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Most car owners are fairly oblivious to the parts that go in, on and around the vehicle. While most of the parts have their own technical names people commonly generalize those names which can create a lot of confusion - such as with hubcaps and wheel covers. Most car owners think they're the same thing but they're actually quite different.

The Hubcap

A hubcap does not actually cover the entire wheel on a vehicle - it's meant to only cover the actual hub area where the lug nuts attach or screw on. These vary in size ranging from 2 inches on smaller vehicles and wheel sizes to 10" inches in diameter for larger or common domestic wheels.

The hubcap is designed to easily attach to the wheel so as to offer easy removal in the event of a flat or tire change. The most common method used for attaching the hubcap is a snap system that holds the hubcap in place. Another alternative is available in some models where plastic or cheaper-material nuts hold the hubcap in place but these tend to cross-thread easily. Once the threading wears away the hubcap can fall off of the wheel - which tends to happen when you're driving down the expressway.

The alternative that's the most popular is the clip method that uses a tension wire in a circle around the interior of the hubcap. This is a far more secure method than plastic lugs as the wire created a force that presses against the interior of the wheel around the hub and the clips. This pressure keeps the hubcap from slipping loose but makes for easy removal when need be.

Vehicle Wheel Covers

The wheel cover is what tends to throw people off when they're referencing the two. While the hubcap has a primary role of covering the central hub to prevent damage to the bearings, the wheel cover is more about aesthetics. It does however serve a dual purpose in helping the central hubcap protect the inner workings of the hub and axle. Most modern vehicles with a higher price tag come with a nicer wheel system made from alloy. These alloy wheels surfaces in the late 60's and were a great alternative to the common ugly wheels most cars were sporting. This design continues today in mag-alloy wheels and quality custom rims but most common vehicles don't use these - the automakers instead rely on simple steel wheel designs to save money.

Many modern vehicles are beginning to invest in a quality wheel system. These first surfaced in the 60's with alloy wheels. The design is further advanced in modern vehicles with precision cut mag-alloy wheels that work towards building on durability as well as aesthetics. Despite the mag-alloy alternatives many vehicles are still manufactures with simple steel wheel systems.

While these simple steel wheels are easy to mass produce for economy vehicles they are less than attractive when exposed. That's why most vehicle owners will invest in nicer hubcaps or wheel covers depending on the actual style of wheel they have on their car, truck or SUV. For most vehicles, a full wheel cover is needed to hide the look of a common steel wheel.

These stock and custom wheel covers come in a variety of materials - from simple plastics made to fit any budget to more custom grade wheel covers manufactured with durable metals and other alloys. Overall, the primary function is to improve the look of the vehicle while hiding the ugly steel wheel underneath.

With technology steadily improving, we'll continue to see enhancements to the design of wheel covers and hub caps. They will always be needed as long as the car manufacturers rely on simple steel wheel design to get the cars off the line quickly. For those that want to step beyond simple wheel covers, alloy wheels are a great investment. For those of us with realistic budgets, you can't go wrong with a well-designed wheel cover.