We can call this system “Center-Lock”, that is, roughly translated, “centrally locked”. Since it will take a long time to change the tires during the race, they have to change together with the rim. The fastest way to change the rim is the “Center-Lock” method we mentioned. Thanks to this system, race cars can finish their pit stops much faster and continue their races.
In fact, if we think about it, it might make sense to use this system that can speed up many processes in our lives. For example, we would spend less time in tire shops and our wheel bolt costs would decrease. In fact, when we need to change a tire as a result of a disruption on the road, we can remove and install the rim much faster. If race cars can change quickly, why can’t we? Here’s why we can’t…
If you have not invented deformable wrench sets, you cannot use them because “Center-Lock” wheel bolts can only be used with the help of special equipment.
The standard bolts we currently use on our vehicles use key sizes in metric standards. Therefore, it can be disassembled and assembled, if necessary, with simple tools not only developed for automotive. However, since “Center-Lock” wheel bolts have a special tooth structure and size, you cannot interfere with any tool you can find around. Therefore, using this system in our daily vehicles is not only impractical, but can make your job quite difficult in an emergency.
If you don’t have the green giant “Hulk” among you, it will be very difficult to tighten these bolts.
In Formula 1 or similar racing series, the pit crew use special gun-like tools to remove the wheels. These guns are very powerful air pressure impact guns specially designed for removing Center-Lock bolts. With the powerful air compressors that make these guns work and the gear structure of the gun, these tools can reach enormous torque values. In this way, these bolts can apply the required torque to the rim alone, and the rim can remain connected to the hub without any problems.
What’s wrong with one hand, two hands have a voice…
Formula 1 cars are constantly subjected to precise checks before, after, and even during each race to confirm that everything is working properly. These precise controls include, of course, our Center-Lock studs. However, although there is no such control in our daily cars, most users do not even change their tires until they burst. This raises an obvious problem.
If there is a malfunction or problem in your single bolt on your rim, you will lose the only thing that connects your rim and tire to the vehicle, and I am sure you do not want to think about the consequences. That’s why having more than one bolt on everyday vehicles gives you a kind of guarantee, even if one bolt goes wrong on your vehicle with five bolts, the other four bolts will still be there to complete the task, holding the wheel together with the vehicle.
“And none of the vehicles on the road have Center-Lock bolts?” If you do, of course there is. A good example would be the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, for example. The Porsche 911 family, which we can describe as “track toys”, is customized for a single job, to achieve the shortest lap time on the tracks. That’s why this race-ready car from the factory comes with lightened wheels and Center-Lock studs, allowing for quick changeovers, just like Formula 1 cars.
In this article, we talked about why we don’t use Center-Lock wheel bolts in our daily vehicles, so if your friends think that they have made an invention after watching a race and have the idea of applying it to daily vehicles, you can explain why they can’t.
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