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[TECHNOPUG]

I'm running 15" steelies so there may not be many people that have experienced the same as me but here goes! I've just lost my second front tyre due to the hub-caps moving and tearing the tyre valve. First time it happened was at the Nurburgring in Germany, on the nearside. Fortunately I managed to pump some more air into the tyre and keep it inflated enough to drive it to a garage and have a new valve fitted. I then removed the plastic hub caps. When I got the car back after it's MoT, just before Xmas, the garage had put the hub caps back on and I didn't really think much of it at the time.
    Anyway, my flatmate was driving the car home on Sunday night and the offside valve has now been split by the hub cap moving round. He didn't have a phone on him so tried to just nurse the car back. The tyre has come off the rim and is now trash. So is this a known design flaw with VX hub-caps?? I guess most people have alloys so it's not an issue. I had new valves fitted when I had all 4 tyres replaced back in May. Perhaps they are poor quality valves or perhaps designed for alloys? I don't know really. All I do know is that I not putting the bloody plastic hub-caps back on!

[markey mark]

should be a cut out in trim to go round the valve ! never heard of them chaffing  

[TECHNOPUG]

Aye, always fitted them correctly with the valve sticking through the cut out. They won't actually go on otherwise. The hub-cap moves round on the wheel and bends the valve until it tears at the bottom. Fortunately tyres are only £55 on the 15's (the reason that I didn't upgrade to alloys + plus better acceleration). Just seems that there is clearly an issue now that it has happened twice and on both sides. I could cable-tie the hub caps but that looks rubbish IMO - frankly I quite like the black steelie look

   Maybe they are just cheap, rubbish valves? I know that you can have steel valves fitted but it seems that the issue is the hub-caps moving in the first instance?

[Jimbob]

In older car's I've had the wheel trim has always been that stiff it was hard to remove, would never rotate on its own.
Yours sound very loose, I would be worried about them flying off and decapitating something!

[TECHNOPUG]

They are definitely on properly. Maybe they are just old and knackered. They don't spin round by hand or anything daft like that. I am wondering if maybe they aren't Omega hubcaps but another VX. Not sure if that should really make much difference though. Just realised that I don't have any of my tools at home so I'm gonna have to get a mobile fitter to come out  - £85 is the cheapest quote I have found - the tyre is only £55

[rob in gib]

is certainly a problem with the wheel trims new trims / cable ties or leave off are the only answers  

[Andy B]

.....
 I am wondering if maybe they aren't Omega hubcaps but another VX. Not sure if that should really make much difference though.  .....

15" Omega wheel trims don't fit 15" Astras properly .... different offset so they hit the centre of the wheel before they do at the outer edge. That said, they don't rotate though.  

[Pete Elite]

  Why don't you get a cheap set of 15" alloys and solve the problem of looks and valve damage in one go. Only about a tenner a wheel for tyre change and balance .

   And if your stuck for some wheels it just so happens i have a set of six spokes in my loft for £50 which only have a bit of kerb damage(easy repair and paint if need be) .

[Marks DTM Calib]

Only time I have seen the (correct) wheel trims move is when they are caught on a kerb.

[TECHNOPUG]

Only time I have seen the (correct) wheel trims move is when they are caught on a kerb.

That's quite possible with my Aussie flat mate driving

I was very careful driving through Adenau and the roads around the 'ring (well, very careful not to hit anything) when it first went. It wasn't until we were queuing up that another motorist pointed out that the tyre was flat. There are no kerbs to hit for a good few miles on the approach roads. Still possible though I guess. I was thinking that maybe aggressive breaking may throw the rims rounds if they are a little loose?

[Martin_1962]

Cable ties or alloys

A set of GLS or CD PFL alloys would still be 15"

[TECHNOPUG]

 Why don't you get a cheap set of 15" alloys and solve the problem of looks and valve damage in one go. Only about a tenner a wheel for tyre change and balance .

   And if your stuck for some wheels it just so happens i have a set of six spokes in my loft for £50 which only have a bit of kerb damage(easy repair and paint if need be) .

Very tempting. I was looking into getting some alloys when I first got the car. But all the ones for sale were 16-17's and the prices of Toyo Proxies in those sizes were a LOT more than for 15's. Maybe you could send me some pics and some idea of price for delivery?

  Also, would you still be able to provide the boot lock we talked about? Haven't had a chance to visit any scrappies - cable-tie is still holding fast though

[Martin_1962]

Mini Facelift GLS alloys look nice and are 15"

[TECHNOPUG]

Mini Facelift GLS alloys look nice and are 15"

Pics? Linky? I'm running 205/50/15's

[Pete Elite]

 Why don't you get a cheap set of 15" alloys and solve the problem of looks and valve damage in one go. Only about a tenner a wheel for tyre change and balance .

   And if your stuck for some wheels it just so happens i have a set of six spokes in my loft for £50 which only have a bit of kerb damage(easy repair and paint if need be) .

Very tempting. I was looking into getting some alloys when I first got the car. But all the ones for sale were 16-17's and the prices of Toyo Proxies in those sizes were a LOT more than for 15's. Maybe you could send me some pics and some idea of price for delivery?

  Also, would you still be able to provide the boot lock we talked about? Haven't had a chance to visit any scrappies - cable-tie is still holding fast though

       It wasn't me you talked to about this, are you confusing me with elite pete :-?.
  As for piccies of the wheels, as soon as i get in the loft i'll PM you some, and to save on postage which will be expensive maybe we could meet half way on M25 somewhere .