Re: {Chrysler 300} hub cap retention on Wheel
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: {Chrysler 300} hub cap retention on Wheel



John, 

I can speak from experience on this. My first car in 1975 was a 1964 300 sport coupe. I started driving it when I turned 16 the following year. It had bias tires on it then. Never had the wheel covers fall off. At some point I switched to radials and that's when I started having problems. Mostly on the front. 

The grippers on these wheel covers are very lame. I tried all kinds of things to keep from losing them. I ended up putting the wheel covers from a 1964 Pontiac Tempest on it, and they didn't come off. Much better grippers.

Another car I had trouble with after changing to radials is my 1964 Dodge Polara 500. The grippers on those is poor as well, and the added weight of the spinners don't help. 

I've never had a cap come off my 300F, it has great grippers.

I've had a lot of Mopar wheel covers over the years and I don't understand why they had to try and redesign something that was already figured out.

I recently noticed on my friend's 1959 Oldsmobile that there were no valve stem holes in the wheel covers. Turns out, the covers are attached with springs and you have pull the wheel cover away from the wheel to check the air. Must have driven gas pump jockeys crazy back in the full service days. 

Nick

On Tue, Oct 7, 2025, 5:57 AM John Grady <jkg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
i wonder  if wheels really “flex “ in use ? hard to believe , but maybe at microscopic level ?
Depends on stress  and strain ,a design factor , then a   safety factor against fatigue that was used ( vs weight) on wheels 
Nascar and police wheels probably weigh more .. And steel is far  better than aluminum  to resist fatigue , ( aluminum lets go suddenly , steel tends to get cracks  at stress risers ( scratches or weld edges ) that progress  , (if it happens)  on a properly designed steel wheel . Given the forces on the steel  reduce greatly moving outward radially , one would expect cracks around lug nuts  and inner web welds , but  little flex  in rim itself   . I doubt tires change that situation much despite lots if coincidence leading  to folklore. Rim would  have cracked with any tire if fatigued.  
Studebaker rims do crack , with hi miles but almost everything on a studebaker is 60% the size of a real car in extreme  pursuit of lightness ( 1/4-20 holds doors on , # 12  fasteners (!what?  !) where you expect 1/4-20  ) It worked they won mobilgas runs for years 26- 28 mpg with  a carb and  V8  

Given the above , K hubcaps grip design must just not be up to the  normal  loosening forces  caused by bumps and cornering ( with a bump!) , not wheel ? I mean  other hubcaps do not fly off same wheels? 
The grippers used need active spring  flex once in place to keep tight and not be bent to where they “ take a set ” ( yield strength and spring  temper of steel  controls that , during flex  action, like when  putting on rim)  
Big view , poor QC of hubcap manufacture , ( spring temper control) or just poor design, — not wheel?  
Admittedly opinion  , tempered by engineering view of this … ymmv 
I bet weatherstrip adhesive would keep it on ( stays flexible) and and you can get it off 
john 
 

On Oct 6, 2025, at 9:00 AM, 'pffkllc@xxxxxxx' via Chrysler 300 Club International <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


Thanks for that information Rich.  I am trying to find "new" wheels for the K that will hold the hubcaps and not flex under the radial tires, but few if any have the "bumps" that hold the hubcaps on the wheels.

Pete.

On Sunday, October 5, 2025 at 05:58:46 PM EDT, Rich Barber <c300@xxxxxxx> wrote:


https://www.stocktonwheel.com/  Website looks good, but… MS Copilot says: Stockton Wheel does appear to still be in business, at least nominally—but with caveats. The company has changed ownership since 2011, and while their website remains online, recent customer reports suggest serious issues with communication and service. Multiple users have noted unanswered emails, phone calls, and texts, even when trying to place orders.

Some enthusiasts speculate that the shop may still be doing limited wheel and rim repair or 4x4 wheel fabrication, but custom orders seem unreliable at best. Alternatives like Wheel Vintiques, Wheelsmith, and Pete Paulsen have been recommended by others in the community for more responsive service.

If you're considering contacting them, it might be worth a personal visit to their Fremont Street location in Stockton—just to confirm activity firsthand. Want help drafting a message or exploring other wheel sources?

 

I live 30 miles straight east of their shop and did some business with them years ago. Was unimpressed with their overall performance.  Stockton has been one of the horrible CA cities forever.  Not sure if Pete Paulsen is still in bidness.

Rich Barber

 

 

 

From: 'pffkllc@xxxxxxx' via Chrysler 300 Club International <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, October 4, 2025 11:22 AM
To: Chrysler300 list server email <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: {Chrysler 300} Stockton Wheel

 

     Has anyone been in touch with, or done business with Stockton Wheel since the previous owner passed away?  I’m looking to replace the wheels on Anne’s K with newer wheels that will not flex (as much?) as the originals when equipped with radial tires.  As you K people know, it is difficult to keep your hubcaps on when using radials. The only question is whether the new wheels will have the “bumps” that secure the K hubcaps.  Has anyone bought wheels for a K from them?  Any information will be appreciated.

Thanks,

--
For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/search.htm#querylang
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Chrysler 300 Club International" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to chrysler-300-club-international+unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/chrysler-300-club-international/259654707.2144909.1759602138709%40mail.yahoo.com.

--
For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/search.htm#querylang
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Chrysler 300 Club International" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to chrysler-300-club-international+unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/chrysler-300-club-international/00b101dc3643%2436899fd0%24a39cdf70%24%40ez2.net.

--
For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/search.htm#querylang
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Chrysler 300 Club International" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to chrysler-300-club-international+unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/chrysler-300-club-international/418861532.2348431.1759755608269%40mail.yahoo.com.

--
For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/search.htm#querylang
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Chrysler 300 Club International" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to chrysler-300-club-international+unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/chrysler-300-club-international/E49175E2-8C9E-42CE-8429-2111F0B126FB%40gradyresearch.com.

--
For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/search.htm#querylang
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Chrysler 300 Club International" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to chrysler-300-club-international+unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/chrysler-300-club-international/CA%2BjApFMcT%3Drn1XC38bkYQy4rPouVh%2BxUGzr7iq5%2B%3DLR8hdzSsQ%40mail.gmail.com.


Home Back to the Home of the Forward Look Network Archive Sitemap


Copyright © The Forward Look Network. All rights reserved.

Opinions expressed in posts reflect the views of their respective authors.
This site contains affiliate links for which we may be compensated.