Can you drive with a missing hubcap?

Can you drive with a missing hubcap?

Whether your hubcaps are abused or absent, many motorists find it embarrassing to drive a car without a full set of decent-looking wheel covers. Sure, the car will still go just like it always has. But driving around sans hubcaps makes your car–and you, by extension–look sloppy.

Do hubcaps fall off?

Hubcaps that are held in place by a clip or plastic screw are particularly vulnerable to coming off when you hit a pothole. Likewise, hitting or scraping a curb can also cause the hubcap to come off. A poorly fit hubcap, such as an inexpensive one that was not designed for your car, can also loosen and fall off.

How important is a hubcap?

Hubcaps are designed to snuggly fit the hub area of your car’s wheels. They’re easily snapped into place for a secure fit. When driving, your tires encounter all sorts of dirt and debris. By having hubcaps, you have peace of mind that dirt, rocks, and other debris don’t damage your wheels.

What to do if you lose a hubcap?

Remove hubcap (if necessary). If you are replacing a set of hubcaps, not just the missing one, use your flat-head screwdriver to loosen the hubcap ring from the tire. Attach ring to hubcap. Most hubcaps come with a metal ring that has a groove in it which will fit around the tire valve.

How do I know my hubcap size?

To determine your hubcap or wheel size, start by finding a series of 9 letters and numbers on the side of your tire that begins with the letter “P”. At the end of this series, you will see the letter “R” followed by 2 numbers. These last two numbers are your hubcap or wheel size.

How do I keep my hubcaps on?

Most hubcaps nowadays come with some kind of retention device, such as a plastic or steel clip (depending on what the hubcap is made of) that fastens onto the wheel to keep the hubcap in place. Sometimes a bolt-on fastener is used to keep the hubcap in place, or a plastic washer attached to a lug nut holds it on.