dog dish hub caps

B

Britcheflee

Junior Member
I am looking for dog dish/bowl hubcaps for my 53 merc - the original full sized hub caps keep coming off since putting on new tires and was told this is because they flex more than the old bias ply tires - want to put these on for day to day driving then put the full sized ones on for show. Problem is that I have had a devil of a job to find the size I need - according to my measurements from inner nub to nub I need 10 1/2 inch. Either that or I am measuring wrong.
 
I've only got one original full cover on the 52 Merc. And I quit using it after the last time it fell off on the driveway. Happened to find a pair of 53 Meteor "dog dish" caps that snap on tight and never fall off. I like the looks of them too. I just need 2 more.
 
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This is what the Dog Dish hubcap for the Mercury looks like. It was introduced in 1952 and continued on during the fifties.
I believe that the centres on the 52 to 54 Mercury were painted Red. Not sure about the colour for 1955, but I do know that in 1956, it was White. Also not sure of the last year for this shape hubcap. Maybe, someone can fill me in?
 
Let me start out by saying I'm probably wrong but I find it hard to believe that one tire over another can cause a rim to flex so much that a hubcap falls off. There have been too many radial tire myths over the years. I would look closer at the hubcap tabs and see if the cannot be bent to make them more secure. I assume they can lose their shape after being taken off so many times.
 
Frank Miller said:
Let me start out by saying I'm probably wrong but I find it hard to believe that one tire over another can cause a rim to flex so much that a hubcap falls off. There have been too many radial tire myths over the years. I would look closer at the hubcap tabs and see if the cannot be bent to make them more secure. I assume they can lose their shape after being taken off so many times.
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I agree wholeheartedly, this sounds, to me like voo doo talk. I mean really, think about it. First off these aren't rims like our daily drivers have, that will give up to a proper pot hole, but wheels that are made like tank armor. Also how much lateral stress can the tire deliver to flex the rim and not be smoking hot?

The wheel covers may well have been used up, as far as clamping to the rim. If the clips have been overly adjusted and the metal is too weak to keep the cover centered in its axis then the cover will act like an out of balance tire without affecting handling, but instead causing the flexible clips to lose their hold on the rim.

In that case the dog dish will give satisfaction, due to the manner of attachment. But I can't buy the fact that increased radial traction is to blame.

I'll refrain from asking about your driving style:rolleyes:

Good Luck
 
funny how many experts there are who laugh at a problem with no first hand knowledge of a problem.as I know my rims off the sherman tank flex on the front wheels with radials .I had bias ply for many years with no problem but with the radials I had to keep banging[if thats the word to use]them back on as they would start working off on short drives.finally removed full covers and now run dog dish.mind you I have only had the car since 1976 maybe it will get better with time and the rims get stronger:Dforgot to add that the discs would be walking? on rim and almost sheared off valve stems several times depending on length of drive
 
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Frank Miller said:
Let me start out by saying I'm probably wrong but I find it hard to believe that one tire over another can cause a rim to flex so much that a hubcap falls off. There have been too many radial tire myths over the years. I would look closer at the hubcap tabs and see if the cannot be bent to make them more secure. I assume they can lose their shape after being taken off so many times.
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I have to agree with the above statement and the two, 8 & 9 that followed it.

I have been running radial tires on my vintage and every day cars since the early seventies. Most of my everyday cars had factory full wheel covers. I cannot recall one instance where a hub cap came off.

Until a year ago I had two Birds, a '56 and a '57, I had booth of them since 1975, with radial tires, never lost a cap. I had a '53 Pontiac for over three years with the stock full wheel covers,tires were 235R7515, never a problem.
I have encountered problems with full wheel covers "walking" on the rim and thereby causing problems with the valve stems, this is easily corrected by using metal valve stem extenders, That's what I did on my Birds.
From my experience, radial tires flex less than bias if they are keep properly inflated, follow the inflation directions on the tire, not the vehicle manufactures recommendations. The vehicles spec's are relative to a smoother ride, where-as the tire spec's are relative to tire life and safety.
 
blucar said:
follow the inflation directions on the tire, not the vehicle manufactures recommendations. The vehicles spec's are relative to a smoother ride, where-as the tire spec's are relative to tire life and safety.
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The only inflation numbers I have ever seen on a tire were "max inflation pressure". Automotive engineers design the suspension to work with a particular type tire inflated to a recommended pressure. Why would they libel themselves by specifying a less-than-optimal safe inflation pressure? I won't abuse my suspension and car body by inflating a tire to 50 psi to try to get a few more miles of tire life.
 
