Rep Power: 295

I have a quick question to settle a dispute between my dad and me, Can the rim center caps be on the rim or do they have to off the rim to mount a tire?
Thanks

 
Rep Power: 280

On the modern rim clamp machines, the center cap can stay on, the machine clamps the lip of the wheel. On an old center post (like a bulletproof Coats) the post on the machine goes thru the center of the wheel. But to balance them, the center caps have to come off.

 
Rep Power: 0

On a normal size tire thats true! You can push the tire in the rims drop center and hold it so you can get the bead on the rim. However! With a low profile tires you will 99% of the time use a special tool that you need the center cap out for that forces the tire into the drop center as it almost impossible to do by hand.

 
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the center cap on stock rims pop out and pop right in like nothin.

 
Rep Power: 280

Wanna bet??!! We can mount 35 series tires, in almost any rim diameter, without any special tool. It is a matter of knowing what you are doing.....

 
Rep Power: 295

Well damn, I just put a center cap in my new rota slipstream wheel 15", and two of the 8 prongs broke. Im worried that when i take it out, that more clips will break and means I have to get a new center cap. Any ideas on how to take it out without the plastic breaking? Thanks

 
Rep Power: 280

Did you pry it from the front, or hit it from the back side??

 
Rep Power: 315

My daddy always said, wack it!

 
Rep Power: 315

I did mean the center cap!