Question for OEM Aero Wheel Cover Owners -- scratches on factory wheels underneath?

[cybertruckwaldo]

For those who have the wheel covers, how much wear or scratches are you all seeing on the factory wheels when you remove the covers from time to time?

Wondering how big of a commitment the wheel covers are. Is it a once you start using them you always have to use them because your wheels now show wear?

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[cybertruckwaldo]

Bump!

 

[TickTock]

I was wondering the same thing. I just picked mine up. I can say this - there is no metal in contact with the wheel. All contact surfaces are plastic (with metal spring clip behind them) so it seems unlikely they will damage the wheel finish.

 

[cybertruckwaldo]

I was wondering the same thing. I just picked mine up. I can say this - there is no metal in contact with the wheel. All contact surfaces are plastic (with metal spring clip behind them) so it seems unlikely they will damage the wheel finish.

That’s good to hear. I should be getting mine tomorrow.

 

[TickTock]

Pretty easy to install.
Use long nose pliers to squeeze the clips holding the ring on the hubcap one at a time while pulling up to release it. Once the ring is installed on the wheel, it is easy to align the hubcap with the tire pattern. After you snap the first clip in place, you can make small adjustments to get the fin perfectly centered on the tire pattern before snapping the rest in place. Don't forget to snap the center in place at the end. I suspect the folks who have had theirs come off must have forgotten this step.

 

[kobratoldya]

I was wondering the same thing. I just picked mine up. I can say this - there is no metal in contact with the wheel. All contact surfaces are plastic (with metal spring clip behind them) so it seems unlikely they will damage the wheel finish.

Does anyone have a picture of this?

 

[ABILISK]

I have <3K miles on my core wheels. I told myself the first time the covers come off they’re not going back on. Had to air up the tires due to cold weather and the very first time I took them off the wheels had scratches. Wheel covers are inconvenient, damaging, and flimsy. I don’t drive a bare steel, bulletproof truck to worry about giant plastic dinner plates flying off.

 

[M0unt41nm4n]

For those who have the wheel covers, how much wear or scratches are you all seeing on the factory wheels when you remove the covers from time to time?

Wondering how big of a commitment the wheel covers are. Is it a once you start using them you always have to use them because your wheels now show wear?

Funny you mention this. A rock chipped my wheel… nothing big but enough that I had to get a sharpie to color it in. I updated a ticket I had open and said I really need the covers due to rock hits. They were great and brought my covers. Yes they help and if you f*k them up, they are $75 each, much cheaper than a new wheel.

That said, the wheels suck. They are not alloy. They are a resin or ceramic. As a long time truck owner, these are really crappy.

 

[ABILISK]

That said, the wheels suck. They are not alloy. They are a resin or ceramic. As a long time truck owner, these are really crappy.

Did you mean covers when you said wheels? The wheels are very much not ceramic.

 

[Pops]

Someone damaged one of my wheel's finish while I was parked. So when I got the covers it actually hides the damage. Even if they do damage the wheels, the covers look good and are cheaper to replace if needed.

I do recall seeing a video on YouTube of someone showing the wheel finish damaged by the covers, but I cannot seem to find it now. So I might be remembering incorrectly, or its not very common issue.

 

[M0unt41nm4n]

Did you mean covers when you said wheels? The wheels are very much not ceramic.

The wheels. If they aren't ceramic, they are resin.

 

[M0unt41nm4n]

Yep I was right... its injection molded plastic.

According to car sites Unplugged Performance and Tsportsline, Tesla’s rims can be made from a variety of materials. For example, Cybrhex forged wheels are made from Forged 6061-T6 Aluminum. Some are made from steel and aero cover models are made from injection molded plastic.

 

[MilliVanilli]

I do recall seeing a video on YouTube of someone showing the wheel finish damaged by the covers, but I cannot seem to find it now. So I might be remembering incorrectly, or its not very common issue.

This video came out after your post so it wasn't exactly the one you referenced (unless you're a time traveler...), but it does show the scratches from the wheel cover:

 

[daveog]

Yep I was right... its injection molded plastic.

Sorry, I know this is an old post. But are you trying to say the WHEELS are made from plastic? That's impossible. There's no way a 6-ton vehicle is riding on plastic wheels. The covers are certainly plastic, but not the wheels. Just torqueing the lugs would crack a plastic wheel.

 

[M0unt41nm4n]

Sorry, I know this is an old post. But are you trying to say the WHEELS are made from plastic? That's impossible. There's no way a 6-ton vehicle is riding on plastic wheels. The covers are certainly plastic, but not the wheels. Just torqueing the lugs would crack a plastic wheel.

No… it looks like plastic. I was wrong. It’s crappy aluminum casting that breaks easily.

That said, you can get carbon fiber wheels which is another form of plastic

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