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Fitting Hubcaps or Trim Rings to
(Not-Quite-Standard) Steel Wheels
Proper fit of Hubcaps or Trim Rings to Passenger vehicle Standard Steel Wheels made since 1974 is easy. With very few exceptions, all of our Universal Fit models will
work. Steel wheels manufactured prior to 1974 may or may not have been to
the specifications adopted as standard subsequent to 1974.
If you have Styled Steel or Alloy Wheels, there
may be Wheelskins to fit your wheels.
All alloy wheels are NOT standard. Though lighter, alloy wheels are molded of
thicker metal which therefore cannot meet standard measurement specifications
for steel wheels.
Many dual wheels since 1974 take Trim
Rings very well, though for full-wheel coverage
they need Dual Wheel Simulators.
Some steel wheels are "near standard" specification and might or
might not take a hubcap or trim
ring. This page is meant to help you to determine whether your wheels will take standard wheel
treatments. The pictures below show tangential views of the edges of hubcaps and trim rings, with a
ruler positioned to show how deep the mounting struts, legs, or clips project into the
recess around the bead of the wheel.
As the pictures show, if you place a straight edge across the rim of the steel
wheel, the mounting struts project 1.7 to 1.8 inch into the recess around the
bead of the tire, where the valve stem emerges. If the depth of the recess is any less than this, the struts
or clips will bottom out and the hubcap will not be able to mount tightly to the rim,
making it likely to fall off. Also note that the curvature at the bottom of the
recess may be "different" on some wheels, such that it curves toward the wheel
center more steeply, and this factor may also make fitting problematic.
You may want to visit our Hubcaps
Installation Page or our Standard Steel Wheels
page for other photos that will complete the "big Picture"
of mounting. hubcaps to standard wheels
Hubcap with plastic mounting struts.
needs 1.75" deep recess to mount
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Hubcap with Metal Clips
needs 1.75" deep recess to mount
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Stainless Steel or Chromed Steel
Trim Ring,
(1.75" depth),
with 360 retention tabs,
needs 1.5" deep recess to mount
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Chrome ABS Plastic Trim Ring
(1.75" depth),
with metal mounting clips
needs 1.75" deep recess to mount
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Other considerations:
1. Note that this pictured method of measurement does not give the 'official'
depth of trim rings. We show this here so you can compare your wheel depth taken
from a straight-edge across the edge of the rim. The 'official' trim ring depth
would be these pictured measurements PLUS the thickness of the trim ring lip.
2. Hubcap or trim ring measured diameter is generally 1.5
to 1.6 inch larger than the wheel size read off the tire. |
The pictures below show how to measure the depth of the recess around the bead area of the
steel wheel
with a straight-edge and a ruler. Position a straight-edge so it touches the
edge of the rim in two places and measure inward to the base of the valve stem.
If the recess is 1-3/4 inch or deeper, standard hubcaps/wheel covers and trim
rings will fit.
This white painted steel wheel was on a Ford Truck
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This unpainted steel wheel was on a 4x4 truck
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This plain black steel wheel was on a Volvo
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This alloy wheel was on a Chevy truck, the recess is only
1 inch, and no standard hubcap will fit it.
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