Wheel covers or hubcaps, are molded covers that fit over your existing steel vehicle rims to enhance the appearance of painted steel rims. The reason vehicle manufactures put wheel covers or hubcaps on their vehicles is to improve the appearance, at a lower cost than adding expensive alloy type wheels. Wheel covers and hubcaps are typically mounted on vehicles that do not have the more expensive and lighter alloy wheels.

Wheel center caps are also sometimes mistakenly referred to as hubcaps or wheel covers. However, wheel covers and hubcaps cover the entire wheel (full coverage) unlike wheel center caps that typically will only cover the very center of the wheel. However, there are also a few styles of wheel center caps that cover the wheel lug nuts. Wheel center caps in the majority of cases are not generic fit.

Typically modern day wheel covers and hubcaps are made out of plastics. Many styles of wheel covers and hubcaps have chromed simulated lug nuts which are non functional. The sole purpose for simulated lug nuts is to improve the wheel cover or hubcap appearance and hide the actual wheel lug nuts which are typically not chromed and not very attractive.

How do I know what size wheel cover or hubcap I need?

Your vehicles wheel cover or hubcap size is the same as your tire size. If your vehicle takes 14" tires, your wheel cover size is 14".

If I lose a hubcap or wheel cover do I have to replace it with a original equipment part ordered from the dealer?

No, many brand new factory replica wheel cover styles are available and usually at a significant savings over OEM (original equipment manufacture) parts. These styles often look very similar to original equipment parts. There are also thousands of used original equipment wheel covers and hubcaps available. Often it is possible to buy a brand new set of replica wheel covers or hubcaps for around the same price as 1 used original equipment part.

Retention:

Most modern wheel covers and hubcaps use spring steel clips and or wire retention. These type of retention systems are usually quite secure as long as the hubcaps or wheel covers are fully seated into the wheel. If they are mounted properly to the wheel they will not come off unless you need to remove them to change a tire. Note: wheel covers / wheel covers should only be installed on painted steel wheels for proper fit and are not designed to secure properly to chrome plated wheels. A few vehicle manufacturers make wheel covers or hubcaps that bolt on to the steel wheels under the lug nuts. Unlike spring steel / wire retention hubcaps and wheel covers, lug nuts must be removed in order to install bolt on styles.

Can I get "Bolt On" wheel covers for my vehicle?

Bolt on wheel covers are available for very few vehicles. Bolt on style wheel cover and hubcaps are only designed to fit specific make, model, and year applications.

The majority of wheel covers in use today (millions) use a wire retention type system rather than bolt on retention. Proper installation is easily accomplished without tools on spring steel clip / wire type retention hubcaps and wheel covers.

Tip: ALWAYS CHECK to see that your wheel covers are securely fastened and seated properly to the wheels rim edge after taking your vehicle to a garage, if your wheel covers had to be removed for service.

How do I know that a different style of wheel cover or hubcap other than the original equipment style will fit my vehicle?

In 99% of the cases, wheel covers and hubcaps are interchangeable among different makes and models as long as you stay within the same tire size. In other words, most wheel covers in the correct size will fit 99% of all vehicles on the road today. For example, in the majority of cases, a 14" wheel will take any 14" wheel cover and fit fine. The same is true with all other wheel sizes. Feel free to choose the style of wheel cover that appeals to you within your wheel / tire size.

*However, the old adage is "there's an exception to every rule" and in this case the exception is a few 1980s vehicles with 13" tires / wheels.

For example, If you have a 1980s Front Wheel Drive vehicle with 13 "wheels, you should choose a wheel cover / hubcap style that is similar to your current style, especially if your current style does not have simulated lug nuts. This a safe way to go. assuming you had wheel covers on the vehicle at some point. Wheel covers and hubcaps with simulated lug nuts require slightly more clearance to fit properly. This fact can present a fitment problem on some of older front wheel drive vehicles with wheels that have wheel centers, that are equal in height to the wheel outer edge.

A few, older model front wheel drive vehicles with 13" tires have "high crown" wheels ( the center of the wheel protrudes beyond the wheel rim edge.) You can easily see this if you look at your wheel. These few vehicles need either a more convex design wheel cover or a style without simulated lug nuts.

For all other wheel sizes, fit in general has not been a problem for years. Never measure your wheels to determine the correct wheel cover / hubcap size: tire size = hubcap and wheel cover size. A vehicle with 15" tires requires 15" wheel covers / hubcaps.

Can I buy just 1 wheel cover if that is all I need?

In most cases yes, but most reputable dealers will not guarantee a exact match unless your original set was purchased from them.

Can I purchase aftermarket wheel covers or hubcaps with the original factory emblems?

No. aftermarket wheel covers and hubcaps cannot be sold with original equipment trademarks. This principal applies to all mfgs. of aftermarket parts, whether they make fuel pumps or wheel covers.

Aftermarket wheel covers sell for significantly less than original equipment parts. If you want the emblem or trademark you'll have to buy an original equipment part.

Are metal hubcaps or wheel covers available?

Metal wheel covers and hubcaps are nearly obsolete even at the original equipment level. The situation is similar to that of metal dashboards which are now obsolete but once were the material of choice for car makers. Modern wheel covers and hubcaps are made from high-tech plastics, the material of choice for most of the worlds car makers and wheel cover manufacturers. Today, automobile interior and exterior parts, including body panels are being made out of plastics.

Also, please be aware that there are different grades of plastic. There is a clear quality difference between professional grade wheel covers and hubcaps and consumer grade caps. "Have everything" retailers typically sell the cheapest grade cap they can buy. These cheap wheel covers and hubcaps are typically made from low cost recycled plastics which are brittle and easily break.

Professional grade wheel covers and hubcaps feature a 2 step base coat/clear coat finish for excellent durability, in sharp contrast to what is often sold at have everything retail stores. Base coat / clear paint systems are also used at the OEM level. Typically professional grade wheel covers and hubcaps have excellent durability and will provide years of trouble free service. Professional wheel covers and hubcaps also have added expensive flex agents, that insure performance under the harshest weather conditions.

The only metal styles available are RV related, some trim rings, dually wheel liners or wheel simulators, baby moons, stainless steel wire styles, and racing disks.

The truth of the matter is that there are many wheel cover and hubcap manufacturers. Quality varies widely from one manufacturer to the next. This is sometimes not obvious to those not in the trade as the manufacturers. making the cheap, inferior products, often produce very similar styles as the manufacturers making the professional grade products. They may look similar but in fact the quality is quite different from professional grade wheel covers and hubcaps. More information is available at: http://www.autoenhance.com