Porsche Recall: A Reminder That Centre-Lock Wheels Are Silly on Street Cars

What Happened?

Porsche recently recalled over 1,000 vehicles due to a potential issue with the centre-lock wheels. The recall affects 2021-2022 Porsche 911, Cayman, and Boxster models equipped with this type of wheel.

The issue is that the centre-lock wheel nut may not be tightened to the correct torque, which could cause the wheel to detach from the vehicle. Porsche is urging owners to bring their vehicles to a dealership to have the wheels inspected and tightened.

Why Are Centre-Lock Wheels Silly on Street Cars?

Centre-lock wheels are typically used on race cars because they allow for quick and easy wheel changes. However, they are not well-suited for street cars for several reasons.

• They are more difficult to use. Centre-lock wheels require a special tool to tighten and loosen the wheel nut. This can be inconvenient for drivers who need to change a flat tire or swap out wheels for winter tires.
• They are less secure. Centre-lock wheels are not as secure as traditional lug nuts. A thief with the right tools can remove a centre-lock wheel in a matter of seconds. This makes centre-lock wheels a target for theft.
• They are more expensive. Centre-lock wheels are more expensive than traditional lug nuts. This is because they are made from more exotic materials and require more precision engineering.

In addition to these reasons, centre-lock wheels are also not necessary for the vast majority of street drivers. Even if a driver tracks their car, they can still use traditional lug nuts with a race-spec torque wrench to achieve the same level of performance.

Alternatives to Centre-Lock Wheels

There are several alternatives to centre-lock wheels that are better suited for street cars. These alternatives include:

• Traditional lug nuts: Lug nuts are the most common type of wheel fastener. They are easy to use, secure, and relatively inexpensive.
• Wheel locks: Wheel locks are a type of lug nut that requires a special key to remove. This makes them more difficult to steal than traditional lug nuts.
• Spline-drive lug nuts: Spline-drive lug nuts are a type of lug nut that uses a spline-shaped key instead of a hex key. This makes them more difficult to remove with the wrong tools.

When choosing an alternative to centre-lock wheels, it is important to consider the following factors:

• Ease of use: The wheel fastener should be easy to use, even for drivers who are not mechanically inclined.
• Security: The wheel fastener should be difficult to remove without the correct tools.
• Cost: The wheel fastener should be affordable.

Conclusion

Centre-lock wheels are not well-suited for street cars. They are difficult to use, less secure, and more expensive than traditional lug nuts. There are several alternatives to centre-lock wheels that are better suited for street cars, such as traditional lug nuts, wheel locks, and spline-drive lug nuts.