Vehicle wheel centering apparatus

A motor vehicle wheel rim assembly adapted for use with a plurality of different vehicles having a plurality of different wheel hub configurations, wherein each wheel hub has a contact surface and a centering body having a particular external diameter less than a predetermined maximum diameter, said wheel rim assembly comprising:

• a motor vehicle wheel rim having an internal bore having a predetermined internal diameter greater than the maximum diameter of any centering body particular external diameter, an internal shoulder projecting radially inwardly within the internal bore, a hub bearing surface to be juxtapositioned with the wheel hub contact surface, and an annular groove arranged within the internal bore disposed in spaced relation from the hub bearing surface;
• an insert ring, having an first external diameter operably configured to be snugly received within the internal bore of the wheel rim, and further having an internal diameter operably configured to snugly receive the centering body of the wheel hub, the insert ring being configured to be operably positioned substantially concentrically between the centering body and the wheel rim,
• the insert ring further having a radially projecting external shoulder having a radial surface facing toward the hub bearing surface and extending radially inward from the first external diameter to a second external diameter;
• and
• a resilient biasing retaining ring, having an internal diameter less than the first external diameter of the insert ring and greater than the second external diameter of the insert ring, the retaining ring being further operably configured to be fitted substantially between the insert ring and the internal bore of the wheel rim, and partially received within the annular groove within the internal bore at the spaced relation from the hub bearing surface, such that, when the insert ring is positioned within the internal bore, the insert ring is substantially captured between the retaining ring and the internal shoulder of the internal bore of the wheel rim to preclude substantial axial movement of the insert ring with respect to the internal bore of the wheel rim.