Wheel trims - The Good, The Bad and the downright Shocking

[barrett]

XM trims are all pretty great, but the rare low-spec Séduction is the winner. This is the XM I'd want, purely for those trims. I love minimalst, blocky plastic trims like this which cover up the entire wheel with the flattest possible surface.

But I also like outrageous, complex moulded plastic trims which look more like alloys. The early SD1 had two great types, but these are my favourite

Ditto the SE5 Scimitar's plastic trims. If you google 'reliant scimitar se5' 99% of the cars that come up seem to have Wolfrace slots. Don't get me wrong, they look awesome, but these things are just so much better suited to the shape of the car

[dozeydustman]

Again, more large vehicle hideousness.

 

I suspect designed for a 10-vent wheel and not a SuperSingle rim

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I’ve tried to keep away from this thread for fear of exposing my deep seated hubcap/ wheel trim anorak disorder, but…

Whilst @barrettcorrectly pointed out, there were different designs of wheel trim for early SD1s , there was a carefully planned hierarchy for them. 
The 3500 came with the stainless trims pictures from day one, until the 1982 facelift.

At launch the 2300 and 2600 came with plastic trims in a similar style to the 3500 ones, the 2300’s were plain grey whilst the 2600 had the black painted areas the same as the steel ones.

2300 ( note also lack of mirror)

2600, picture chosen for funky accessories.

2600 S with 3500 type trims.

 

Dont even get me started on Granada trims

[ProgRocker]

My SEAT Ibiza that I owned during the 2000s. I think they were going for the 'Alfa Romeo' look with these 14" trims.

Quite solid wheel trims that never fell off.

[Alusilber]

I found out recently that the aerodynamically-optimised wheels that Tesla Model 3s have are actually alloys with wheel trims. For an alternative, but less aerodynamic look, you can bin the trims and get an official set of Tesla centre caps for the bare alloys for a mere $60.

Tesla Model 3 aero wheels explained by the automaker’s former head of aerodynamics

[AndyW201]

Always loved the faux-alloy trims (more a large hub cap really) as fitted to the series 1 Allegro Sport and Sport Special. (Later featured on the series 2 HL in silver with the four segments in black).

 

So much so I added a set to my own series 2,

[dozeydustman]

Whatever this is fitted to, I hope the car isn’t as ugly.

 

Ditto here

They look like terrible Motorist shop universal fit ones, but I suspect they’re OEM and American

[dozeydustman]

Meanwhile, Renault are reducing their  carbon footprint by making wheel trims from the packaging waste in their factories.

[willswitchengage]

We haven't had the BX 'Z' wheeltrims yet, photographed on something not a BX:

[MarvinsMom]

i like these full width hubcaps used on the mark 1 and 2 minis, though BMC used similar hubcaps on various other models back in the day.

which is why i've got a set on the mini 1000.

originally this car  had the little centre caps with embellisher rings on the wheels, but i prefer these earlier hubcaps.

generally though, i always thought generally Ford did the best looking hubcaps and wheel trims.

[dozeydustman]

Possibly because I’m a little OCD/ASD if a wheel or wheel trim shows the wheelnuts, the pattern should be a multiple of that number.

4 stud holes, 12 vent holes. Works.

5 stud holes 16 vent holes not good

[Six-cylinder]

These are my favourite hub caps.

[Sham]

I've only owned a few cars with wheeltrims - the best I've owned and the worst both belonged to Protons.

An SE saloon with these hideous things... Only good thing is that there was a seperate but that held them on using one of the wheel studs.

And a Hatchback with these Austin Roveresque things which I liked a lot.

[robinmasters]

Factory, but for a different vehicle:

[MJK 24]

One wheel, two trims.

[Leyland Worldmaster]

I like these; the later ones had a slightly different design and had a 'Diamond Cut' like finish when new. 

Bloody heavy and thick aluminium alloy castings! 

Edited June 27, 2021 by Leyland Worldmaster
The Leyland Olympian has the later style of wheel trims...

