Unless you're a car enthusiast, you're not likely to be extremely proficient with your vehicle. This includes knowing where all the parts go, what their purpose is, and the difference between different parts. One of the areas that tends to confuse a lot of vehicle owners is the difference between the hubcap and the wheel cover. While they both pertain to the wheel they are a bit different in function and design.
The Hubcap
The true portion of a hubcap on your car is to cover the hub-portion of your wheels. This is the part where the wheel mounts to the hub and the lug nuts attach or screw on. Hub caps don't generally cover the entire wheel. They actually fit over this center hub region and range anywhere from 2 inches to 10 inches in diameter depending mainly on the size of the wheel.
Hub caps are designed to attach easily to the wheel or hub area by snapping into place. This type of system has been around since the dawn of vehicles in order to provide easy access to the lug nuts that hold the wheel in place. Some hub cap systems did utilize additional plastic lugs that would fit over and thread onto the bolts however the threads of the plastic wear and cross-thread easily. When the threads strip the grip is lost which causes the hub cup to jump off the wheel.
The alternative that's the most popular is the clip method that uses a tension wire in a circle around the interior of the hubcap. This is a far more secure method than plastic lugs as the wire created a force that presses against the interior of the wheel around the hub and the clips. This pressure keeps the hubcap from slipping loose but makes for easy removal when need be.
Vehicle Wheel Covers
This is where the confusion rests with a lot of people, as the wheel cover is very different from the hub cup. Unlike the hubcap which covers only a portion of the wheel, the wheel cover actually extends out and covers the entire wheel.
Many modern vehicles are beginning to invest in a quality wheel system. These first surfaced in the 60's with alloy wheels. The design is further advanced in modern vehicles with precision cut mag-alloy wheels that work towards building on durability as well as aesthetics. Despite the mag-alloy alternatives many vehicles are still manufactures with simple steel wheel systems.
While simple steel wheels are easy to produce and fit to most vehicle styles they tend to be extremely unattractive. For this style wheel, a hubcap wouldn't sufficiently cover the overall design. This is where the wheel cover becomes a popular choice.
Wheel covers come in a variety of styles and are made from quality metals with intricate designs to simple plastic that serves the sole purpose of covering your wheel. and not much else.
With technology steadily improving, we'll continue to see enhancements to the design of wheel covers and hub caps. They will always be needed as long as the car manufacturers rely on simple steel wheel design to get the cars off the line quickly. For those that want to step beyond simple wheel covers, alloy wheels are a great investment. For those of us with realistic budgets, you can't go wrong with a well-designed wheel cover.
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Every car has its own style and design, right down to the wheels. Make sure your hubs stay covered. Invest in a quality hubcap and wheel covers that protect your wheels and keep your car looking stylish
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