Surron Aero Wheel Covers: The Lightweight Disc Cover Setup I’d Actually Stunt On
February 27, 2023
If you’ve ever looked at a Surron and thought, “This thing needs a little retro BMX flavor,” I’m right there with you. That’s exactly why I started messing with wheel covers in the first place.
I built and beat on a DIY set, got a ton of interest from other riders, and quickly realized the market options were either too heavy, too finicky, or just not made with the way we actually ride these bikes in mind. So I teamed up with EV Raceworks to create a set of Surron Aero Wheel Covers that are purpose-built for 17-inch Surron wheels and designed to survive real stunt riding.
Here’s what it’s like to install them, live with them, and ride with them.
Why I wanted wheel covers on a Surron
A big part of it is nostalgia. Those old-school disc and mag-style BMX looks are burned into my brain, and the Surron wears that vibe surprisingly well.
But beyond looks, I wanted something that didn’t compromise the ride. A lot of the “moped-style” disc covers out there are chunky, heavy, and not exactly confidence-inspiring when you’re learning balance point and you need the bike to feel predictable.
The design goal: light, durable, and stunt-friendly
The first prototype I made used PVC foam. It worked, but it wasn’t the long-term answer. PVC foam can be brittle and crack, and installing around axles/sprockets/rotors can get annoying fast.
The production solution is laser-cut styrene (a thermoplastic). The big wins for me:
It’s lightweight and dimensionally stable
Laser cutting keeps edges clean and consistent without extra cleanup
It creates a simple “blank canvas” you can customize with vinyl, decals, and stickers
The pattern is also intentionally more “mag style” than a solid full disc, so it doesn’t feel like you’re throwing a sail on your wheel when the wind picks up.
Fitment that respects how we work on these bikes
One of my biggest pet peeves with adapting covers from other platforms is having to cut stuff, guess hardware length, or take half the wheel apart.
This setup is slotted so there’s no need to remove the sprocket or brake rotors during install. That alone makes it feel like a product that was actually designed for Surron life.
Install experience (what I used and what actually mattered)
I installed these using:
Two 7mm wrenches
Needle nose pliers
Heat gun
Hardware-wise, the covers mount using nylon threaded rods and aluminum lock nuts to keep weight down.
A few install notes from doing it myself:
Keep the protective film on at first
I left the plastic film on while I positioned everything. It helped avoid accidental scuffs during the “test fit and rotate” stage.
The slot makes rotor/sprocket clearance much easier
On the rear, I installed one cover over the brake rotor side, then flipped and installed the other over the sprocket side. Same idea up front: keep the rotor on, slide it into place, then match everything up.
Aligning to the valve stem is worth doing
Rotating the cover so the air valve is nicely accessible through one of the openings is one of those little things you’ll thank yourself for later.
Inner hole zip ties: small step, big impact
The inner holes get zip-tied (close to the spokes). That step is important because it helps prevent brake caliper rub.
Tighten evenly (don’t “crank one side down”)
I tightened the lock nuts evenly with the two 7mm wrenches and aimed to keep a small, consistent amount of rod exposed. Keeping tension balanced helps everything sit clean instead of getting distorted.
Final trimming + heat gun finish
After final clearance checks, I clipped any exposed nylon rod ends to clean up the look. If you choose the vinyl option, the heat gun helps set the vinyl and keep the edges adhered.
How they feel on the ride
These are one of those mods that change the vibe more than the behavior—and that’s exactly what I wanted.
The bike keeps its familiar feel, but visually it transforms the whole build. It has that retro, “built-not-bought” energy, especially once you start layering stickers and making them your own.
From a stunt perspective, I like that the pattern isn’t a full solid disc. It’s not pretending to be a high-speed aero race part—it’s designed to look right, stay light, and stay out of your way when you’re practicing balance and control.
Durability and real-world use
Once mounted, this setup can take a beating—especially if you go with the protective vinyl wrap. For the kind of day-to-day riding and repeated practice sessions these bikes see, that matters more to me than chasing some fragile “perfect finish.”
Customization: black vinyl or raw material
You’ve got two ways to go:
Pre-cut gloss black vinyl
Raw styrene if you want to do your own color/vinyl/stickers
Personally, I love the raw option because it turns the covers into a rolling billboard of the brands, events, and random ride moments you pick up along the way.
What We Like
Purpose-built for 17-inch Surron wheels
Slotted design means no removing sprocket or brake rotors
Lightweight mounting approach (nylon rods + aluminum lock nuts)
Great “blank canvas” for stickers and vinyl customization
Mag-style pattern helps keep the look without feeling like a full sail in wind
Things To Consider
You’ll want to take your time on alignment and even tightening to keep everything sitting clean
Clearance checks matter: do a final spin and confirm the brake calipers aren’t rubbing
If you choose vinyl, a heat gun step is part of getting the finish to last
Wheel covers are a love-it-or-hate-it aesthetic mod; if you’re on the fence, you’ll know pretty quickly if the vibe is for you
Final Thoughts
This is the wheel cover option I wanted when I first started experimenting: lightweight, cleanly made, easy to install without tearing your wheel apart, and designed around the reality of how Surron riders actually ride.
If you want that retro BMX disc vibe without resorting to heavy, awkward “universal” solutions, these Surron Aero Wheel Covers hit the sweet spot—and they’re genuinely fun to customize.
Links
Surron Aero Wheel Covers (Use our coupon for 10% off: RUNPLAYBACK): https://evraceworks.com/products/surron-aero-wheel-covers
RunPlayBack Merch: http://shop.runplayback.com/