[RubyRed]

I just got a set of winter tires on steel wheels but didn't opt for the wheel covers. I noticed that the axle hubs are not covered. Has anyone driven through the winter,i.e., salt and sand, without wheel covers? Do wheel covers keep the nuts and hubs clean?

 

[upflying]

Due to the lack of access, I would think wheel covers make it harder to keep the lug nuts and hubs clean.
Be proud of your bare steel winter wheels. A true mark of a serious winter driver and gives anticipation when you can reinstall the alloys in the spring.

 

[ckhbuy]

I tried my car with 17" steel wheels and without hubcaps for my winter tires, and it was a bit too harsh for me. For $44 total the local garage got me a set of el cheapo hubcaps. One benefit is that they protect the threads on the lugs from dings/deformations from flying debris that can make it very difficult to remove the nut. Corrosion wise it's probably worse because the lugs don't dry out as quickly after going through slushy snow. So maybe the choice of with/without hubcaps comes down to aesthetics. With and without photos shown.
Christopher