor during the install process.

Most if not all European performance cars have bolts.

Only people overseas have issues with installing the wheels...lol

mikado463 · 12-12-2021, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Are you getting paid to win races? If not, it's all about the looks.

agreed and fun changing a flat !

beats · 12-12-2021, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikado463

agreed and fun changing a flat !

You have to have a spare in the car in the first place to change the tire..

beats · 12-12-2021, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

Some of those have real significant performance gains so pretty sure it's the rum talking lol

Hmmm, I guess I'm not sold then haha. Weird it takes longer than 5 bolts to change, I would've thought it should be faster, then I saw some vids on ppl changing them and it was painful to watch like they were delivering a baby, treated the parts so gingerly....perhaps there's difference between real race cars' centre locks vs those equipped in street cars?

The extra time comes from backing off the nut and re-torquing. If there is a difference for me, it may only be a few min for all four. I've had the car for a few years now so can do all four corners - brakes and wheels in abt an hour - sometimes in the dark!

SickGTR · 12-12-2021, 05:43 PM

It's just fucking cool!!!!!!! Props for having something that not every other knuckle head has.

Red Bread · 12-12-2021, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murf993

Yup, just like spoilers and all aero for that matter, hot exhaust, superchargers, turbo chargers, remapping, and wild woodpecker stickers. 99% of the time it's all about looks but really that's life, (might be the rum talking) but most of this is about self expression/customizing.

Some of those have real significant performance gains so pretty sure it's the rum talking lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by beats

Once you get used to them they don't take much longer to change than 5 bolt - there is a learning curve though (and expensive new tools needed). Biggest upside IMO is if you track, you don't keep checking the torque once installed (properly).

Hmmm, I guess I'm not sold then haha. Weird it takes longer than 5 bolts to change, I would've thought it should be faster, then I saw some vids on ppl changing them and it was painful to watch like they were delivering a baby, treated the parts so gingerly....perhaps there's difference between real race cars' centre locks vs those equipped in street cars?

F1 cars don't really have a warranty, so they just bang them on there. Sometimes they don't get torqued down and a wheel departs mid turn. Sometimes they get cross threaded and it takes a few days for a team of engineers to figure out how to get them off.

KMP259 · 12-12-2021, 07:10 PM

Some times they are just easier & faster to deal with.....

RM7 · 12-12-2021, 09:14 PM

And what's the deal with carbon ceramic brakes!?

12-11-2021, 03:33 PM	#1
tranquility sportscars only 3484 Rep 3,271 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	what is the big deal w center lock wheels? Talking about FUNCTION as I don't care if ppl think they look better than the conventional 4 or 5 bolts wheel. It seems like a pita when you have to remove the wheels as you have to gingerly make sure it comes off straight. I also imagine there are safety concerns since if it's not torqued right the wheel could fall off vs the inherent failsafe of having to screw up all 4 or 5 bolts. So, what's the big deal and is there any advantage for center locks (save for supposedly faster removal, but that may be debatable; and maybe marginally lighter)? __________________ The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons and what I do, stock and real estate speculation...It's bullsh*t. I create nothing. I own. We make the rules, pal...Now you're not naive enough to think we're living in a democracy, are you buddy?
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12-11-2021, 03:47 PM	#2
Red Bread Major General 4458 Rep 9,160 Posts Drives: Smog machines Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Lighter overall and in theory you can run a smaller hub and have better brake cooling/ducting.
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12-11-2021, 07:18 PM	#7
Humdizzle Brigadier General 6526 Rep 3,848 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Missouri iTrader: (0)	its small. but every little bit helps. porsche RS car usually have things like thinner glass, centerlocks, pccb, carbon bucket seats, no back seats, lithium battery, some people even uncheck the front axle lifter due to weight over the front axle.... individually it isn't much but added all together it makes a difference. __________________ 2018 Porsche GT3 6MT Previous: Ferrari 458 \| R35 GTR \| F80 M3 \| F87 M2c \| E46 M3 \| E36 M3 \| Scion FRS
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12-11-2021, 07:40 PM	#8
beats Captain 241 Rep 605 Posts Drives: 2015 911 GTS Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Once you get used to them they don't take much longer to change than 5 bolt - there is a learning curve though (and expensive new tools needed). Biggest upside IMO is if you track, you don't keep checking the torque once installed (properly).
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12-11-2021, 08:02 PM	#10
KMP259 Enlisted Member 54 Rep 35 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW M6 Competition Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Gurnee, IL. iTrader: (0)	Many of the European Performance cars have bolts instead of studs.....which is a bit more difficult to install the wheel.....also vehicles with Carbon Ceramic Brakes have to be cautious installing wheels.....& Center-Lock wheels are just much easier to install without lining up bolt holes and taking a chance on hitting the rotor during the install process.
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12-12-2021, 05:43 PM	#15
SickGTR Banned 1081 Rep 949 Posts Drives: 1000whpGTR/ F-82 YAS Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Dirt Jerz iTrader: (0)	It's just fucking cool!!!!!!! Props for having something that not every other knuckle head has.
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12-12-2021, 07:10 PM	#17
KMP259 Enlisted Member 54 Rep 35 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW M6 Competition Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Gurnee, IL. iTrader: (0)	Some times they are just easier & faster to deal with..... Attached Images
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12-12-2021, 09:14 PM	#18
RM7 Brigadier General 3037 Rep 3,645 Posts Drives: Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alaska iTrader: (0)	And what's the deal with carbon ceramic brakes!? __________________ Current: 2018 Camaro SS 1LE, 2023 Colorado ZR2. Former: BMW 428i Gran Coupe.
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