Wheel trim aerodynamics

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Fri 14 May 2010 00:14
Wheel trim aerodynamics - frazerjp

Hi all, long time no post.

Can anyone tell me just out of interest, are car wheel trims supposed to be of aerodynamic design? I see many after market trims fitted on many cars & they seem to me to bulge a little from the wheel. Are OE trims slippery on purpose?

Cheers.

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Fri 14 May 2010 00:51
Wheel trim aerodynamics - Avant

Welcome back!

I'm no expert but I think they must be 'slippery on purpose' as car manufacturers often use a low drag coefficient as a selling point. Aftermarket trims probably sell on look as much as anything - and, dare I say it, there could just be a few punters around who don't know what drag coefficient is.....

Edited by Avant on 14/05/2010 at 00:53

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Fri 14 May 2010 01:24
Wheel trim aerodynamics - bathtub tom

I cannot believe that wheel trims perform 'function over form'.

Look at any car design and you'll see useless bits added on to suit the designer's needs, not the engineer's.

If aerodynamics were really important to the average punter, we'd all be driving around in Citroen DS types!

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Fri 14 May 2010 01:44
Wheel trim aerodynamics - Lygonos

Cd of Citroen DS was 0.36 - same as a 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX.

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Fri 14 May 2010 11:03
Wheel trim aerodynamics - Sofa Spud

Wheeltrims are one thing in modern car design that could do with improvement. Whey do manufacturers make them look like fake alloys? What's wrong with simple wheel covers that look like wheel covers?

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Fri 14 May 2010 11:56
Wheel trim aerodynamics - bathtub tom

I usually remove mine and only replace them when I'm selling the car. That way they don't get nicked or otherwise lost and they don't get kerb damage.

Then when I sell the car they're in good condition and help to enhance the opinion of any prospective buyer that I've looked after it.

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Fri 14 May 2010 16:03
Wheel trim aerodynamics - christo

hello all, long time no post for me also!

A colleague of mine has just purchased a brand new Vauxhall Insignia and we were having a look around it the other day in the office car park. I commented on the nice looking alloy wheels to which he replied they are not alloys, they are steel wheels with wheel trims.

I was gobsmacked (well nearly!). On closer inspection, they were indeed steel wheels with trims. The design of the steel wheel is simple but clever in the fact the the wheel has five large `spokes' and when the wheel trim is placed on the wheel, the steel wheel is hidden from view. Very clever and it took a close inspection to confirm that they were plastic wheel trims!

I'm sure that other car manufacturers will follow suit, well done Vauxhall for good design albeit for steel wheels and trims.

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