Centerlocks: worth the hassle or hold out for lugs?
01-11-2024, 04:26 PM
#46
Drifting
I have / had spare wheels / tires sets that I like to swap out from time to time with my former / current Pcars.
My last car (997.2 Turbo S) had CL....Bought the proper tools / gear....No big deal once I learned the work flow / process....Easy.... Oh, it helps to be a bigger / heavier / stronger guy / gal for the 444 Ft. Lbs.....lol. So, at 270 lbs. it wasn't that difficult for me to break them loose / tighten them up.
My current car (991.2 Turbo S) came with the 5 lug option (some don't even know Turbo S's can come with 5 lugs). Yes it looks different but still looks great! Different tools but just the same, it's easy once you know the Flow.
Not sure I'd ever need it but I do keep a scissor jack, torque wrench, puck, and lug sockets in the car in case I ever had to remove a wheel on side of road...Not likely depending on terrain.
CL's would be a bit harder to do on the side of the road.... Not sure I'd want to try with just a little jack.
Get a good tow service plan and get the car you want.
My last car (997.2 Turbo S) had CL....Bought the proper tools / gear....No big deal once I learned the work flow / process....Easy.... Oh, it helps to be a bigger / heavier / stronger guy / gal for the 444 Ft. Lbs.....lol. So, at 270 lbs. it wasn't that difficult for me to break them loose / tighten them up.
My current car (991.2 Turbo S) came with the 5 lug option (some don't even know Turbo S's can come with 5 lugs). Yes it looks different but still looks great! Different tools but just the same, it's easy once you know the Flow.
Not sure I'd ever need it but I do keep a scissor jack, torque wrench, puck, and lug sockets in the car in case I ever had to remove a wheel on side of road...Not likely depending on terrain.
CL's would be a bit harder to do on the side of the road.... Not sure I'd want to try with just a little jack.
Get a good tow service plan and get the car you want.
01-11-2024, 04:51 PM
#47
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Location: Metro Atlanta, GA area
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Few scenarios.
If I'm within an hour or two of my home, I could have a friend bring me my spare set / wheel from my other set that already got tires mounted and swap it.
OR, I could pull it. leave the car, take tire to a tire shop. Have it patched / plugged to get me home. Then later swap to my other wheels / tires while I get it addressed.
Those are the main two realistic scenarios I guess...
However, if I'm able, I have a good friend that's had to come get my trucks on several occasions with their flat beds when I broke input or output shafts with my old very high HP / TQ diesel trucks. So I'd see if they could come get me too.
I guess it all depends on where I'm at, what we're doing, and how convenient it would be.
01-11-2024, 05:22 PM
#49
Yep, that's the bottom line.
I've always viewed these discussions about CLs vs. 5-lugs as which would you rather have if you're changing tires at home in your garage. I won't change any tire on the side of a busy road, so any of our vehicles (3) without spares will likely take a flatbed ride. The only question is (on a 911 w/ CL roadtrip) how long is that ride is going to be? With the added complication of PCCBs, I'm not trusting Billy Bob's Tire Repair with a $6K ceramic rotor, even he has a 3/4" drive, 4' breaker bar.
I don't care for CLs purely from a utility standpoint because they don't provide any benefit other than cool factor. However, I don't worry above having them either, and it certainly did not affect my purchase decision.
I've always viewed these discussions about CLs vs. 5-lugs as which would you rather have if you're changing tires at home in your garage. I won't change any tire on the side of a busy road, so any of our vehicles (3) without spares will likely take a flatbed ride. The only question is (on a 911 w/ CL roadtrip) how long is that ride is going to be? With the added complication of PCCBs, I'm not trusting Billy Bob's Tire Repair with a $6K ceramic rotor, even he has a 3/4" drive, 4' breaker bar.
I don't care for CLs purely from a utility standpoint because they don't provide any benefit other than cool factor. However, I don't worry above having them either, and it certainly did not affect my purchase decision.
Last edited by Foosh; 01-11-2024 at 05:26 PM.
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cbredesen (01-11-2024)
01-11-2024, 06:09 PM
#50
Rennlist Member
And because I have all that, chances are I'll never need it.
And it would have been a huge mistake to turn down a 3Y 1M old GTS with 98 miles and $45,620 in factory options just because it had CL wheels.
01-11-2024, 06:23 PM
#51
And, as I said in the post you decided to clip from my full post, it didn't affect my purchase decision either.
Sounds like you either travel alone, or don't need much luggage. I can barely get my wife's stuff in the frunk.
Sounds like you either travel alone, or don't need much luggage. I can barely get my wife's stuff in the frunk.
Last edited by Foosh; 01-11-2024 at 06:25 PM.
01-11-2024, 06:39 PM
#52
Rennlist Member
As for bringing the kitchen sink, I know all about that. We are at 1000 pounds on the motorcycle while touring the Alps and not on one of those mickey mouse organized tours. When you've been on Passo Manghen or the Kaiserjägerweg in Italy on ultra-tight hairpins with 20+% grades doing no MPH around them, a high CoG is pure murder. Of course she had to bring everything along.
01-12-2024, 10:33 PM
#56
I have a '16 GTS since new. Opted for the 5 lug wheels. That has been a great choice for me as I live in rural environ. At least 2 nail repairs and 2 sets back 1 set front tires swaps in about 19K miles all by my local good guy tire store who cannot work on CL. Also have a new GT3T. Heard there was a good tire store about 12 miles away who could deal with CL/tire change. I called them to verify. One guy did not know and referred me to someone else. Second guy said yea no problem including the torque spec. I said 'don't you have to have a special paste for the hub?' Long pause uh 'yea I think they usually put that with the wheel change stuff in the car'. Not sure I would trust them to follow the procedure correctly and have heard P dealers won't plug/patch tires b/c of liability.
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Foosh (01-13-2024)
01-13-2024, 07:16 AM
#59
Rennlist Member
100%! :-)
That's as far as the 997 has ever been from my house, but worth the risk! I've driven the 991 as far north as Indy for Lyft and south to Amelia for Werks.
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Big Swole (01-13-2024)
01-13-2024, 11:37 AM
#60
Instructor
First time centerlock owner with my 2017 TTS that I’ve had for a year now.
- Was not a factor pro or con in my purchase decision
- Yes I purchased the $2200 torque multiplier tool and watched a few videos. (BTW a small increment over the cost of the car.)
- R&R of the centerlocks IS NOT DIFFICULT
- After a year I have validated my going in assumption of “not a factor”
- Was not a factor pro or con in my purchase decision
- Yes I purchased the $2200 torque multiplier tool and watched a few videos. (BTW a small increment over the cost of the car.)
- R&R of the centerlocks IS NOT DIFFICULT
- After a year I have validated my going in assumption of “not a factor”