Hubcap removal or not? That is the question. Fiesta S
 

I'm wondering if removing my factory hubcaps will be of benefit or leaving them on is better ? I could care less about looks.

Do you have a picture of the hubcaps? I would say, leave them on. Most hubcaps are better than no hubcaps.

Pictures yes but...
 

I only have a cell phone and I cannot seem to be able to upload photos from it to this site. So for now I'll take your advice and leave them on. Thx.

Are these the hubcaps that your vehicle has?

http://imganuncios.mitula.net/new_20...0112248472.jpg

No. I so wish I could upload photo. Your very kind looking. I'll poke around for a link to a photo. Give me some time. Thx much.

Here's a link to them.

http://www.hubcaps.org/hubcaps/ford/...caps-7054b.jpg

Hey look at that a picture. Cool. So that's them.

They seem more or less flat, I'd say leave them on.

Same as mine, I left them alone. Sold and retired my 2011 Fiesta today, averaged 46.9 MPG (US) for 27k miles with the powershift (auto). Held on by the lug nuts.

regards
mech

If you're not hung up on looks, why not modify them to make them smooth? You could zip tie a coroplast disc to those or mount some pizza pans on 'em (4 or 5 small screw holes).

Take em off. Run beauty rings and chrome acorn wheel nuts. Classic look. Better than seeing steelies behind that hub cap, IMHO. I say this because I inherited this car without any wheel covers, and because I've always like the steel wheel/trim ring look. Base model badass.

As for aerodynamics, I'd say leave em on.

i actually tested this, i was actually tring to compare hubcaps to hubcaps taped smooth, but i figured i'd throw in no hubcaps.
the results, the data is a lil messy but i was not able to show any significant difference between the untaped to taped hubcaps. however, no hubcaps showed about a 1 1/2% loss
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ard-28594.html

Check it:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...yle-29223.html

There are other solutions too that may smooth your wheels without looking too dodgy. There's "poor man's fiberglass," T-shirt material stretched tight and then painted to make it hold its shape (multiple coats may be necessary), which brings the added bonus that you can choose the color. I think you could get similar results using Tyvek.

Redneck pointed out that his plastic smoothies eventually broke down under constant sunlight, you might fare better by choosing some tougher plastic than garbage bags. Maybe lawn-and-garden bags?

I always thought the purpose of a hubcap was to retain the lug nuts if they loosen and fall out...and rattle so you fix the problem. These are worse than useless. They add weight to a steel wheel so it will look like a lighter wheel.

That said, some people won't drive a car that doesn't look bone stock. Go figure.

These are certainly more aerodynamic than bare steelies. I'd leave them on, until/if you decide on something even smoother. The added weight is negligible.

caps
 

I vote keep 'em on,or modify.:)