Gemini Wheel Cover plastic noise

[MY-Y]

Might be worth a new thread warning folks who may want to run the 19" wheels without the covers to remove them right after delivery to avoid the wear-through spots.

 

[TomServo]

I pulled mine today (with 510 miles on my car). Two observations, all my wheels have “nicks/marks” in them from where the Aero Covers snap on to the wheel spokes, and the amount of brake dust on the wheels was significant, far more than I would have expected given I configured my braking mode to Standard/Hold even before we drove it off the lot. It seems given that finding owners who NEVER remove the Aero Covers could have a real mess on their hands.

 

[KyleATMn]

I wonder if there's anything that can be done to prevent that wear? Tape on the clips?

 

[mrbulk]

I think they need to redesign those clip ends...

 

[MY-Y]

The marks on my wheels are where the tiny bumps hit the outer rim, not the clips.

 

[KyleATMn]

The marks on my wheels are where the tiny bumps hit the outer rim, not the clips.

View attachment 582347

So it's not just the clips.... It's the whole thing. There is no hope! Haha

 

[mackgriggs]

The marks on my wheels are where the tiny bumps hit the outer rim, not the clips.

View attachment 582347

Yeah, those are where my marks are as well.

So it's not just the clips.... It's the whole thing. There is no hope! Haha

I think he means...was that it was just a clarification that its not the clips that are the problem, its the small nubs close to the clips. Not in "addition" to the clips.

Anyway....one idea is to sand down those nubs a bit. I'm just worried that they are acting as a counterforce to keep the clips tight though. I don't want to have a aero cover fly off on the freeway.

Even if the rims do get marked up...I don't mind that much because I want black rims. If I decide to take the aero covers off permanently in the future, I'm either going to plastidip the rims (like I did my covers) or just buy new black rims.

 

[TomServo]

Each of my wheels has at least one of these marks

I also have small chips as others have shown. I won't be using the Aero Caps again. Tesla needs to redesign them and replace or fix them for free.

 

[L3KTR1K]

We just finished a 5481 mile trip. I put Door Ease stainless lube on all of the wheel cover contact points at 500 miles. No noise! Averaged 289 WH/M with the wheel covers on. I don’t plan to repeat the trip without the wheel covers to test the aero effect, or remove the covers to inspect for rub marks. They look fine and don’t make noise.
Perfect! Door Ease is a nice “stick” lube to work with.

 

[Mansley]

Picked up new Model Y LR AWD with Gemini wheel covers on June 15th. When outside of the vehicle, our wheel covers sounded like they were full of gravel even though first 257 miles were all on clean highway and city streets.
Cause: Dry plastic “creaking” while rolling.
Removed wheel covers and all noise went away. Cleaned wheels and covers of all dust. Re installed. Noise returned. Will try to attach the “before” video here.
We want to keep these Gemini wheels for looks and efficiency.
Removed wheel covers again and applied a thin coating of “Door Ease” waxy grease on all contact surfaces, clip tabs, center hub tabs and all around rim edge tabs. The noise stopped. Will monitor as we drive it more

Yes! Same here! I've been wondering wtf this sound was.

 

[WasherDryer]

Picked up new Model Y LR AWD with Gemini wheel covers on June 15th. When outside of the vehicle, our wheel covers sounded like they were full of gravel even though first 257 miles were all on clean highway and city streets.
Cause: Dry plastic “creaking” while rolling.
Removed wheel covers and all noise went away. Cleaned wheels and covers of all dust. Re installed. Noise returned. Will try to attach the “before” video here.
We want to keep these Gemini wheels for looks and efficiency.
Removed wheel covers again and applied a thin coating of “Door Ease” waxy grease on all contact surfaces, clip tabs, center hub tabs and all around rim edge tabs. The noise stopped. Will monitor as we drive it more

Maybe I didn't use enough, but door ease didn't work for me. How much of a stick/how many sticks did you use?

 

[VioletPixel]

This thread has video of an SA trimming down the tabs that contact the outer edge of the rims to eliminate the sound: Fixed: Gemini Wheel Cover Noise

Has anyone else tried this? If so, have you noticed any ill effects as a result of removing the tabs?