no center caps in winter?

[JABBER]

I picked up a cheap set of rims for my winter driving. Problem is they don't have center caps. I'm fine with the look but am worried about salt and sand getting into the bearings. Anyone run rims in the winter without center caps? Thanks in advance.

[mwiener2]

those caps aren't gonna keep out salty water mix nasty stuff


just larger rocks and dirt

[IwannaSportSedan]

The bearings should be sealed themselves. The wheels don't really seal them anyway.

it should not be an issue, but if it gets grimey in there, you may want to unmount the wheels and clean the bearing faces and disc hub pads, and the back of the wheel mounting pads. Try not to let too much water sit in there to freeze and thaw, and re-freeze. that can cause trouble with cracking and damage.

[mwiener2]

^^^ Said water is going to get in there with or with out the caps....

[JensL]

I lost one of the center caps for the winter wheels on my old car.

It didn't do any harm to the bearing, but it was nearly impossible to get the wheel off in the spring. Lots of dirt and rust there.

Please note that this was in Norway where the roads gets salted a lot, but I didn't drive very much that winter.

Center caps are recommended. :-)

[JABBER]

Thanks I'm going to go for it. I'll just try to remember to clean them out often. Thanks - Chris