Any Tips for Fitting Wheel Centre Caps on Aerie Alloys?

[geoffbland]

I'm trying to fit some centre caps onto my new Aerie alloys. The centre caps look like they should fit OK but I simply can't figure out how to get them to go on?

The wheels are the Aerie Ultra-Light Alloy Forged Wheels V2 and the centre caps are these MOBYAT 60mm Car Wheel Center Caps. The centre caps consist of a plastic housing that clips into the wheel centre hole and a Lotus badge that sticks to this with double sided tape.

The centre caps plastic housings have 6 clips that should clip into the centre hole of the wheel. I can feel that the centre of Aerie wheel has a retaining ridge that these clips should slip over and latch under.

But I just can't get the centre caps to push into this centre hole.

If placed in upside-down the top of the centre cap fits perfectly into the wheel centres so I think they are the correct size.

Has anyone done this? Any tips?

 

[lynchy73]

I'm trying to fit some centre caps onto my new Aerie alloys. The centre caps look like they should fit OK but I simply can't figure out how to get them to go on?

The wheels are the Aerie Ultra-Light Alloy Forged Wheels V2 and the centre caps are these MOBYAT 60mm Car Wheel Center Caps. The centre caps consist of a plastic housing that clips into the wheel centre hole and a Lotus badge that sticks to this with double sided tape.

The centre caps plastic housings have 6 clips that should clip into the centre hole of the wheel. I can feel that the centre of Aerie wheel has a retaining ridge that these clips should slip over and latch under.

But I just can't get the centre caps to push into this centre hole.

If placed in upside-down the top of the centre cap fits perfectly into the wheel centres so I think they are the correct size.

Has anyone done this? Any tips?

View attachment 74124

Remove the metal spring and they will fit. Mine are the same. Still plenty tight without the metal ring.

 

[ADC]

A bit of washing up liquid, and just evenly push harder than you'd really like? I can only speak to OEM caps going in ok, so maybe @lynchy73 is right.

 

[lynchy73]

I’ve got Aerie wheels and that’s how I made it work (with my factory centre caps). Not saying you can’t get them in without removing the metal ring, but I couldn’t get them in and I tried pretty hard.

They are still well retained without the metal ring (the diameter the the hole in the Aerie is smaller than factory), never lost one or anything like that.

A bit of washing up liquid, and just evenly push harder than you'd really like? I can only speak to OEM caps going in ok, so maybe @lynchy73 is right.

 

[Read T]

If you install without the metal ring, I would highly recommend removing the center caps if you plan on tracking the car (while on track)

 

[F1 SML8R]

If you install without the metal ring, I would highly recommend removing the center caps if you plan on tracking the car (while on track)

This, if you don't they can and likely will fall out (at least 1 or 2..). This is because of brake heat transfer to the wheel which will cause the plastic caps to expand and contract when cooled to a point where they loosen enough to fall out. Ask me how I know...

 

[netsinah]

I have the Aerie V2's and asked they be made to fit the Emira OEM center caps. I also had Aerie throw in a set of center caps. When installing the new rims, my tire shop refused to put in the center caps, saying they were too difficult to install, felt like they'd break them, and they didn't want to risk it. Once home, I had to apply a LOT of pressure and slowly played around trying one cap edge and then another, but managed to snap each one in, WITH the retaining ring. Now that I know they fall out on the track w/o the retaining ring (thanks FI SML8R and Read T!) I'm ++ glad I kept the retainer rings on, since I tracked the Aerie rims several days this past summer.

I'd suggest geoffbland you first measure the diameter of the center caps, to ensure each is a true 60mm. If so, take your time and try my method above and "be brave" with the pressure. But if you're worried like my tire shop, then remove the retainer ring as others have suggested. Good luck!

 

[BLUEMIRA]

I'm trying to fit some centre caps onto my new Aerie alloys. The centre caps look like they should fit OK but I simply can't figure out how to get them to go on?

The wheels are the Aerie Ultra-Light Alloy Forged Wheels V2 and the centre caps are these MOBYAT 60mm Car Wheel Center Caps. The centre caps consist of a plastic housing that clips into the wheel centre hole and a Lotus badge that sticks to this with double sided tape.

The centre caps plastic housings have 6 clips that should clip into the centre hole of the wheel. I can feel that the centre of Aerie wheel has a retaining ridge that these clips should slip over and latch under.

But I just can't get the centre caps to push into this centre hole.

If placed in upside-down the top of the centre cap fits perfectly into the wheel centres so I think they are the correct size.

Has anyone done this? Any tips?

View attachment 74124

I have Aerie rims as well and had the same problem. I used a small grinder to make a slightly deeper groove on the centre cap clips. Right below the angled piece.
The removal of metal ring also works.

 

[lynchy73]

Aerie should have just copied the Factory design for the centre bore where the center cap clips into. This undersized design has no upsides and just causes hassle for users.