Carbon Fiber Wheel Covers

[aerohead]

It appears from the wheel-arch, leading edge tufts, that the cover is 'amplifying' the effect of the air curtain.
Short of installing skirts, I'm unsure how one could have a better outcome!

[RBurke83]

Originally Posted by aerohead

It appears from the wheel-arch, leading edge tufts, that the cover is 'amplifying' the effect of the air curtain.
Short of installing skirts, I'm unsure how one could have a better outcome!

Strangely enough, most modern ‘high performance’ tires have an aero lip which appears to be designed to deflect air away from the wheel. At this point, the lip-which is roughly shaped like a breaking wave from the ocean side-is probably doing more harm than good but I’m hesitant to try to lathe it off. When I get everything finished I will fully tuft the side of the car and record without covers, with just the front and then with both. I also just ordered some epoxy coated stainless steel ‘zip ties’ as well as a ratcheting installer tool.

[aerohead]

Mercedes-Benz collaborated with Bridgestone to create an aero tire specifically for their EQXX Vision, Cd 0.1716 BEV concept. I'll try and revisit the images of those tires to see what their strategy was.
If my single synapse is still functioning, I believe that the wheels on the EQXX were completely non-ventilated, like yours.

[Phase]

dang those wheel covers really make a huge diff for tufts. im even more motivated to do flat full discs whenever i get a new prius. im curious to doing tuft tests with the duct tape over my semi closed ioniq wheel covers. what speed were you going in the photos?

[RBurke83]

Approximately 45 mph, the selfy stick with my phone on it was getting unwieldy at that speed. I honestly am not in love with my attachment method and I may do a redesign while still using the discs. My initial plan was to drill small holes in the center of the lug nuts and have them tapped for machine head screws which would be counter sunk into the disc. I think I may revisit that. Without going through the outside of the disc options for a rock solid attachment are pretty limited. If I was going to do it again I think I would have a continuous wire ring laminated into the disc, with some type of attachment method protruding out of the back of the disc.

[Vekke]

Originally Posted by RBurke83

Strangely enough, most modern ‘high performance’ tires have an aero lip which appears to be designed to deflect air away from the wheel. At this point, the lip-which is roughly shaped like a breaking wave from the ocean side-is probably doing more harm than good but I’m hesitant to try to lathe it off. When I get everything finished I will fully tuft the side of the car and record without covers, with just the front and then with both. I also just ordered some epoxy coated stainless steel ‘zip ties’ as well as a ratcheting installer tool.

That lip in the tires is mainly there to protect the wheels. Too big wheel and too little rubber is a recipe for curb rash. No one who buy these big wheels says its not their problem as they are good careful drivers. But every week 1-5 posts for example in Tesla forums how to fix 20" turbine wheels as "wife" has curb rashed them. Thats the price you pay for looks. One new wheel costs like 600e per piece from Tesla.

But ofcourse if designed correct they can be totally flush and there is little to none extra protection for the wheel. You could try to bring your cover that much outward that they are flush. Normally is achieved with around 3mm thick wheelcover. In your case I would put thin (correct thickness to bring it flush) 2 sided sticky tape there. it would solve 2 problems...

Or install wheel lip protector that you hit between the wheel and tire. It would lock your carbon cover in place as well nicely and fill thatpocket you have there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfyrsrkpmyw

In normal 60 profile tires and normal assemblies the tire is bulged that much out that it already protect the wheel.