Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Wheels & Tires alloy wheel hub caps

Are the small hub caps that cover the wheel nuts on an alloy wheel for appearance only or do they serve some other function as well?

I am asking because my daughter came home from college with one of them missing on her 1995 contour. Want to know if I should tell her to get a new one right away or if it is not a big deal to go without it for a while.

I am not sure...

The thing is..

I used to drive around without mine... It looked better to me... but when I bought some new rims and I was swapping them I noticed my front hubs were rusted... u know... the hubcaps were protecting it agaisnt rusting...

Maybe u should consider that...

Yes I did notice some rust there. But I don't know if the ones with the caps in place have rust too.

I guess I should pop off the one on the other side and see if there is any rust there...

I have been told that the caps are mostly cosmetic.

I have some rust on my front hub threads, even though they've been capped always.

Some moisture will always get in there.

The actual hub bearings are sealed, so weather should not make a difference to them, either.

All in all, not an emergency purchase, so be patient, and check E-bay.