Duct tape wheel covers and other possible cheap alternatives

[mpg_numbers_guy]

So I own this '04 Honda Civic EX that's fully stock except for the tires being inflated to 40 PSI from 32. Being an EX, it doesn't have steelies to nicely attack pizza pans or moon disc covers on. But considering the relative flatness of the alloys, and the width of the spokes, would covering the wheels with black duct tape provide the same benefit as flat wheel covers to make it worth doing? Or would it have no benefit? Attached is a photo of the car currently and what it would look like if I were to implement this.

Also, something I came across on another thread: would insurance likely go up by implementing this, under the categorization of "modified wheel"?

[19bonestock88]

Yeah, duct tape will provide a smooth-ish surface to the passing air, so it’ll help... there are also ways to attach smooth covers to alloy wheels that would give a more secure hold than tape... that being said, I’m using strapping tape for most of my aeromods, not necessarily due to its strength but its cost ($0.00 to me)... just search the site for threads about moon discs and alloy wheels

[niky]

I duct taped rubber covers to mine, but they didn't hold so well. Wind kept blowing them off at highway speeds. Best bet, really, is to fabricate discs and ziptie them on.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

That's kinda what I'm considering doing now after further research. Black coroplast discs attached with zip ties and black duct tape to help keep them in position as well as provide a smoother airflow transition from the tire to the plastic. We'll see how it goes, unless I find a better idea before implementing it. This way seems cheap and good though, and can easily be reverted back to stock in a matter of minutes.

[19bonestock88]

Something to consider: a lot of the newer GM cars(my Saturn included) used threaded lugs with plastic caps for holding the factory covers on... my Malibu was missing the covers but I pirated a set of the plastic lug nut caps and screwed my coroplast discs to those... they held fast even at 100mph...

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by 19bonestock88

Something to consider: a lot of the newer GM cars(my Saturn included) used threaded lugs with plastic caps for holding the factory covers on... my Malibu was missing the covers but I pirated a set of the plastic lug nut caps and screwed my coroplast discs to those... they held fast even at 100mph...

So are you saying use something like these and then screw the covers into them (after compatibility is verified)?

[19bonestock88]

Yeah, just grab the plastic covers that thread onto the lugs (and the lugs themselves)to screw your cover into... my advice-match compatibly online and then go to a junkyard and grab them... might get lucky or might have to buy the plastic covers new to screw your disc to...

Side note: make sure not only the thread size and pitch match, but also the lug seat shape... some are flat, some are conical, and some are hemispheric... I don’t know what would happen if you used non matching seats but can’t imagine it to be good

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Another alternative I'm leaning toward for smooth wheel covers:

- 4 16" White coroplast (white to repell heat) discs attached with zip ties around each of the 5 spokes each of my wheels.
- Discs will have 0.5"-0.75" openings in between each spoke for air
ventilation so brakes don't overheat. Opening around air valve will be 1"-1.5" for ease of access.
- Holes to access each lug nut for easy wheel removal, covered with tape for aero yet will be easily removable.
- Caulk to fill in the holes within the coroplast and around edges of wheel to provide smooth transition from the tire to the wheel and possibly more stability (Not sure if caulk is a good idea, and if it is, if basic cheap caulk will work).

Any thoughts? Does this sound feasible? Total cost for all 4 wheels will be about $16.09 since I already have some caulk lying around I can use, so ROI will be only a few thousand miles. Will the small openings for brake ventilation prevent any increase in MPG?

[19bonestock88]

I don't know if the holes will prevent gains, per se, but if you're hypermiling your brake use would be minimal anyway so overheating isn't as big a concern, the brakes still get air from the backside anyway... You need to remember to make the discs a little bigger than your wheel size... I have 15" wheels and cut my discs 16" diameter and in reality you could go even a couple inches bigger...it'll just fill the gap between wheel edge and the bulge in the sidewall

[mpg_numbers_guy]

I do brake significantly less than the average driver due to hypermiling, but there are still instances where I have to brake harder than I would like to - idiot drivers, a poorly timed light, etc. How much would be too much though? Coroplast seems to melt easily under heat (hence why I'm thinking white instead of black) so wouldn't having no openings pose a risk unless you literally didn't brake at all? I mean, I could do pizza pans, but those are heavier and aren't as flat.

Thanks for the tip on the size! Will definitely do that. At first I thought my wheels were 15" since that's what the factory ones were, and these are factory ones...but they measure 16".. What do you think of the caulk idea though?