Hubcaps Unlimited

When it comes to accessorizing your vehicle, nothing makes a more profound statement than your choice of hubcaps. They tell a story about the driver. From understated class to brash and bold, every hubcap has its own unique style.

 Originally created for functionality; hubcaps, also called dust covers, continue to fill a practical purpose. The first automobile wheels incorporated wooden spokes used to unite the center hub with the steel rim. The wheel bearings were contained in the hub and were filled with a surplus of grease. In order to keep the dust from the bearings and to hold the grease in, a cover was fashioned. Hence, the birth of the phrase: hubcap.

Until just before the 1920s, most hubcaps were prepared from nickel plated brass. By the 1920s aluminum hubcaps had become the material of choice. Hubcaps went through several transitions. They evolved, expanding to envelop the lug nuts. More expensive cars eventually included the option of a trim ring that was plated with chrome and attached to the rim of the wheel in conjunction with the hubcap in the center. Before long, hubcaps covered the entire wheel.

What is not often seen in current designs is the non rotating hubcap. This type of hubcap remains stationary while the car is moving. It’s the perfect venue for advertising, since the message can be read while the vehicle is in motion. These are usually only found on race cars, public transportation or golf carts.

 Like staging a house that is for sale, hubcaps are a necessity if you are considering selling your car or truck. Without hubcaps the car looks dated. It’s also associated with a lack of vehicle care and may leave potential buyers wondering if the hubcaps are missing – what else could possibly be wrong with the car.

 Dented or dirty hubcaps have the same affect. Care for your hubcaps starts from the minute you drive your car off the lot and pull into your driveway. Unless you have expensive, specially designed hubcaps or chrome hubcaps that are addressed later in this article, the care is pretty basic. Start with a single hubcap at a time. Rinse the hubcap thoroughly to remove as much dirt, dust and debris as possible with just the sheer force of the water shooting from the garden hose. Mix a soapy solution of cleaning solvent in a bucket and don a lambs wool mitt to gently, but effectively, clean the hubcap. Rinse the mitt often, using a brush to clear away any grime that could unintentionally be reapplied to the hubcap. Never use a cleaning brush or steel wool brush on your hubcaps, no matter how deep the grime. It’s better to take the extra time required to thoroughly remove grease and dirt than to ruin your hubcaps because you’re in a hurry.

 Rinse the hubcap thoroughly. Dry with a terry cloth towel that won’t scratch the surface. Apply a coat (or two) of car wax to the hubcap with a microfiber cloth. Waxing the hubcap will protect it from superficial layers of dust and dirt. Apply the wax using quick, circular motions with the cloth. You don’t have to apply too much pressure to effectively apply the coating of wax. Allow the wax to dry completely. Use a second microfiber cloth to remove the excess and buff gently.

 If you are cleaning chrome hubcaps you’ve ventured into an entirely new area of cleaning. Rinse the hubcaps with a slow stream of water. Water; if the pressure is strong enough, can actually dent the malleable chrome. Completely drench the hubcap in a gentle spray cleaner that states clearly that it is a “hose off” or “rinse off” detergent. Allow the cleaner to set for ten minutes. Rinse for two to three minutes in order to thoroughly remove any soapy residue. Gently dry your chrome hubcaps with a microfiber cloth. If you allow it to air dry you run the risk of unsightly water spots forming on the chrome. Water spots are as unattractive as dirt, so take the extra few minutes to towel dry your investment.

Questions about hubcaps:

Many often ask about the difference in center caps and hubcaps. Unless you are a mechanic, the words, for the most part, are interchangeable. Some center caps can be much smaller than hubcaps. Whereas a true hubcap covers most of the wheel, center caps cover only the lug nuts.

 Reduce the incident of losing your hubcaps. Hubcaps run the risk of popping off whenever you hit uneven pavement or potholes. For the most part, this doesn’t happen too often. However, if you take the hubcaps off and on too frequently, remember that each time you do so you increase the chance of losing it. It weakens the fastening system, allowing it to become disengaged more easily. If you take your car to a mechanic to have your tires replaced or rotated, remove the hubcaps yourself before you take it in. You cannot trust that a mechanic will use the same care you take to protect the sheen and longevity of your hubcaps.

Consider the different style of fasteners when purchasing your hubcaps. There are mainly three types from which to choose. After market fasteners come in the form of metal clips that include a steel retention system. These offer an additional layer of strength to your hubcaps factory made retention element. Bolt on retention systems use the bolts themselves to hold the hubcap in place. You’ll find this style to be quite popular with car companies like Honda. Plastic clips are seen everywhere. But they are by no means advisable if you want to give your hubcap the most protection. The popularity is due to the fact that these are largely a factory original mechanism that doesn’t cost extra. However, they can still be bought after market. The fastening ability and strength are both weak and boast a high percentage of hubcap loss. In the end it comes down to which type fits your budget and taste.

Contact Automotive Resources

Hubcapnation.Com
Used Hub Caps and Center caps & Used Wheel Covers since 1982
Used Hub cap, Used Hub caps, Used Wheel Covers and Hubcap
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