Experiment: smooth wheel discs tested A-B-A - 4.6% mpg improvement @ 65 mph

[Christ]

Blue loc-tite on the threads will work fine to hold the screw from coming out.

If you're concerned about them slapping off the rim and making noise, you can put some plasti-kote resin around the edges and let it harden up, that will make a (you guessed it) plastic coating on the edge. You could also go to your local farm store and get some seat trim to crimp around it.

Another option is to put the blobs of silly-cone on the pan itself and let them dry so that when you install it, they press against the rim. Rubber stick-onz work well as standoffs too.

[Bajascoob]

Use an additional screw next to the center screw to stop rotation

[Bajascoob]

Check out some Dakar race cars that have adjust tire pressure on the fly systems CIS, hose dangling off the fender, plugged in all the time.

[Bajascoob]

Originally Posted by Otto

You're not being too paranoid--the sidewalls have to flex, so extension of the wheel cover to the sidewall bulge is not practical, and the pizza pan would be bent or dislodged at the first pothole.

Best compromise would be a wheel cast into the proper shape which needs no hubcap, such as Porsche aluminum "sewer lid" or "manhole cover" wheels as seen on the 928 cars, although these were never a popular style. My Porsche 944 Turbo has "Design 90" wheels, which are similar but which have slots by the perimeter to allow brake cooling air to escape. Style is what drives wheel choices in the market, rather than aerodynamic or mechanical efficiency.

For an ecomodder standpoint, maybe the best application would be a pizza pan just a tad wider than the wheel rim, such that the pan snugs down against the rim and just barely touches the tire sidewall next to the rim. Attachment could be by conventional hubcap methods.

BTW, the mileage as reported by Concrete is excellent, especially given the size, weight, and basic shape of his vehicle.

Just remembered what dirt track guys use, a quick search for wheel mud plugs found this...checking on different sizes. argh, cant post links yet. speedwaymotors . com shows some.

[Bajascoob]

Originally Posted by Weather Spotter

these are all interesting ideas but I am still a little perplexed on how to attach them to the rims. I do not want to make the wheels go out of balance.

gluing would require breaking it and reapplying after every tire rotation, not fun and not likely to get them centered each time.

One of my previous cars, 97 grand prix maybe. Had these three legged stand offs that bolted on with the lug nuts and provided a dome with a threaded hole to bolt the wheel covers too.

[121madness]

I been searching for cheap aero hub caps but i decided that the corroplast option with zip ties will be best bang for bucks. Some good ideas in here though.

[BamZipPow]

Originally Posted by 121madness

I been searching for cheap aero hub caps but i decided that the corroplast option with zip ties will be best bang for bucks. Some good ideas in here though.

Make sure you post up some piccies and document the process you go through on yer covers.

[5speed5]

I didn't read through the whole thread, but has anyone thought of buying a cheap set of plastic hubcaps like these ($27 delivered):
Universal 14" Chrome ABS Plastic Hubcaps KT998-14 : eBay Motors (item 310199966330 end time Mar-12-10 09:34:01 PST)

...and screwing/bolting the pizza pans to the hubcaps. That way you could remove them easily. At $27 + ~$13 for 4 pans, you're still looking at less than half the cost of the hubcapmike.com ones.

[ECONORAM]

Originally Posted by Bror Jace

Concrete, No need to justify your methods to me. I'm all on board with the make it/do it yourself bits and pieces.

Problem is, I just can't be boltin' home-made goodies on my 2006 Civic ... it looks brand new and the quality of items I would be able to make just wouldn't look right. If my car was at least 4-5 years old, OK, maybe.

So, I'm ordering those solid hubcaps this weekend.

As a matter of fact, I'll see your cheapskate move and go one better ... desert trays at the Christmas Tree Shoppes for $1.99. They come with a plastic cover (which I'd toss into a recycling bin) and use the flat, aluminized tray for a wheel cover. They're also lighter than a pizza tray.

No, if I can only find some factory-finished rear wheel skirts ...

I think this is a good idea. The cheapest 21" pizza pans I could find were $15 each, the ones I thought would fit are $30. I have 20" alloys on the truck.

Originally Posted by Thalass

Out of curiosity: Has anyone made transparent wheel covers? That way you'd get to still have nice looking wheels while improving your CoD.

I am looking at this, using some 1/8" plexiglass. Plexiglass,acrylic sheet,custom cut to size This place will cut a 20"x20" for $13, and I found some plastic 20"x39" containers at Bed, Bath and Beyond that are only $15 each. I could get all 4 covers from that! Just gotta figure out how to fasten them to the wheels WITHOUT damage. Any ideas?

[Otto]

Originally Posted by ECONORAM

I think this is a good idea. The cheapest 21" pizza pans I could find were $15 each, the ones I thought would fit are $30. I have 20" alloys on the truck.

I am looking at this, using some 1/8" plexiglass. Plexiglass,acrylic sheet,custom cut to size This place will cut a 20"x20" for $13, and I found some plastic 20"x39" containers at Bed, Bath and Beyond that are only $15 each. I could get all 4 covers from that! Just gotta figure out how to fasten them to the wheels WITHOUT damage. Any ideas?

You might want to consider PETG clear plastic rather than acrylic Plexiglass. Much tougher, PETG is the stuff used to make water bottles, etc., and probably cheaper, too.

Make a circular template the exact size needed to fit your wheels, cut out the hole, and use as a pattern for PETG sheet clamped on. Put in oven, plastic will heat and sag to slightly convex shape, stiffer and more aero than a simple flat disk.

Got good attach to wheel method yet?

A set of clear disks over stock alu cast wheels would look good, go on for highway trips but come off easily to air the tires, etc..