Those round things that are in the middle of car tires and often seem to fall off, what's their purpose?

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They're called "hubcaps" in English, right? I don't know shit about cars, so I'm not sure if they're there for a strictly aesthetic reason, or if they have some practical use... And why do they seem to fall off so often?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:25 (nineteen years ago)

BICYCLE SPINNERZ!!!!
http://cache.gizmodo.com/images/products_diamondz.jpg

― polar bear flashback episode (nickalicious), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:28 (nineteen years ago)

To be honest though I have no idea.

― polar bear flashback episode (nickalicious), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:28 (nineteen years ago)

And a merry Lexmas to you too!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubcap

ihttp://www.tfarchive.com/toys/techspecs/beastwars/1997__Hubcap_(1997).jpg

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:29 (nineteen years ago)

Strictly aesthetic reasons.

Lock thread.

― ONIMO's pet donkey jacket potato (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:29 (nineteen years ago)

They're to keep the mud off yer (wheel) nuts

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:29 (nineteen years ago)

just decorative i guess

And why do they seem to fall off so often?

all our roads are shot to shit

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:31 (nineteen years ago)

I have never, ever seen a hubcap fall off!

― polar bear flashback episode (nickalicious), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:32 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, and they fall off because of bumpy journeys and/or people who can't park without hitting the kerb.

― ONIMO's pet donkey jacket potato (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:32 (nineteen years ago)

aerodynamic aren't they?

― benrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:32 (nineteen years ago)

You'd think someone would come up with proper way to fasten them?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:33 (nineteen years ago)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_tie

― ONIMO's pet donkey jacket potato (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:33 (nineteen years ago)

(though more useful for modern wheel trims than old skool hubcaps)

― ONIMO's pet donkey jacket potato (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:34 (nineteen years ago)

If they're merely for decoration, why do all cars have them? I thought they had some practical purpose...

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:35 (nineteen years ago)

i think its more people not putting them back on properly as well, tbf.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:36 (nineteen years ago)

i'm sure they are aerodynamic.

― benrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:36 (nineteen years ago)

You can even get silver ones to match your trims.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?TabID=1&ModuleNo=17261&doy=search
xpost to myself

― ONIMO's pet donkey jacket potato (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:36 (nineteen years ago)

Reread CJ's post.

― It's the lazy and immoral way to become super hip. (Austin, Still), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:37 (nineteen years ago)

If they're merely for decoration, why do all cars have them?

well if you manufactured the only car without attractive wheels, good luck.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:38 (nineteen years ago)

But they don't look attractive, they're just... grey.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:39 (nineteen years ago)

Shouldn't they come in all the colours of the rainbow and with peace signs or something?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:40 (nineteen years ago)

yes, you should go into business making Gay Hubcaps.
see you in the dole queue.

― teh_kit returns! (g-kit), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:40 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.just-spinner-rims.com/pimpstar-suv.jpg

― Sam rides the beat like a bicycle (Molly Jones), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:41 (nineteen years ago)

they have ones with lights now so that when the tyre turns you can see messages the driver has programmmed or, like, a picture of the virgin mary.

i need these in gold for the mini-van:
http://www.niscoracer.com/spinners/spinners2.gif

― sunny successor (katharine), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:42 (nineteen years ago)

right...like that. x-post

― sunny successor (katharine), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:42 (nineteen years ago)

That's more like it!

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:42 (nineteen years ago)

they have ones with lights now so that when the tyre turns you can see messages the driver has programmmed

"BACK OFF, CUNTS"

― teh_kit returns! (g-kit), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:42 (nineteen years ago)

(x-post)

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:42 (nineteen years ago)

So the image forms as the tire is spinning? How the hell does that work?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:44 (nineteen years ago)

magic

― teh_kit returns! (g-kit), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:44 (nineteen years ago)

are these the same as 'rims'?

― benrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:44 (nineteen years ago)

You have to drive it in discos with strobe lamps.

― ONIMO's pet donkey jacket potato (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:45 (nineteen years ago)

ah no rims are like decorative bits that the hubcab would cover up.

― benrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:45 (nineteen years ago)

I have never, ever seen a hubcap fall off!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poKujjQG9II

― Fleischhutliebe! like a warm, furry meatloaf (Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:45 (nineteen years ago)

those are LED rims. It's made up of little lights that you program via computer.

― Sam rides the beat like a bicycle (Molly Jones), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:46 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, I though rims were decorated hubcaps. So if you have rims, you won't have hubcaps? This kinda confusing...