Wheel flex is real and it doesn't have to be all that much to make a difference.

The difference between the old bias ply nylon and the steel belted radial ply is the amount of flex that the tire side wall goes through in normal operation. The shift off center of the tire tread in cornering is so much more on a radial than it is on a bias that is has to affect the rim more. The steel rims flex some with both types but I'd be certain it's a fair amount more on radial applications. The large caps likely come loose on pretty tight cornering. The old trim rings held better because they would flex along with the rim. A large solid cap can't flex near as much so it comes loose.

Most of the modern cars use a combination of metal and plastic for caps and near all of them have plastic fasteners that hold them to the lug nuts. This way the rim will have no affect on the cap. Other wise they just use a styled metal wheel with only a center cap.

Here is what Michelin has to state about it. http://agricultural.michelinman.com/us/Properly-use-your-tires/Radial-or-bias-the-right-choice
 
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Fact, the full size hubcaps will come off if you have radials. I have a full set hanging on the wall. I went to the dog dish within a week of putting radials on the car. Now the issue is not falling off it is getting them off. They stay on!
 

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Merc Cruzer said:
Fact, the full size hubcaps will come off if you have radials. I have a full set hanging on the wall. I went to the dog dish within a week of putting radials on the car. Now the issue is not falling off it is getting them off. They stay on!
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Where did you get these and what is the diameter? I like the look and that they STAY PUT!

Don
 
bigd1101 said:
Where did you get these and what is the diameter? I like the look and that they STAY PUT!

Don
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Don,

This is the only set, I could find at the moment:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1341463766...oc:2&msclkid=45853a9771441ea4dc875850089256c9

All the specks are in the add.

You will also need a set of the beauty rings too.

I would guess if you take the time, you cold find a set for quite a bit less.

I paid $100 for a set of 4, at a swap meet ON 1/19/2010, but that was many, many, moons ago. The were stock on station wagons and the base models.

Good luck in your search. At least it is prime time for swap meets.
 

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I had the same problem with my 55 Victoria. I went to Toyo/Dimondback's and my full wheel covers would work off the rim. I bent just the teeth on the wheel cover outward so they had a better bite on the wheel . This made them stay on but also made them very difficult to get off when necessary. As for the dog dish caps, I like the look better on your merc then the full wheel cover and yes they are more secure on the rim.
Just my two cents, Tim
 
Merc Cruzer said:
Don,

This is the only set, I could find at the moment:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1341463766...oc:2&msclkid=45853a9771441ea4dc875850089256c9

All the specks are in the add.

You will also need a set of the beauty rings too.

I would guess if you take the time, you cold find a set for quite a bit less.

I paid $100 for a set of 4, at a swap meet ON 1/19/2010, but that was many, many, moons ago. The were stock on station wagons and the base models.

Good luck in your search. At least it is prime time for swap meets.
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Where do I find the beauty rings?
 
bigd1101 said:
Where do I find the beauty rings?
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I had Sam at Sam's Vintage Ford Parts order them for me.

Sam's Vintage Ford Parts
5105 N Washington
Denver, CO 80216
Phone: (303) 295-1709
Fax: (303) 295-0517

samsvintagefordparts@gmail.com
samsvintagefordparts.com

He orderd another set for another club member last year when she converted to Dog Dish, for her 53' Merc.


A few others I found:

https://hubcapmike.com/15-stainless...=ppc&msclkid=8625d38b7a5c1b412629b16a11e90e1e


http://www.classicpartsusa.com/prod...term=4579946966447534&utm_content=Ad group #1
 
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