I apologize in advance if this is a stupid question, but I just installed some aftermarket wheels and was wondering if I should buy some center caps. I noticed the front wheels do not have a cap, while the rear wheels have a cap of some sort.

Will keeping the center exposed to the elements (and probably eventually rusting) give me problems years from today?

 

the "center caps" you're probably talking about arent the ones for the actual wheels. the rears have a silver cap in the center of the hub, the front has the axle nut exposed with a divot in it to stop the nut from backing out. It comes like that from the factory, and putting center caps on your wheels isn't going to stop any "elements" entering, if any at all.

Now post pics of the wheels i sold you!!

 

thanks for the info! ill post a pic or two of the wheels on my car sometime this week haha

 

it won't stop it... but it would slow it down (the entering of rain and packing of snow... or salt).

plus, it looks nicer with a cap.

 

Location: Southern California


You're fine.

 

Having lived in San Diego for a few years... I can tell you, there's enough rain to annoy.

The real problem with rain there, are all the inexperienced drivers that like to keep going extra fast and landing themselves ass-up in a ditch or in someone's back yard (from the highway).

While, I might not do the $33 Enkei caps for my Enkei wheels... I would still do the Home Depot cap.

 

Norcal drivers are only slightly better in the rain than Socal drivers, I expected better from them when I moved up here

Remember, steel wheels with hubcaps don't have "centercaps", the axle nut is exposed, just aesthetically covered with a hubcap but not sealed from the elements or anything. Centercaps' main purpose is to make the wheel look better, that is all.

 

i'm sure the home depot "caps" can be adapted to fit steel wheels. they come in a few sizes, so something should fit (assuming it clears the axle nut).

for $1-$2 a cap, aesthetics can be the sole reason this time.

there's always this: Center Caps on Stock Steel Wheels: DIY - Unofficial Honda FIT Forums