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Upgrading GM Hub Caps For Rims

Are you thinking about installing hub caps over your wheels? If so, this is the guide for you.

First, What Kind Of Hub Cap Are We Talking About?

Hubcap diagram

Over the years, the term "hub cap" has been used to describe several very different parts. Many years ago, all cars and trucks had steel wheels. Those vehicles usually had one of two types of hub caps:

  • A lightweight metal hub cap that covered about half of the diameter of the wheel.
  • A lightweight metal hub cap that covered almost all of the steel wheel.

These hub caps were usually chrome plated, but might also be painted to match the car. In more recent years, the hub cap evolved:

  • Less expensive vehicles use steel wheels with hub caps made of plastic that are styled to look like a more expensive aluminum wheel.
  • More expensive vehicles use aluminum wheels with a small plastic hub cap that only covers the center bore of a the wheel. It may or may not cover the lug nuts. Sometimes this type of hub cap is also called a center cap.

What do all of these types of hub caps have in common? Sometimes they fall off. This can happen from hitting large potholes, or from hard driving. Also, they can be miss-installed when a tire is changed or rotated. Hub caps can get beat up over time. The larger versions can be scraped up when parallel parking. The smaller center caps can fade in the sun, or get scraped up during removal if the tire technician isn't careful.

The Benefits Of Upgrading Hub Caps For Rims

Install hubcap

If you've got a car with basic steel rims, installing hub caps is much more affordable than upgrading your rims. It looks just as great, too! Hub caps don’t only improve your car’s appearance. They also serve a few important purposes:

  • Hub caps cover the lug nuts. This means they protect the lug nuts from rust.
  • Hub caps that cover the whole wheel protect the wheels from rust, too.

Why OEM Hub Caps Are Better Than Aftermarket Hub Caps

OEM hub caps offer much more value than aftermarket hub caps do.

While steel wheels all look pretty much the same, they usually vary from model to model. This means that generic aftermarket hub caps may not fit onto your rims. There has to be enough of a lip on your wheels to allow the hubcaps to “grab” onto them. GMC's OEM hubcaps have:

  • The exact right size to fit your OEM wheels
  • The right tabs to stay securely on the wheel
  • Quality materials that last a long time

Aftermarket hub caps have a much higher chance of failing because:

  • Many (if not all) aftermarket manufacturers use low quality materials to build their hub caps. These materials likely can't withstand constant exposure to the sun, moisture, road salt, road debris, etc.
  • In most cases, aftermarket hub caps are universal. That means fitment won't be perfect on your wheels. That can lead to the hub caps exposing certain areas of your wheels or even falling off sooner or later.

How To Find Genuine OEM Hub Caps At Rock Bottom Prices

GM hubcap

Many car owners shy away from OEM hub caps because they're more expensive than aftermarket ones. It's not always the case, though! You can get OEM hub caps at rock bottom prices. There are several ways to do this:

  • Pick some OEM hub caps up at a junkyard. This can be risky, though. Those hub caps have likely been sitting outside for a long time. That means junkyard hub caps can have some rust or other type of damage.
  • Buy used OEM hub caps online. Craigslist and eBay have some used OEM hub caps. You can also look at other online marketplaces like Facebook. Those markets can be risky, as the seller doesn't always deliver exactly what they promised.
  • Order brand new OEM hub caps from us online. If you order brand new genuine OEM hub caps, quality is guaranteed. You won't have to worry about any rust, scrapes, or other types of damage compromising your hub caps' appearance. We offer the lowest total transaction prices you’ll find online. We also offer a price match guarantee. For example, you can save about $15 on this hub cap for select Chevy SUVs.

Do you have any questions about upgrading your hub caps? We'll be happy to answer them!