"Frequently Asked Questions"
| Q:
What information should I give when requesting a wheel trim item? |
A: Complete year,
make, model, and trim level of your vehicle.
For example: "1986 Chevy Cavalier Type-10", "1994 Nissan Altima GXE"
etc.
Wheel Size.
If you aren't sure what size wheels are on your vehicle, look at the
code on the tire sidewall. You will see a string of characters that looks
something like this: "P205/75R14". The last 2 digits are the wheel size,
so in my example the vehicle has 14" wheels.
Description of item needed.
Tell me whether you need a full wheel cover or a center cap. Also,
give a description of the item. Does it have slots or bolts on it? How
many?
Be specific and thorough.
You can never give too much information. While it may seem tedious,
an exact description will ensure that you receive the correct item for
your vehicle.
|
Q:
I know of a local junkyard that sells all hubcaps for $10 each. Why do
yours
cost more? |
A: The reason
for this is very simple. The majority of junkyard owners do not bother
to recondition the hubcaps they sell. The hubcaps that you buy from the
junkyard are in the same condition as when they came into the yard. If
the hubcap was a piece of junk when the junkyard got it, chances are it
will still be such when they sell it to you. Contrarily, I clean and recondition
every item I sell. All of my covers are inspected and test-fitted by
me, and if they are too badly damaged I do not sell them. |
Q:
After I replace the hubcap I lost, how can I keep it and my other
3 from falling
off again? |
| A: One of
the most annoying parts of owning a car is seeing your wheel cover go flying
off while driving in heavy traffic on a 4-lane highway. However, this sort
of thing can often be prevented. All hubcaps have a retention system of
some type meant to hold the cover on the wheel. Older metal hubcaps generally
have metal clips on the back. Over time, these clips will bend inward and
cause the hubcaps to fit loosely. This problem can be easily fixed by bending
the clips outward slightly using a plier.
Newer plastic hubcaps generally have plastic tabs on the back and a
wire ring that snaps inside the tabs. The best way to keep these covers
on is to make sure that the wires are securely snapped onto the tabs and
that you do not bend or break the tabs when installing the cover. Always
remove your hubcaps yourself before taking the car in for service, and
put them back on
afterwards. That way, you can be sure that they are installed correctly. |
| Q: What
about those aluminum wheels I've seen advertised? Maybe if I get those,
I won't have to worry about losing my hubcaps. |
A: While many
aluminum wheels are very stylish and sporty, they are not a solution to
hubcap losses. All aluminum wheels have center caps which can fall off
just like regular wheel covers do. Also, aluminum wheels are not as strong
as the steel wheels that use regular hubcaps, plus they are much more expensive
to replace. If you buy aluminum wheels, you may find yourself paying
$300 for a new wheel next time you hit a pothole, instead of just the
$25 you'd pay for a new hubcap if you had kept the steel wheels. If you
are interested in aluminum wheels just for the style, there are many wheel
covers available that mimic the popular aluminum-wheel styles, and can
be mounted on your current steel wheels. |
Have a question that isn't answered here?
Feel free to email me and ask!
|
