Smooth wheel covers

[jamiec]

Other aero-mods,yes. Planning a small airdam, maybe a front belly pan, maybe a rear wheel skirt but only if it turns out nice and color matched.

And if I'm still not happy with the improvements I might just go ape crap on it and do full belly pan, aero mirrors,extended kamm back,lowering etc.

Looking forward to your work on this and the results

[fifteenwindow]

I don't have the skills or tools that 3dplane has, so I decided to purchase some smooth wheel covers made by Hella. They have an access panel for the valve, but I haven't tried getting my pump head in there yet. Its a pretty small hole.

The wheel covers fit snug up to the rim, unlike my stock hubcaps that kept a 1/8-3/16 inch gap between the cap and the rim.

I taped over the vent holes from the inside, with aluminum tape.

[RedDE5Spd]

I like those^
However I cannot seem to find them by Hella, everything I try keeps pulling up their lighting. Any help?

[MetroMPG]

Those are cool !

They have an access panel for the valve, but I haven't tried getting my pump head in there yet. Its a pretty small hole.

You can also just get a valve extension/adapter (couple of bucks for a set). Easier to screw that on, and the tip is outside the small opening, then pump.

[Daox]

I like those too! Spill the beans, where did you get them?

[fifteenwindow]

I found them on eBay. I don't know of any other sets available.

A warning on these caps: they are not as sturdy as the stock caps. The wire hoop that goes around the inside is made of a smaller diameter wire.

Driving around today I lost a hubcap between Farm and Fleet (where I picked up some valve extensions (thanks, Metro)) and the library. I was Super Lucky to find it up on someone's lawn, as I retraced my route.

Fair warning.

[grsupercity]

DO they actually help?

[Daox]

Testing on ecomodder.com shows that they give anywhere from a 1-5% increase in fuel economy.

http://ecomodder.com/wiki/index.php/Smooth_wheel_covers

[fifteenwindow]

I don't have any proof or even real evidence that they do anything. I am going on what I have read on sites like Daox mentioned. Mitsubishi somewhere wrote that the mirage gets better gas mileage with the steel wheels & hubcaps than with the aluminum mag wheels because of a higher aerodynamic drag on the aluminum wheel.

I am trying to get the best gas mileage that I can, without doing expensive modifications. These hubcaps cost me $35.

If they work, it may take a year or so to get that money back. After that, it's like getting free money every time I drive.

[Donut]

my car was from the stock and came with alloy wheels (Mitsubishi incentive), unfortunately. Steel wheels would make the fixation of wheel caps easier.

Any ideas on how to fix wheel covers on the alloy mounts?
Otherwise I will smooth the wheels with duct tape.