[MJK 24]

21 minutes ago, robinmasters said:

Factory, but for a different vehicle:

Volkswagen had a similar take throughout the 80’s and 90’s

 

 

[captain_70s]

Pre 1976 Dolly hubcaps = good.

Post 1976 Dolly hubcaps = bad.

I also had the chrome embellisher rings, nicked from my 1300, non HL Dollys all came with generic dog dish hubcaps.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

When the steelie is pretty from the outset, only the tiniest hubcaps are required...

I do think rostyles are one of the best looking factory steel wheels produced to date. 

[Crackers]

Just remembered that my Focus had these absolute monstrosities attached to it when I picked it up. Because poverty.

They were relocated to the back of a bin lorry faster than you can say "nice hubcaps m7" and replaced with the much smarter alloys in the background. Now it looks marginally less giffertastic, but still not exactly befitting of a cool* and stylish* young* chap such as myself. It's not got any cleaner, mind.

[AndyW201]

Already shown on here, but one of the cleanest design of wheel trim, suiting the clean, '80s lines.

The majority of my 190s all had alloys from the factory, as most of them had the sportline option. (Incidentally, I think the sportline/16v 7X15" 'guilledeckel' rims are a candidate for a 'best standard alloy wheel thread)

But for my old povo spec brown 1.8 manual, the steelies and trims were perfect,

[Barry Cade]

Anybody got a Montenogo?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1073677273035928/?ref=facebook_story_share

[willswitchengage]

Neoplan has marketed some pretty neat wheeltrims over the years.

[DoctorRetro]

5 hours ago, dozeydustman said:

Possibly because I’m a little OCD/ASD if a wheel or wheel trim shows the wheelnuts, the pattern should be a multiple of that number.

4 stud holes, 12 vent holes. Works.

5 stud holes 16 vent holes not good

I know what you mean, it's irritating.

Off topic, sorry - Can I ask as politely as possible, to not use conditions such as OCD, ASD as meaning meticulous for details etc? It's quite demeaning to those who do struggle with these things. I used to use OCD in a similar way, but I'm concious now not to. 

 

[bangernomics]

When the steelie is pretty from the outset, only the tiniest hubcaps are required...
I do think rostyles are one of the best looking factory steel wheels produced to date. 

A nice c2 I always regret selling my coupe.

[dozeydustman]

10 minutes ago, DoctorRetro said:

I know what you mean, it's irritating.

Off topic, sorry - Can I ask as politely as possible, to not use conditions such as OCD, ASD as meaning meticulous for details etc? It's quite demeaning to those who do struggle with these things. I used to use OCD in a similar way, but I'm concious now not to. 

 

Will do; it was not meant to offend. (I do have mild autism and do not find either term offensive)

[sierraman]

On 6/25/2021 at 7:22 PM, Peter C said:

And I hate these:

 

Because all Jags should wear alloys.

No!!! All XJ40’s should be a 2.9, hubcaps, no air con, manual gearbox and tweed trim.

[Peter C]

11 minutes ago, sierraman said:

No!!! All XJ40’s should be a 2.9, hubcaps, no air con, manual gearbox and tweed trim.

Are you confusing a Jag with a Mk3 Granada?

[sierraman]

18 minutes ago, Peter C said:

Are you confusing a Jag with a Mk3 Granada?

No, the Jaguar XJ40 also came with a 2.9 and poverty spec trim. At the time nobody in practice would have bought one because for the same money you could have got a top spec Granada, Carlton etc.

[Peter C]

2 minutes ago, sierraman said:

No, the Jaguar XJ40 also came with a 2.9 and poverty spec trim. At the time nobody in practice would have bought one because for the same money you could have got a top spec Granada, Carlton etc.

I know all about XJ40s my friend. My university graduation present was a mint 1989 XJ40 3.6 Sovereign, which I enjoyed for about three years. The boggo 2.9 was a much lesser car.