painted steelies and beauty bands

[BEEF]

well I have been playing around with this idea for a long time. I finally bit the bullet. before anyone even says, I am looking into center caps.

old look VVV

http://i45.tinypic.com/ru7fk6.jpg

new look VVV

http://i45.tinypic.com/5nprmr.jpg

I popped off the hub caps and cleaned the wheels. I repainted them a flat black. I used an interesting trick to not get paint on the tires. it was interesting to say the least. I then popped on some old school beauty bands. here are some other random shots during the process.

http://i45.tinypic.com/mli7mq.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/wjxsg7.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/241ts9v.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/b5mc5t.jpg

I know several people have done this on here and actually got the idea from this forum. I never liked the fact that my black car had silver hub caps. I thought heavily about just painting the hub caps but this way I can go back if I don't like it after a while.

I am considering some chrome center caps as well. still thinking on this as it is a bit tricky since there are no direct fit parts for a center cap that I konw of.

THE BEEF

[cali yaris]

That looks great, I've always liked it. I think there are center caps that fit without issue, but you'd have to go all the way back to Gideon's posts to find out what.

[BEEF]

I've done some research on the center caps (admittedly not a whole lot) and found that some are really a crap shoot with dealing with loose fitting ones and using silocon sealant to get them to stay put.

yar1s had some nice dust caps that were chrome that she got from napa. may look into them though double sided tape is involved.

[tooter]

I know what you mean, beef... old steel rims had three or four little nubs on the raised portion so you could easily pop on chrome "baby moons" or other center caps...

http://www.webmarketing101.com/images/memory_lane/baby-moon-hubcaps.jpg

Without them it would be dfficult to get anything to reliably stay put.

[BEEF]

thanks to yar1s for the idea of the center caps. they seem to work pretty good. used double sided tape but they seem secure.

http://i47.tinypic.com/bi6p0j.jpg

[Bethlehem-yaris]

What did you use as the round silver ring?

[auxmike]

What a fantastic idea using the playing cards. Good thinkin'!

[BEEF]

they are called "beauty bands". well, they go by other names too. I got them from ebay for $45.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380379834550?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

they go on like hub caps. just snap into place.

(I am in no way endorsing this ebay user...it's just where I got mine from.)

****edit****

I will say that I stole the idea of the playing cards from a guy at work. got a 2 pack of cards from the dollar store...cheap investment but good results.

[kimona]

Wheels look great!

[33OH]

Looks awesome! I'll also say that index cards work good as well - but good idea on the playing cards.

[Thirty-Nine]

I've thought about doing this for my winter setup.

[TickleTimeTim]

i do like the look. gj. where did you get the center caps from?

[BEEF]

the centers came from NAPA. I have to give ALL the credit to YAR1S as she is the one that told me about them.

they are napa part number 730-2411. they just go on (meaning they are lose) so double sided tape was used. I pressed them into place. you can also use a rubber mallet though I think I mangled one of them doing that a little so I just used my body weight to mash them into place. one layer on the inside of the dust cap and press into place.

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=BK_7302411_0361187714

my napa store charged $2.69 each for them. not too bad and looks good.

[yariSB86]

I've done the same thing with the " grease caps". I crimped the edge of the cap as well as used 3m double sided tape. They have yet to move or come off.

[TickleTimeTim]

ill prob get those and the beauty rings for the 14" steelies i just picked up. thanks.

[TPA5]

That looks sweet! I'm definitely doing this to my car, I can't afford rims right now but I still want it to look less...blah. Thanks for the inspiration mate.

[BEEF]

I actually got the inspiration from this site. never seen it on a newer car and I think it looks kind of cool. cost me around $60 total.

[RedRide]

FYI......
The stock steelies need a ring with a 1.75 inch depth.

Also, I recomend ABS chrome.
My Yaris........
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31764&highlight=finally+waxed
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21816&highlight=trim+rings

These are the ones I got from Hubcapsplus.com.
http://www.wheelskin.com/chrome-abs-plastic-trim-rings.html

As far as center caps, many older Toyota Tercel center caps will fit. That's where mine were from.