Car Wheel Covers
Generally, cars (at least those designed for on-road use) come with two different types of wheels: alloy rims, and standard wheels designed for use with wheel covers, also known as hubcaps. The two types are fairly evenly distributed, with the more expensive and performance orientated alloy rims often found on sports cars and performance cars, and the less expensive and more simple standard wheel rims found on compact, family, and budget automobiles. While the two are separated across car type, they offer some similar benefits and principles. However, while alloy wheels contain their own outward facing aesthetic qualities, standard wheels require the addition of car wheel covers.
Car wheel covers are available in a wide range of designs, materials and sizes. While they all share common characteristics, they can be designed to fit different types of cars and for different driving disciplines. For on-road use, the most common style of wheel covers simply provide a more aesthetically pleasing view for anyone outside the car. However, they come in several major design varieties. Firstly, wheel covers are available with and without access to the wheel nuts. Secondly, wheel covers come in various designs and material compositions. Finally, wheel covers come designed to fit a variety of wheel designs and sizes, and are available for different driving styles and disciplines.
When picking a set of car wheel covers it's important to note exactly what their purpose will be and how often you'll need to access underneath them. One of the primary variables amongst car wheel covers is the inclusion of wheel nuts and wheel nut covers. Wheel covers that come with access to the wheel nuts allow you to easily remove the wheel itself without having to remove the wheel cover entirely. By adjusting the wheel nuts through the small holes in the wheel cover, you can tighten or loosen the wheel. However, those that come without access to the wheel nuts need to be removed entirely in order to tighten or loosen the vehicle's wheel.
While this may seem trivial, it can have some major effects on the amount of time required to change a flat tire, or switch from one set of wheel rims to another. If you're broken down on the side of the road, any extra time is unwanted, so picking a set of wheel covers which allow access to the wheel nuts would be a wise choice. While car wheel covers that hide the nuts are sometimes more aesthetically pleasing, the extra convenience tends to outweigh the visual improvement. While many sets of wheel nut access covers come without wheel nut covers, others include covers to keep the design of the wheel consistent with the cover itself.
Car wheel covers are available in a wide range of different designs and materials. Ranging from simple silver coloured hubcaps all the way up to decadent clip-on chrome mag wheels, your wheel covers can add to the looks of your car or simply fit in with the standard bodywork. When picking a set of car wheel covers there are a few things to consider, primarily the appropriateness for your car's design, and also the tendency for the wheel covers to scratch or absorb damage from the road surface.
For example, while chrome wheel covers may look impressive around the city, they're next to useless for driving on dusty roads. When your car picks up dirt, it'll simply obscure the look of the wheels. For driving on dirty roads, or for utility vehicles, it's best to pick a set of wheel covers that are simple looking and designed for easy access to the wheel itself. It's really a trade-off, with some wheel cover sets being more accessible and versatile, and others having greater aesthetic benefits.
Finally, car wheel covers are available in a massive variety of sizes and shapes, and can be fitted to different car and truck types. When picking a size, there's only one factor to consider: the size of your wheels. Obviously, bigger or smaller wheel covers simply won't fit. However, when picking a style and construction material, it's best to pick something that fits both the nature of your car, the design qualities of your vehicle, and the type of driving that you'll be doing.
These principles form the basis of selecting a set of car wheel covers. With such massive variety available, a lot of the purchase comes down to personal preference above any other characteristics. While all wheel covers will carry out the same basic functions, some perform better than others while others offer better designs or visual characteristics. As usual, pick carefully and value versatility and usability above all other factors.
