Does anyone use hub centric rings?

I have a 1995 Tercel and bought aftermarket rims for it almost 8 years ago. The local place is having a heck of a time getting my wheels balanced, although they've done it before. They're telling me that since I have aftermarket rims, I need to get a set of hub centric rings installed on the rims in order for them to center on the hub. For the proper ring size, does it depend on the car or do you have to measure the actual rim hole?

Ok, I ordered a set of hub centric rings from Pep Boys since I have their brand of rims (PROLINE 928s). Got them today and put them on. They fit perfectly. I took the car out on the interstate and what a difference! It's amazing what a set of little, plastic rings can do! Best $17 I've ever spent!

Thanks for posting this information. Couldn't they balance them lug-centric as they should have?

Thanks for posting this information. Couldn't they balance them lug-centric as they should have?

They told me that lug-centric is not possible on Toyotas (and some other make that I can't remember) with aftermarket rims. I thought they were feeding me a line of bull, but these rings really did work for me after years of not having nicely balanced wheels. Strange thing is, I've had these rims on for 8 years now and this is the first time they've ever mentioned these rings. No other place has ever mentioned the possible need for them either. I called a few different parts places to see if they carried them, and most of them never even heard of them and didn't know what they were. I'm assuming that if the parts places don't know what they are that the average Joe doesn't either. Until now, I've never heard of them. I always thought that lug-centric worked no matter what.
I just wish I would've had these on two weeks ago when I drove my Tercel from SC to PA and back. Would've made for MUCH better driving!

As a side note, the local hot rod place wanted to charge me $25 to take off a wheel and measure the diameter of the hole in the rim. They said that's the only way to do it. Pep Boys got on their computer and put in what kind of car I have and what kind of rims I have, and it told them what rings I needed. Glad I didn't waste my money.

I may be mistaken, but I believe any rim can be balanced lug centric. That's the way it's mounted so it provides a better balance. On the car, the hub doesn't center the wheel, the lugs do, as they should on the balancing machine.

Here's a website that explains it well. Apparently my wheels are balanced, but they were still vibrating because of not being hub-centric. Or something like that. :)
http://www.justforwheels.com/index.jsp?cat=hubcentric&sub=how&track=GHR

Yes! I use CENTRICRINGS.COM (http://centricrings.com) service.
There is about 350 hub centric ring sizes.

If the wheel/tire combination is balanced lug-centric, then these rings are a waste of money. If the tire shop is forced to balance the wheels hub-centric, then they force you to use the hub rings to keep the hub locating the wheel.

Find a shop that balances the tires lug-centric and do it right.

Here's a website that explains it well. Apparently my wheels are balanced, but they were still vibrating because of not being hub-centric. Or something like that. :)
http://www.justforwheels.com/index.jsp?cat=hubcentric&sub=how&track=GHR

Actually, they were vibrating because they were not balanced lug-centric.

Firstly of course you need to balance the wheel. But if the hole in the wheel hub diameter greater than 0.5mm You need to exclude the possibility of runout and use hub centric rings

If the wheel/tire combination is balanced lug-centric, then these rings are a waste of money. If the tire shop is forced to balance the wheels hub-centric, then they force you to use the hub rings to keep the hub locating the wheel.

Find a shop that balances the tires lug-centric and do it right.

Firstly of course you need to balance the wheel. But if the hole in the wheel hub diameter greater than 0.5mm You need to exclude the possibility of runout and use hub centric rings

Using hub centric rings is never necessary. The hub doesn't support the wheel, the lugs do.

I did not say that the rings keep the wheels. I talked about the vibration. Rings are used to prevent vibration of the wheel. Of course, if they are required! Using hub centric rings is never necessary. The hub doesn't support the wheel, the lugs do.

Looks like BS to me. Toyota wheels, aftermarket or not, should be balanced lug-centric, as defined by Toyota. If they don't fit and can't be balanced lug-centric, don't buy them.