Do hubcaps decrease drag coefficient?

[110]

Hi,

I recently lost a hubcap. Which got me thinking, do I really need my hubcaps? I've heard they can decrease the drag coefficient (or wind resistance) on some cars, like the Prius.

Do any of you know whether the OEM hubcaps from Toyota for 2010 Corolla have any benefit? Or are they just for looks?

Thanks!

[ericgu22]

Originally Posted by 110

Hi,

I recently lost a hubcap. Which got me thinking, do I really need my hubcaps? I've heard they can decrease the drag coefficient (or wind resistance) on some cars, like the Prius.

Do any of you know whether the OEM hubcaps from Toyota for 2010 Corolla have any benefit? Or are they just for looks?

Thanks!

I think it does reduce wind resistance, improves fuel efficiency! But I think its not really noticeable, as I believe its just for the looks rather then having the black steel rims..

[Dimaoala]

^^^^

Indeed, it won't be a noticeable difference IMO by just removing something like that.

[msncorolla422]

Time for some RIMS!

but yeah like the others said before

[Kiwi-Corolla]

Yes, hubcaps can decrease drag, which in turn increases fuel mileage and top speed. Take the new Honda Civic for example - The design of the wheels between the 'normal' version and the Hybrid version is a lot different. Many eco modders replace their hubcaps with plastic or metal discs which are almost solid, all for the sake of about one extra mile per gallon. The reason I say "almost solid" is because there still needs to be a few gaps in the hubcap or else the brakes could overheat.

Many land speed record contenders do this too as it allows them to go faster due to the reduction in drag/wind resistance. It makes a difference, but you're likely not to notice it unless you have a fuel monitoring device such as a ScanGauge.

[PhatRoyale]

The difference is negligible at best.

[LeanBurn]

to TN 110 !!

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

The difference is negligible at best.

Yep. Testing going from hubcaps to pizza pans yielded only about 1.3% decrease in fuel consumption. Going from steelie to hubcap would be nearly nothing....especially below 90km/hr (55mph) Above that speed, drag raises its ugly head in a multitude of different ways (undercarriage, frontal area, overall drag from shape, rear air separation etc...)

[SuperchargedMR2]

The trade off for hub caps that could increase MPG wouldn't make up for the bad looks. Get a nice set of wheels, & if you are worried about anything, get a lighter wheel that can make a difference over a heavy stock wheel.