Date:         Mon, 9 Feb 2004 15:29:15 -0800
Reply-To:     Fin Beven <FinBeven@MSN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Fin Beven <FinBeven@MSN.COM>
Subject:      Re: "Steel Wheels"  (Rolling Stones, road music content ??)
Comments: To: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

"will eventually end up with the "steel wheels" sitting in the shed where they belong."  

Other than aesthetics, what function do alloy wheels add to a Vanagon ?

Fin Beven
'90 Carat, custom camper conversion
Pasadena, CA

 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mark Tuovinen 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 2:31 PM
  Subject: Re: Hubcaps


  Larry,

  Your OEM hubcaps were designed for your wheels, aftermarket hubcaps are more generic, they are designed to fit a variety of wheels and will fit some better then others. I see this often, here many people have two sets of tires and rims, one for snow tires and the other for summer. Every year I see customers that have tried to put aftermarket hubcaps on OEM wheels, or OEM hubcaps on aftermarket wheels with little success. The best, most secure fit is usually OEM hubcaps on OEM wheels, other combinations may work but it will be trial and error to find out. I agree with you that the original hubcaps are not very attractive, in my case I am looking for a full set of alloy wheels for our 87 Westy Syncro and will eventually end up with the steel wheels sitting in the shed where they belong.

  Mark in AK

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Larry Petty <lpetty@TELTRONICS.COM>
  Date: Monday, February 9, 2004 10:25 am
  Subject: Hubcaps

  > This is indeed a silly issue but here goes.  My 87 Westie had the
  > original hubcaps in place since it was new.  After buying a set of
  > tireslately (don't go there!) I lost the rear passenger hubcap
  > that evening.
  > Not liking the flat plastic Vanagon hubcaps anyway, I bought a set
  > fromhubcap city on Ebay.  Nice looking caps but still plastic.  I
  > put them
  > on my van and immediately lost 2 on the first drive.  Put 2 of the
  > original Vanagon caps back on the drivers side and the 2 remaining new
  > caps on the passenger side.  First trip I took (25 miles) I lose
  > the 2
  > new hubcaps.  Old hubcaps still in place.  Hubcap city says
  > they'll sell
  > me new caps for twice what I paid for these and that they have
  > never had
  > a problem.  Thanks.
  >
  > I put the caps on with the indentation for the valve caps in the
  > properplace.  They snapped tight and I tapped them further with a
  > rubbermallet.  I am totally at a loss as to why they don't stay on
  > but don't
  > want to buy any more for fear of the same thing happening.  Wheels are
  > 14" stock steel rims.  Anybody ever have this problem?
  >
  > Larry P.
  > 87 Westie
  > New vert
  >
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