I'm Seeing a lot of 3rd Gen Prius Missing Wheelcovers

It's relatively easy to install them incorrectly so that one of the latches is not sufficiently engaged, and it can still look properly installed.

If you want to be sure, take a rubber mallet and tap lightly all the way around to make sure it is secure.

 

Yes, if you curb the wheels, like ride up on a curb, and then "fall" off the curb, the hub cap can catch the curb and fall off.

I did that on a rental but the hub caps were bolted on, so it took a chunk out. Luckily I didn't have to pay for it. Those hub cabs happen to stick outside of the wheel about half an inch.

The Prius hub cabs sit inwards more, the tires stick out a bit, so the likelihood of them catching is less, but not impossible.

I saw some chromed OEM 15" wheels the other day, and in fact the dealer recommended to me to take off the covers and chrome the wheels for a better look. I don't really like the chrome look but it can look ok.

I really like the look of the Yaris 15" alloys, but they only use 4 bolts so no go there.

I would like some snazzier 15"s. I'm into getting higher FE so I don't want to get 17"s just yet.

 

Yeah I agree Cycledrum. It's ugly. It's worse than the old cars or even Corollas with missing hubcaps.

As far as "image" goes, the problem is a majority of Prius owners don't care or won't even notice. Cause they're old. Or noobs. Which makes the rest of us, who do care, look bad. And thats f***d up! LOL.

 

The friggin problem with Corolla hub caps is other owners or people just like to come by and swipe them off of your car when they're missing theirs. My car is not the parts shop.

I happen to think Prius owners are less likely to be thieves.

 

Time and exposure bro. Most people don't know what the heeeel is going on down there on the Prius wheels, and probably don't suspect there's anything to pry off. When they find out, we might see the same kind of theft.

 

Actually, b/w the wheel cover on or off, i prefer the off look without the plastic cover.

 

Took mine off at the dealer when I bought the car. I would rather run on steelies than plastic hub caps.

 

They are alloy rims under the cover, right? They are not steelies, are they?!

 

I believe that they're alloys.
Gee.....maybe I need to remove one of my covers to fit in???

Whadaya think? RR, RF, LR...or LF???

 

I know I'm always harping about past Honda's, but anyway:

Their wheel covers are held on by the lug nuts. Each lug nut has a plastic ring in a groove, a ways up the sidewall of the nut. So the base of nut holds the rim, the plastic ring holds the cover.

With this setup they will never fling off, and theft is a little harder, you have to remove lug nuts. If there's a locking lug nut it typically doesn't have the ring. But still, having to deal with lugnuts to take off someone's wheel cover is a bit more complicated.

 

They look better without the plastic covers. Maybe someone realized that and is going around removing them. The reason they don't remove all 4 is because it is too time consuming and they might get caught. If they remove one, then the owner will eventually remove the rest so all wheels match. :madgrin:

 

That's how the center caps (also plastic) are attached on my truck. I've whammed the snott out of my wheels off-road and haven't lost one yet.
What can I say?
Toyota's drive train seems to be first rate, almost bullet proof....but some of the fit and finish choices that they made for the rest of the car have left me shaking my head in disbelief.
Your best bet would be to yank off the plasticky covers, and go to Lowes and get some 1.5" knock out covers (bend the tabs out a little) and just deal with the tuning-fork alloys beneath.

The wheels will be easier to keep clean, and you can save the plasticky covers to sell on eBay.

Just a thought!

 

As the car matures and it's immune system develops, it develops the ability to de-uglify itself and it spontaneously rejects the wheel covers.

 

We had an '06 Corolla that kept loosing wheel covers too. Defective design. Toyota stopped selling the wheel covers original to car.

 

HAR HAR! :heh:

I'm with you xs650!
The Prius is just spontaneously rejecting the plastic hubcaps & flinging them off one at a time so you don't notice.

JohnB

 

Since the wheels v. covers preference comes up frequently, I'm wondering outloud if Cycledrum is really asking to address the big elephant in the room: Are wheel covers coming off due to supplier defect in the cover clips. I doubt that Toyota would admit a problem since it's easier to blame it on theft and/or curb banging. Seems as if too many Prius are loosing their covers. If it's curb banging, you'll see side wall scuff marks. If you get in the habit of walking around the car before getting in, you'll notice if it's theft.

I'm not having the problem, nor seeing it on other Prius, so I can't validate one way or the other.

 

Thinking of taking mine off as the wheels look good without them. Then I can reinstall them for resale down the road.