Hey guys!
So I just swapped over to winter tires for my new 2012 Forester. I got 16" steel rims from Costco and Bridgestone Blizzak WS70's put on. Now I'm ready for an Ottawa winter!
The only problem is that the centers are open on the Costco steel rim, meaning I can see the axle nuts poking out of the center of each wheel. Right now they're shiny and new looking, and I'm concerned about exposing them to winter snow and salt. My regular wheels are aluminum alloys which of course protected the axle from being exposed.
On my way into work I walked through the parking lot and noticed some older cars whose axle nuts are also exposed with their winter rims, and they are all rust-colored and dirty. I also saw steel wheels that didn't seem to expose the axle.
Should I be concerned? Do I leave them exposed? What can I do to cover them? Canadian Tire sells universal fit press-on wheel covers (hub caps) but they don't completely protect the axle center since they have to clear the lug nuts, so there's an air gap inside. But almost everyone I ask says not to bother with hub caps in the winter since they'll only get lost or cracked or imbalanced when snow and ice cake onto them.
So I just swapped over to winter tires for my new 2012 Forester. I got 16" steel rims from Costco and Bridgestone Blizzak WS70's put on. Now I'm ready for an Ottawa winter!
The only problem is that the centers are open on the Costco steel rim, meaning I can see the axle nuts poking out of the center of each wheel. Right now they're shiny and new looking, and I'm concerned about exposing them to winter snow and salt. My regular wheels are aluminum alloys which of course protected the axle from being exposed.
On my way into work I walked through the parking lot and noticed some older cars whose axle nuts are also exposed with their winter rims, and they are all rust-colored and dirty. I also saw steel wheels that didn't seem to expose the axle.
Should I be concerned? Do I leave them exposed? What can I do to cover them? Canadian Tire sells universal fit press-on wheel covers (hub caps) but they don't completely protect the axle center since they have to clear the lug nuts, so there's an air gap inside. But almost everyone I ask says not to bother with hub caps in the winter since they'll only get lost or cracked or imbalanced when snow and ice cake onto them.
