I took off the alloys and the potenza re930i which were terrible in the white stuff last year. Found 4 steel rims on Ebay new off a gxe I guess. All 4 $36 dollers plus $50 for shipping. Then went to Costco and got 4 BFGoodrich winter slaloms mounted for $286.00 which includes rotating them on and off the car for life and flat fixes etc... Not bad in order to keep me from wiping out the side of my car. Car looks pretty cool believe it or not, painted the outer lip silver, left center part all black and put on the chrome lugs. Does anyone know where to get a small center cap 2 3/4" diameter for front axle hub? I don't want the nut, thread and cotter pin to rust any more than it is already. Salt can really do a job. I put duct tape on mean while...don't laugh.

 

If it's rusting you could maybe spray some rust inhibitor on it maybe.

It sounds like you're missing your hub dust covers. You should not normally be able to see the castle nut and stuff.... Where did they go??? I hope your wheel bearings haven't become contaminated, depending on how long you've been running them this way. I'd think about pulling the bearings (maybe in the spring ), inspect them, and repack them with fresh grease.

You can probably find generic dust covers at any auto parts store. (So I've heard anyway.)

 

The fronts don't ever have caps, I've been taking notice of all kinds of cars when there hub caps are off. The backs have little covers though. These wouldn't fit over the bolt up front. I did make caps though and they look great. I used a tin from a nascar candle cut down to the right depth and hammered gently on. They were the exact diameter. Now cap say's #24 nascar. Best looking steel wheels with snows I've ever seen.

 

Oh yeah... whoops! It's been a while since I've had to dismount my wheels (myself anyway) so I keep thinking that they should have covers. The last time I worked on anything was the rear brakes of a van (with covers).

Interesting fix though. Good thinking.

....now I'm kind of wondering why they don't have caps..... Seems strange when the rear has caps and there must be a way to fit caps on the fronts.