ALT-1 What you should know about Hubcaps Called Spinners
It must have seemed like a great idea at the time, create a mag wheel that has a free spinning section that continues moving through inertia, wind or sometimes even no reason at all. The car might have stopped, the spinner keeps going. For a bit. And I'm sure it looked good on paper, a new trend that would have automotive industry abuzz and young drivers the world over reaching deep into their pockets to pimp out their ride once again.But like so many well intentioned ideas, the concept that seemed good in theory and on paper didn't come close to the world wide market saturation the designers had hoped for. Nowhere near it in fact as in the past five years, I've seen...er two sets on cars. And that's it. Two sets on hundred's of thousands of cars from all walks of life that I've walked or driven past - I'd say that's not just an indication of a failure to launch in Australia, that's a single figure numbered Apollo disaster.And it's my opinion that the single cause of the army of nail guns pointed at the spinners coffin would most likely be that people fail to see any point to them. It's highly doubtful that alone I'm of the theory that if you want the wheels to spin, press down on the accelerator. Similarly most car enthusiasts appreciate their rims/mags/wheels/hubcaps more when they're stationary.Unlike neons, you can't switch spinners off. There's also the added weight to be considered - if your car was built for go instead of show, spinners wouldn't make the modification list any more than 'a boot full of bricks' would. Cost is also up there - spinners aren't cheap in the slightest. You'll be shelling out through the nose for some of this wheel bling just to be different and even then you'll be faced with one final hurdle:
Taste. Some rappers with a little too much money to burn lapped them up (and added diamonds and precious stones in another move that makes zero sense to the average driver), but....I haven't met anyone yet who actually enjoys the look of spinning rims. And it doesn't matter if the question is directed at the race going community, the casual drivers or old road salts - the answers the same - it's an ugly trend that will fade away and soon be forgotten. Or maybe it already has by the vast number of cars I've seen with them installed already.Buy them if you like, mesmerize as many children as you pass but be prepared to defend your choice from the mainstream public that will wonder what else you waste your cash on.
Like parachute pants, crimped hair and Kris Kross - laugh at them now and reminisce later as this trend will come and go before you know it. If not, come to Australia. With 2 out of a potential 21 million, odds are you'll never cringe at sometimes wheel selection ever again.
