How do I measure a Wheel Rim?

The 'pcd' (pitch circle diameter) is the measurement you will always be asked for when enquiring about a wheel rim.

Number of Rim Studs

3 Stud Rim

Measure C, this is the distance from the centre of a stud to the edge of the hub The 'pcd' (pitch circle diameter) is the measurement you will always be asked for when enquiring about a wheel rim.

Number of Rim Studs

3 Stud Rim Measure C, this is the distance from the centre of a stud to the edge of the hub centre. Measure D, this is the hub centre diameter. pcd = (C x 2) + D

4 Stud Rim Measure across the centre hub from the centre of one stud to another, this is the 'pcd'

5 Stud Rim Measure C, this is the distance from the centre of a stud to the edge of the hub centre. Measure D, this is the hub centre diameter. pcd = (C x 2) +D

The other measurements needed will be:-

1) The wheel rim diameter, this can be obtained from the information on the tyre eg. 520x 10, 175x13, 650x16, etc...

2) The wheel section, this is normally stamped in the rim. This a number followed by a letter eg. 4½ J, 5 J, 5½ J etc....

3) The 'offset' is then another factor to consider, if A is equal to B, it is a centre web rim, if A is greater than B, the rim has an offset.centre. Measure D, this is the hub centre diameter. pcd = (C x 2) + D

4 Stud Rim Measure across the centre hub from the centre of one stud to another, this is the 'pcd'

5 Stud Rim Measure C, this is the distance from the centre of a stud to the edge of the hub centre. Measure D, this is the hub centre diameter. pcd = (C x 2) +D

The other measurements needed will be:-

1) The wheel rim diameter, this can be obtained from the information on the tyre

eg. 520x 10, 175x13, 650x16, etc...

2) The wheel section, this is normally stamped in the rim. This a number followed by a letter eg. 4½ J, 5 J, 5½ J etc....

3) The 'offset' is then another factor to consider, if A is equal to B, it is a centre web rim, if A is greater than B, the rim has an offset.

Registering your ‘TOAD’ as a trailer…

Registering your TOAD (towed car) as a trailer (as recommended by one leading a-frame supplier) is now, officially, illegal. The DfT have issued an amendment to The Trailer Registration Regulations 2021 which states (3) After regulation 4(7), insert— “(8) In paragraph (1), “trailer” does not include a trailer that is a mechanically propelled vehicle.”. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/1043/made

Yesterday, I also received an email from the DfT confirming that existing trailer registrations made in this manner will be cancelled by the DVLA. The applicants will lose their £26 fee. #TowLegal #TowSafe #TowSafe4Freddie

Warning!!

Product Safety information for a-frame users.

Following recent events, including threats to personal safety, I have redacted the company’s information from the above post. any comments mentioning them have also been deleted. No campaign is worth putting the world of myself and my family at risk. In the event anything untoward does occur, there are people out there who know the perpetrator including Lincolnshire Police.

Following a recent catastrophic failure of an a-frame towed car I have, this week, (17.11.21) formally called upon Trading Standards and the Vehicle Safety Branch (VSB) of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to implement a PRODUCT RECALL on specific a-frame installations.

The towed car suffered a sudden and unpredictable failure of the a-frame to car interface. Regardless of the cause of the initial failure,

CRUCIALLY, it should have had an emergency breakaway system installed in accordance with the Road Vehicles (construction & use) regulations 1986 [and amendments] and COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 98/12/EC.

The object of the emergency breakaway system is to stop the ‘trailer’ in it’s tracks and prevent the ‘trailer’ literally breaking away and going wherever, in this case mounting a pavement and scattering pedestrians.

As the company have ignored my request for more information, The number of vehicles affected is currently unknown but if your vehicle is one, a simple visual inspection will identify it.

Do NOT rely on any written statements like “Automatically sets itself up” or “Break-away safety features built in”. Without the ring highlighted, it has no emergency braking in place!

The product is from a company known as [redacted]. Their standard practice would be to install the emergency breakaway facility, identifiable by a ring ‘mini-cable-tied’ to the vehicles front grill, adjacent to the 13 pin electrical socket.

The ring is for the attachment of a supplied, breakaway cable. SEE PHOTO.

if your vehicle was converted by this company and is lacking the ring, it is ESSENTIAL that your car is drawn to their attention with a view to being modified. The company can be contacted at [redacted].

Failure to act is putting LIVES AT RISK!