How to Measure a Hubcap

Measuring a hubcap is not nearly as straightforward a process as you might think. In fact, it is generally ill-advised to measure your hubcap since it typically results in the wrong size. The correct size of a hubcap comes from the information on your tire's sidewall, in the series of letters and numbers in large print that dwarfs all the other numbers. If you are curious, take a tape measure out and you'll probably find the measurement is at least an inch larger than the size specified on the tire.

  • Look at the tire on which the hubcap is attached.

  • Read the lettering that looks something like: 255/45 R17. This is printed in big letters around the sidewall of the tire, usually in the very center.

  • Look at the last number, usually preceded by an "R." This is the the size of the hubcap in inches, which corresponds to the diameter of the tire's rim.