Nissan Xterra Wheel Center Caps
The Nissan Xterra is both rugged and stylish. However, if it loses a wheel center cap when you are off-roading, you can restore its looks with a factory replacement. You may also want to replace all four caps to give your Nissan a bit of extra polish.
Why should you replace wheel center caps on the Xterra?In addition to aesthetics, the center caps serve another purpose. They help prevent all the water and grime you’re driving through from being thrown into the wheels. This protects the wheel bearings and hub nuts from corrosion and excess wear.
How do you find a Xterra center cap that fits?There are several different styles of center caps for the Nissan Xterra. The one that is right for your SUV will depend on its model year and type of wheels. Some models may also have different caps for the front and back wheels. If you want to be sure you’re getting the right parts, check the part number. This is found on the back of the center cap.
What are the features of Nissan Xterra center caps?The earlier model years, 2000 and 2001, use a round cap with a 5-inch diameter. This cup-shaped cap may be silver or charcoal. The caps for the front wheels have a hole in the middle that leaves the wheel hub exposed while the caps on the back wheels are black on top with the Nissan logo in silver.
If your Nissan Xterra was manufactured during the mid-2000s, it may have one of two different types of silver cap. One style has a flat 6.5-inch base with a raised, star-shaped center. The base has six holes around the edge that allow it to fit over the lug nuts. The second type is 2.75 inches across. It has a flat base with a raised Nissan emblem in the center.
Later production years typically use the 2.75-inch cap style. Nissan also added a charcoal option that has the same flat base with a chrome logo in the center.
How do you replace Nissan Xterra center caps?The center caps for these SUVs can be pulled off by hand. They’re held in place with plastic clips, but if you can get a good grip, you can probably remove them. If this doesn’t work, use a flat-head screwdriver to carefully pry them off. You may also want to tape the head of the screwdriver so that you don’t scratch the cap or the rim.
The caps are installed by pressing them in from the front of the wheel. Keep in mind that it may take a bit of force to get the clips to snap into place.