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:47 (nineteen years ago)

those are LED rims. It's made up of little lights that you program via computer.

But won't the little lights spin with the rest of the tire?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:48 (nineteen years ago)

Do you even have a car?

― ONIMO's pet donkey jacket potato (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:48 (nineteen years ago)

No, nor a driver's license. Why else would I be so confused?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:49 (nineteen years ago)

I'm sure the computer chip compensates for the tire's rotation.

― Sam rides the beat like a bicycle (Molly Jones), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:49 (nineteen years ago)

So no matter what the speed the tire is spinning, the image will look the same?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:50 (nineteen years ago)

I believe so. please note I'm not an expert in fancy car accessories.

― Sam rides the beat like a bicycle (Molly Jones), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:50 (nineteen years ago)

I wish all that engineering energy would've been put to, I dunno, better cuckoo clocks or something.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:51 (nineteen years ago)

just accept the magic, tuomas

― sunny successor (katharine), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:51 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeKD-LWjAKY

― ONIMO's pet donkey jacket potato (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:52 (nineteen years ago)

^ vid of picture rims in action ^

― ONIMO's pet donkey jacket potato (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:53 (nineteen years ago)

LED hubcaps: also available for frisbee
http://www.otherlandtoys.co.uk/eyefo.htm

― ledge (ledge), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:54 (nineteen years ago)

So they work as some sort of aphrodisiac as well?

(x-post)

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:54 (nineteen years ago)

Surely having LED messages on your hubcaps means only people approaching from the sides can see them? i.e. as you sail past other cars at T-junctions, or for the benefit of pedestrians?

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:56 (nineteen years ago)

LED hubcaps: also available for frisbee
http://www.otherlandtoys.co.uk/eyefo.htm

FUCK ME! I WANT ONE.

― teh_kit returns! (g-kit), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:56 (nineteen years ago)

I wish all that engineering energy would've been put to, I dunno, better cuckoo clocks or something.

funnily enuf, i know someone with a clock made in the same way.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:58 (nineteen years ago)

Must be one speedy clock...

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:59 (nineteen years ago)

I know someone with a cock made in the same way.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:00 (nineteen years ago)

Must be one speedy rooster...

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:01 (nineteen years ago)

What message did it have on it?

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:01 (nineteen years ago)

"I'll light up your vagina!"

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:02 (nineteen years ago)

How would you know?

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:03 (nineteen years ago)

That I'd light up your vagina?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:04 (nineteen years ago)

er.. just the time

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:05 (nineteen years ago)

That the intra-vaginal LED lights were working? You couldn't exactly send a team of speleologists in to check, could you?

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:07 (nineteen years ago)

You have no idea what I can do...

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:08 (nineteen years ago)

Team of speleologists, my favourite foreplay!

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:09 (nineteen years ago)

"Not to worry Ma'am, we're just here to make sure the lights are working."

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:10 (nineteen years ago)

What's speleology?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:13 (nineteen years ago)

It's the study of speleos.

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:14 (nineteen years ago)

Exploring caves, Tuomas.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:14 (nineteen years ago)

That's what you call your vagina?!

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:15 (nineteen years ago)

x-post

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:15 (nineteen years ago)

In Finnish it's called "gynekologia". And they rarely have teams.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:16 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, but when they do...

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:17 (nineteen years ago)

It's party time on those long dark Finnish winter nights!

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:19 (nineteen years ago)

Shouldn't it be 'deep, dark', CJ? My Finnish is a bit rusty.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:22 (nineteen years ago)

Have you tried Turtle Wax?

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:24 (nineteen years ago)

Nothing better for polishing then, eh?

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:25 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.aaa-hawaii.com/westways/0706/pg28c.jpg

― ONIMO's pet donkey jacket potato (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:26 (nineteen years ago)

You can still see the pattern on its back even when it's moving.

― ONIMO's pet donkey jacket potato (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:26 (nineteen years ago)

Well Nitromors and a brillo pad gets rid of rust, but I've always found that rather harsh to be honest.

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:26 (nineteen years ago)

I'll take your word on that. I'm perfectly willing to be experimental when it comes to polishing, I just try to avoid the more abrasive techniques.

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:29 (nineteen years ago)

The road from hubcaps to vaginas was surprisingly short.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:29 (nineteen years ago)

not on one of your threads, pal.

― teh_kit returns! (g-kit), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:30 (nineteen years ago)

The road from dutchcaps to vaginas would have been even shorter.

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:30 (nineteen years ago)

The road from hubcaps to vaginas was surprisingly short.

I thought "fanny" right away...

