Bare steelies are seeing a bit of a renaissance at the moment. The industrial simplicity of them looks great on classics like the Peugeot 205 Rallye and the new Land Rover Defender. And yet for many years, they were about as popular as putting lemon juice in a papercut.
And if you're still of the opinion that steelies don't look good, we've found some brilliant wheel trims you can add to your car to cover them up. All of these wheel trims will fit 16-inch wheels and should add some style to your car.
And while you're updating the look of your car, why not treat your car to a polish or give the interior a good clean?
The coolest 16-inch wheel trims
1. Sparco SPC1691BKGR wheel covers
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Sparco is a well-known name in motorsports, especially fans of fast Fords. Give even the dullest of cars a bit of sporting prowess with these wheel trims. A stylish and modern design, it's also available in silver and black over silver. The Sparco name on the trim will also give your car a rally car look. Pros:Looks like an alloyMotorsport connectionCons:Expensive
2. Top Tech Revolution 16 Inch Wheel Trims
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Black alloys are all the rage at the moment on performance cars, so why not update your car and make it look a little faster with this glossy wheel trim? Featuring purely aesthetic wheel nuts, it should fit any 16-inch wheel with ease. Pros:Nice glossy finish Cons:They are a little flimsy
3. Streetwize Tempest 16 Inch Wheel Trims
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Did you know the matte paint on an Alpine A110S is a £4,400 option and other cars can cost just as much to get a flat finish? These matte-finished wheel covers may not cover your entire car but will be an interesting addition to any car. They're also made of sturdy plastic and should keep your wheels safe. Pros:Cool matte finishCons:Not to everyone's tastes
4. Versaco GTXCARBLK16 Wheel Trims
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These look quite sporty. The smart seven-spoke design and dark finish will suit most cars and even fool people into thinking you have a set of alloys from a distance. The GTX logo on the trim could also let everyone know of your favourite type of engine oil, too. Pros:Nice designGood quality Cons:GTX lettering is a bit odd
5. Autostyle VR 16-inch Wheel Covers
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Carbon fibre wheels are big money. The Renault Megane R.S Trophy-R's price ballooned by £10,000 with the optional carbon wheels, so it's well out of the budget for most of us. Recreate the look (if not the performance gain) with these VR wheel trims for a fraction of the cost.Pros:Looks sporty Cons:Rather expensive for a set of wheel trims
Best wheel trim accessories
1. eBoot 8 Pieces Tire Stem Valve Caps
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While you're adding some new wheel trims to your car, why not also add some dust caps to complete your tyre transformation? This eight pack will do two conventional cars or one Eliica. They're made of high-quality metal and will prevent dust from entering the tyre.
2. Reulin 100 Pcs Cable Ties
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Some people will make sure their wheel trims stay secured using a few zip ties. This pack contains 100 of them and they're sure to come in handy elsewhere in your garage.
3. Autotek AT00STW500 500ml Steel Wheel Paint
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Specially formulated for steel wheels, this aerosol canister can be used to touch up your wheels if they're a little tired looking. It's fast-drying and will leave a durable layer of protection giving your wheels a fresh look.
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What you need to know about 16-inch wheel trims:
What wheels do they fit?
The first thing you'll need to know is what size rim your car has. The easiest way of finding out is by looking at your tyres. Look for the R marking and see what number follows it to get your rim size. An R 16 marking will mean you have 16-inch rims.
You can also only add wheel trims to steel wheels. The only way to really change how your alloys look is by buying new ones or getting them wrapped or repainted. You can, however, improve how your alloys look with some alloy wheel cleaner.
How do I add 16-inch wheel trims to my car?
Wheel trims are very easy to add to your car and can be done by someone with next to no mechanical knowledge. And the best part is, you don't need any tools to fit them.
• Clean your steel wheels.
• Take your wheel trims and align the inner metal ring with the tyre valve.
• Push the wheel trim onto the wheel and apply pressure until it has clicked into place.
• Repeat for the other wheels.
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