Why do wheels with hubcaps have a black side?

[AgaBoogaBoo]

As in, one the side where a rim design could be, why do they have that black medal there that the hubcap goes ontop of?

 

[Pepsi90919]

what

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Ok, take a car wheel. Now, on the side, take off the hubcap, why is that metal section there? Wheels with a design on the outside (not with hubcaps) don't have this section and you can see the rotors and the brake calipers

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

If it still do3esn't make sense, just ignore this thread, I'm really tired and no, I don't speak english.

 

[Lager]

Someone answer the boog'

 

[thirtythree]

pics?

 

[LethalWolfe]

You mean the rims?


Lethal

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

i'm looking around for pics on ebay and google, might be what the spare wheel looks like

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7905009074&category=43954

why that design on the outside? why not just let the rotors and calipers show?

 

[LethalWolfe]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7905009074&category=43954

why that design on the outside? why not just let the rotors and calipers show?

That is what you mount the tire onto. The ones in the pick are stock (and ugly) so you can put a hubcaps on them so you aren't lookin' at something ugly. You can also buy them all fancy and cool looking (which means you don't need a hubcap).


Lethal

EDIT: Because those are cheaper to make/buy than the fancy looking ones.

 

[IamElectro]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Ok, take a car wheel. Now, on the side, take off the hubcap, why is that metal section there? Wheels with a design on the outside (not with hubcaps) don't have this section and you can see the rotors and the brake calipers

Because stamped steel wheels are cheap to manufacture and help keep the cost down. For steel wheels to have designs in them they would have to be thicker and would be considerably heavier. Thats why most after market wheels are an alloy of some sort and cost more.

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

looking to get your hubcaps painted?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Why have that on there at all? It would be cheaper to not put that section at all

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7905009074&category=43954

why that design on the outside? why not just let the rotors and calipers show?

And what exactly do you expect to support the wheels? A plastic vanity hub cap?

 

[LethalWolfe]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Why have that on there at all? It would be cheaper to not put that section at all

That is what the rubber tire is mounted to and what attaches to the car. Yes it would be cheaper not to include it but what use is a car w/no wheels?


Lethal

 

[Kilgor]

I think I know what you are saying. The reason is because the wheels are made by a cheaper method and metal most likely stamped steel I think. When they use steel the wheels have to be designed differently to take the weight and stress. The steel wheels are cheaper than the Aluminum type because they are easier to make. Aluminum is a lighter metal than steel so you can take a big block of it and cut it into a rim that weighs 25 pounds but if tried the same thing with steel it would weigh 50.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Kilgor
I think I know what you are saying. The reason is because the wheels are made by a cheaper method and metal most likely stamped steel I think. When they use steel the wheels have to be designed differently to take the weight and stress. The steel wheels are cheaper than the Aluminum type because they are easier to make. Aluminum is a lighter metal than steel so you can take a big block of it and cut it into a rim that weighs 25 pounds but if tried the same thing with steel it would weigh 50.

Aha, ok. I didn't know that section was there for support, that makes sense now.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
looking to get your hubcaps painted?

No

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: LethalWolfe

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Why have that on there at all? It would be cheaper to not put that section at all

That is what the rubber tire is mounted to and what attaches to the car. Yes it would be cheaper not to include it but what use is a car w/no wheels?


Lethal

I think I got my point across wrong, by outside I mean outside of the interior of the wheel. Forget about it, maybe if I really care some other time I'll take a picture of mine and post

 

[Squisher]

If you're talking about the circle of holes, they are there for weight savings and allows for better cooling of the rotors.

Paint is just for corrosion protection.

 

[Kerouactivist]

:roll:

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Squisher
If you're talking about the circle of holes, they are there for weight savings and allows for better cooling of the rotors.

Paint is just for corrosion protection.

But why even have that metal that is directly around the holes?

If it's just cost savings or support for the wheel, that makes sense then

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga

Originally posted by: Squisher
If you're talking about the circle of holes, they are there for weight savings and allows for better cooling of the rotors.

Paint is just for corrosion protection.

But why even have that metal that is directly around the holes?

If it's just cost savings or support for the wheel, that makes sense then

Ever try to pick up a car? A hubcap would never support the weight of a car. The wheel part is necessary. The hubcap is purely decorative. They paint the steel wheel part black so that it isn't so noticeable that there is a steel wheel behind the hubcap (ie. it looks more like an alloy wheel). Hubcaps are plastic and cheap. The combination of steel wheel and hubcap costs much less than an alloy wheel, multiply that times 4 and there you have it. The manufacturer can probably save a few hundred dollars per car by doing this. You multiply this times hundreds of thousands of cars and well, you do the math.

Since the wheels support the entire car they must be strong. Steel and aluminum are both strong enough to support the weight of a car. Plastic is not. Thin plastic hubcaps definitely are not.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: AgaBooga

Originally posted by: Squisher
If you're talking about the circle of holes, they are there for weight savings and allows for better cooling of the rotors.

Paint is just for corrosion protection.

But why even have that metal that is directly around the holes?

If it's just cost savings or support for the wheel, that makes sense then

Ever try to pick up a car? A hubcap would never support the weight of a car. The wheel part is necessary. The hubcap is purely decorative. They paint the steel wheel part black so that it isn't so noticeable that there is a steel wheel behind the hubcap (ie. it looks more like an alloy wheel). Hubcaps are plastic and cheap. The combination of steel wheel and hubcap costs much less than an alloy wheel, multiply that times 4 and there you have it. The manufacturer can probably save a few hundred dollars per car by doing this.

Since the wheels support the entire car they must be strong. Steel and aluminum are both strong enough to support the weight of a car. Plastic is not. Thin plastic hubcaps definitely are not.

Ok, fine. I understand the reasoning for hubcaps, it makes sense now that it's clear that metal supports the outer metal that the tire is on

 

[loup garou]

I don't think you'd be driving too far with tires mounted on hubcaps with no wheels. :roll:
Honestly, this is the dumbest thing I've EVER read on this forum.