― ONIMO's pet donkey jacket potato (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:31 (nineteen years ago)

WE BE ROLLIN.

― a_white_guy_ironically_using_the_n_word (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:31 (nineteen years ago)

This thread is absolutely hilarious.

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:31 (nineteen years ago)

Well the initial post anyway

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:32 (nineteen years ago)

I thought "fanny" right away...

Craddock?

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:32 (nineteen years ago)

Along Kaivokatu right into mikonkatu over the esplanadi continue on Korkeavourenkatu two blocks and you're there.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:33 (nineteen years ago)

Spellchecker would probably have a seizure with that.

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:34 (nineteen years ago)

Thanks Ed, now I know how to find some vagina.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:36 (nineteen years ago)

Though a quick look at the map tells me you've led me to a fire station!

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:38 (nineteen years ago)

Girls like firemen.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:38 (nineteen years ago)

and sliding down poles (and finns, probably)

― ONIMO's pet donkey jacket potato (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:46 (nineteen years ago)

So you're telling I should've become a fireman instead of a women's studies major to get the vagina?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:48 (nineteen years ago)

Wait, this whole "more Liberal than thou" routine is just to get laid? WEAK.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:53 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, I chose a major which makes everyone think I'm gay just to get laid with chicks.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 17:03 (nineteen years ago)

five months pass...

Haha, best thread ever!

― ailsa, Sunday, 15 April 2007 10:53 (nineteen years ago)

Hahah holy crap Ive never seen this thread before :D

― Trayce, Sunday, 15 April 2007 11:07 (nineteen years ago)

ahhh tuomas

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Sunday, 15 April 2007 11:12 (nineteen years ago)

whats a shoelace?

― 600, Sunday, 15 April 2007 12:02 (nineteen years ago)

im imagining a sitcom where 3 men find themselves in weird situations and they have to work out how to get themselves out.

episode one: pinefox, the lex and tuomas are in a sticky situation when they find themselves in somebodys garden and there is a loud barking coming from behind them. a garden gate separates them from freedom, will they make it out in time?

― 600, Sunday, 15 April 2007 12:05 (nineteen years ago)

the lex falls to the ground as he valiantly tries to climb the hedge, tuomas sticks his head into the hedge, pinefox muses on the nature of the gate

― 600, Sunday, 15 April 2007 12:06 (nineteen years ago)

episode two: pinefox, the lex and tuomas find themselves in a boat in the middle of a pond near the village green. there is a hole in the bottom of the boat and there is a strange wooden shaped thing floating nearby.

the lex wants to grab the strange wooden thing and wave it in the air, in the hope of attracting attention. tuomas remarks that back in finland the boats dont have holes, why do they have holes in them here? the pinefox can't remember who the lex and tuomas are

― 600, Sunday, 15 April 2007 12:10 (nineteen years ago)

episode three. after a difficult day trying to get the key to work in the lock of their house, tuomas, the lex and pinefox settle down and relax in their lounge. tuomas is confused that there are strange obstacles between all the rooms and back in finland ease of movement between the rooms isn't so restricted. the pinefox is concerned by some strange lights and nasty noises coming from a black box in the corner of the room and has covered it with a blanket, and the lex has fallen into the sink

― 600, Sunday, 15 April 2007 12:17 (nineteen years ago)

tuomas, the lex and pinefox find themselves trapped by the side of the road. their favourite kebab house is on the other side. pinefox wants to call michael jones for advice but the lexs ipod doesn't seem to have any reception. tuomas wants to walk across the road but the lex is worried the big colorful things might hurt like the lamppost did earlier in the day. tuomas says it is ridiculuous to assume that the machines are violent and that in Finland many of those machines are used to host anti-patriarchy meetings on the campus.

tuomas walks calmly into the road and a blue machine hits him and he falls to the ground. the lex finds this hilarious and shouts "SEE! you do that too, i'm not the only one!" and, reassured, stumbles into the road, and is hit by a red machine and exclaims loudly "OW OW OW no fair you got the blue one tuomas the red one HURTS".

the pinefox looks at the two vaguely recognisable people lying in the road and wonders when the lex and tuomas are going to return with the *kebabs*, whatever the hell they are

― 600, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 09:48 (nineteen years ago)

These are pretty good! I didn't know Pinefox was considered clueless too, though. And he hasn't even posted for ages, has he? I gather "600" must be some old school poster.

― Tuomas, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 10:23 (nineteen years ago)

Did 600 go to an old school?

― strgn, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 10:27 (nineteen years ago)

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