Top 5 Questions To Consider In Choosing Hubcaps

Top 5 Questions To Consider In Choosing Hubcaps

No matter what make or model you drive, whether you own a brand new or used vehicle your new or used Honda, Toyota, Ford, Chevy Impala or Nissan Sentra hubcaps will eventually get damaged, lost or stolen.  If you take a casual drive along some a stretches of highway in many states you will find the long lost hubcaps of motorists past.  For all you know one of those motorists is you right now.  Lots of people don’t have a clue they have even lost a wheel cover until they park the car and look at it.  If you need to replace your hubcaps here are a few questions you should consider:

Why Do I Need New Hubcaps?

The tires on your car take quite a beating and they bear the brunt of the grimiest conditions on the streets.  All types of dust, debris, mud and mess end up on your tires as you go about your travels.  Most hubcaps start out smooth, brilliant and untouched with a mirror-like shine but it’s only a matter of time before the dirt, grime and corrosive agents in the environment take a toll and significantly dull the look of your hubcaps.

Continuous wear and tear can cause your wheel covers to become severely scratched, dented, broken or all three.  Driving around with a broken hubcap is like living in a house with a smile with a missing tooth, everything still works, but it doesn’t look attractive.  In some cases your physical environment can cause you to lose a hubcap completely, leaving your vehicle looking unbalanced and unfinished. 

What Makes Hubcaps Fall Off?

Hubcaps can fall off in a number of ways the first being the enemy of all motorists – potholes.  These critters claim the lives of many car parts and cost drivers untold sums of money each year in damages. 

Another reason for your hubcap falling off could be incorrect installation on your part or on the part of technical persons who may have done the job in a rush.

Potholes are a hubcap’s worst enemy but there are other perils that make them come off unexpectedly like incorrect installation, broken retainer clips or struts and flexing steel wheels.

What Are The Benefits Of Chrome Hubcaps?

The best part about chrome hubcaps or wheel covers is that they are more resistant to corrosion.  The second-best thing is that they’re chrome!  The more chrome the better.

What Size Hubcap Should I Put On My Car?

This is perhaps the most important factor in choosing a hubcap.  Yes, size does matter.  Whether your car is homegrown or imported, there is only one way to get the measurement for your hubcap.   Just check the size on the side of your tire.  The exact size is at the end of a long code ending in the letter “R” and another number.   If you see, for example, the numbers 13, 14, 15 or 16 that tells you the size of your tire as well as your hubcaps.  For example, the code R14 means you should buy 14” hubcaps.

How Do I Clean My Hubcaps?

Your hubcap can become so tarnished and unattractive with all types of debris and contaminants that are thrown at it every day.  It’s suggested that you clean your hubcaps once a week.   Start by removing your hubcaps and hosing them down with a high pressure hose to get off the stuck on grime on both sides.  Try Meguiar’s All Wheel, Aluminum and Chrome wheel cleaners which are perfect for tougher jobs.