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This I'm sure is a dumb question but I don't know what the solution is. So I'll need u guys to help out.

I have 18 inch rims 215/40 ZR tires and when I go pass 60mph my steering wheel starts to vibrate, now it doesn't do it on all the roads, some roads the steering is fine...so here's the question

Is it because my wheels are not balanced correctly?

Or

Is it because I don't have centric or centering rings? and if I do need them what size should I get them in and where do they go??

And I told my bro about this centric ring thing and he tells me that if I put the rings on, my lug nuts won't be able to fit on my rims all the way, and my wheels might come off while I'm driving.

So, last question...is what he's saying true? he told me the thickness of the centric rings are like 2 quarter width at the least...

Thnx in advance

 
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The Centering rings do not effect the offset at all. They go inside the centerbore of the wheel and fit flush to the mounting face. I'm 75% sure the problem is you don't have centering rings. 20% would go towards the fact that there's a lot more rim, a lot less tire so you feel the road more. The other 5% could be the balance of the tires, but you'd notice that more than just at higher speeds. Get some centering rings.

 
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boiler ur info is very helpful, I have a few questions, what size thickness should I get it in because I know there's different sizes and how many should I get? I have an LX, should I get just the front tires or for both the front and rear tires? thnx and sorry for all the questions

 
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The thickness of the centering ring depends on the wheel. What it does is take the centerbore of the wheel (the hole in the middle of it) which is a universal size (they make it bigger than it ever will need to be) and then you go and buy the adapter ring to make it smaller so it fits the hub of the car. The car needs the diameter of the centerbore to be 56.1mm. So you need to find out what the size of the centerbore in the wheel, then go and buy a set of rings that matches those sizes.
A lot of wheels will use a 73 mm centerbore as their "universal fit". That doesn't mean that those are though. Call wherever you got them from and tell them you want to the centering ring sizes. And you need them for all 4 corners.

 
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thnx a lot, that was really really helpful

 
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one problem, I called wheelmax.com, where I got my wheels from, and I asked them for the size of the centerbore, but they said they don't know each size for each rims, so he tells me to go to the following website to search for it http://www.justforwheels.com/index.jsp . Well I did but the only year model they have for the civics are 80-96, mine is an 02. Are they all the same or should I just go to Pepboys and get me those center spacers instead or will those not work right? I have Exel rims, and exel's website is well, not really a website...so no help from that...any solutions to this? I also emailed the justforwheels website, but I doubt they'll respond before I turn 90. :-\

 
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Maybe try swapping around the front tires to the rear on the same side and see if it helps. If it does, then it could be that you need your tires re-balanced.

 
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our cars don't really need centering rings. They are more needed on european cars. I would have to say your tires aren't balanced correctly. since it only happens at fast speeds that would be my guess. I had that problem. Get the balanced at a place that does it well, not firestone or bridgestone because they know crap about aftermarket rims/tires.

here are some hub centric rings
http://www.1010tires.com/hubrings.asp

 
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well robbclark1, I don't see any signs of unbalance on the tires like uneven tread wear or such, and the vibrations doesn't happen on every part of a road, so maybe it's the low profile tires? but I went to discount tires today and they hook me up with free centric rings and I also had to buy new lug nuts cause the tuner lugs that I got from the wheels were cracked when they saw it. so no choice there. It still vibrates so I'm thinking I'll just go rebalance it, but since I have white rims, the edges where the lug holes are on the rims were scratched. :\ so I'm just gonna wait til I need tire rotations and rebalance it then.

 
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it has nothing to do with the tires. They balance the wheels by putting weights on the inside of them! They must be balanced on the wheel. Every tire is different so must be balanced on the wheel. They should take the rim off and spin it. Find someone with pinpoint precision on their wheel balancing so that they aren't just guessing like firestone/bridgestone.

 
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yea I guess I'll rebalance them since I can't stand the vibrations of the steering wheel, it's not that bad, but it's something I don't need...thnx for the info guys.

 
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I have the same problem. I just got my rims also from wheelmax. And my steering wheel shakes at high speeds. I guess wheelmax didnt balance them right

 
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what you guys are describing sounds like improper balancing of the tires. one question: does the wheel vibrate when you brake?? if so, your rotors are definitely warped.

 
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I'm assuming ur talking about the steering wheel vibrating when I brake? if so nope

 
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I had the same problem when i got my 18"s...I just went to Kaufman tire and got the certra rings and I haven't had a problem since....That is more likely your problem....Rob, why wouldn't you use the centra rings on our cars but use them on european cars??? it dosen't matter what make the car is...If you have an aftermarket wheels that has a larger bore than the hub on the car, you need these rings