How to choose
A centre cap belongs to a specific wheel
Wheel centre caps are not universal. Every wheel manufacturer uses its own cap shape and size for its ranges, and even caps for wheels of the same brand can differ. So start your search with the wheel's brand and model: OZ Racing, MAK, Dotz, Momo and others. If you do not remember the brand, look at the back of the wheel and at the old cap itself. The second thing to check is the diameter in millimetres. Use a calliper to measure the outer edge of the old cap and the distance across the clips on its back. If the old cap is gone, measure the recess in the wheel that the cap sits in. For off-road wheels such as Dotz 4x4, the cap's name also gives the bolt pattern (PCD) and the height, and these must match too.
What "Equivalent to OE" means
When you look for centre caps for a VW, BMW or Audi, you will see MAK caps in the list labelled "Equivalent to BMW OE Cap", "Equivalent to VW OE Cap" and so on. A cap like this is made by the wheel manufacturer to the same size as the carmaker's original, so it fits MAK wheels designed for that particular make. It is not a genuine BMW or Volkswagen spare part. If you want to fit the carmaker's own caps to new wheels, there is another way. Alcar makes adapters that let original VW, Seat and Skoda caps go into certain AEZ, Dezent and Dotz wheels with a 60 mm cap recess. Tesla caps have an adapter of their own. The manufacturer states that the adapter does not fit every wheel of these brands, and says to press the ring into the wheel first and only then the cap into the ring, never hammering it in.
Logos, bolt caps and decorative bolts
- A wheel logo is a sticker or emblem that goes in the middle of the cap. Its size has to match the specific cap: the Carwel 52 mm logo, for example, is made for a 56 mm cap.
- Bolt caps are plastic covers that push onto the head of a wheel bolt or nut. You choose them by wrench size, 17, 19 or 21 mm, and Bimecc sells them in sets of 20 with a removal tool.
- AEZ decorative bolts imitate the bolts on the rim of a two-piece wheel. They are purely cosmetic and do not hold the wheel on.
Why it is better not to leave the centre of the wheel open
The car will drive just the same without a cap, but the hub centre is left exposed to road dirt and, in winter, to salt. A cap covers it, and the set looks finished. Centre caps are usually sold individually, so if you have lost one, buying the same code is enough, while a full set needs four. Do not confuse them with wheel trims: trims are plastic covers over the whole steel wheel, whereas a centre cap only closes the middle of an alloy wheel.
Fit by hand, remove with care
Clean the recess in the wheel before fitting. Position the cap straight and press it in evenly with the palm of your hand until the clips click into place. Do not use a hammer on it. When removing it, do not use a screwdriver: it will scratch a painted or polished wheel, and the plastic clips can break. It is safer to use a plastic trim tool or, with the wheel off, to push the cap out from the back of the wheel.