Plastic Wheel Covers, why?

Aerodynamics is the purported reason for the wheel covers. Some people don't believe that they help, but I do. Why would Toyota spend money to make the things if they were useless?

 

I have a 2006 Prius & when it was about 3 mos. old I took 1 of the plastic covers off and was horrified to find the beginning stages of corrosion on the aluminum wheel due to the plastic cover being tightly over the wheel. I took them off and there was no change in MPG or anything else. That was about 2 yrs. ago. I live in FL so it wasn't caused by salt on the roads as there is no winter here. The car looks much nicer with the covers off to me.

 

I doubt that is the case. It's very rare that I see a Prius driving around without the wheel covers on, so for that to be true most dealers would have to be forgetting to remove them. The covers also don't appear to be temporary.

 

Maybe aerodynamics, but I suspect some Toyota designer thought the wheels looked better with them. Not me! I had mine at home about one week before removing them forever. Hang the fuel economy! And already there was an amazing amount of brake dust and road crap trapped behind them.

 

It's because they look cool. Long live the Playskool wheel covers!

Tom

 

Everybody is leaping to the conclusion the OP is talking about the 15" wheel plastic rings. Perhaps he is talking about the 16" "touring" wheels?

At any rate, I removed my 15" wheel plastic rings to reduce winter corrosion and make washing the wheels easier. They do trap gunk behind them. No measurable difference in mileage. No curb scraping. That's what the tire sidewall is for.

 

Now this is only my second post, but i feel that toyota installed these for the bad drivers.

The plastic covers are used to take the blow from all the curb rash the rims get when owners are parallel parking their cars or cutting the corner pulling into a driveway to soon.

They use those plastic trim, so they are easy to replace, instead of damaging the rim itself, which could be costly if you were to refinish them. i wouldn't be surprise if we see those in different colors in the future.

 

For the 15" wheels, I doubt that the trim rings improve the gas milege. If they do, it's only by an insignificant amount.

For 2008, on the absolute Base/Standard Prius (no options at all), the 15" wheels come without the trim rings.

Note that there is no difference in EPA MPG numbers (that would be whole numbers) between the Base/Standard Prius (with or without trim rings on its 15" wheels) and the Touring Prius (16" wheels with full spoke covers).

 

The trim rings improve mileage at speeds over 300 mph.

Tom

 

Whatever the plastic 15" rings are ... do they come off in 1 piece or in 5 separate peices

If they're purely cosmetic, I'd prefer "beauty rings" that would give more of a sparkle.

 

One ring is one piece.

 

1 piece (unless you break it by accident).

 

If you want illustrated instructions on how to remove the 15" trim rings, and to see the wheels with and without them, go here:

Prius Wheel Trim

 

Has anyone removed the 16-inch covers? If so, are they as easy to remove as the 15-inch ones?

 

Beyond easy, did them to mine, I like the look better, but might change back to rings for a little while every now and then.

 

The little "Synergy drive" emblems don't save gas, but Toyota decided to design, purchase and install those as well. :shrug: How about those little triagular windows up front on the sides. Do they save gas? Did they cost money? Some people (yikes) think the trim rings look good.

Somebody has already posted a link to my pages of the with/without shots, so I won't bother!

 

well! my wife might get some benefit then but I hardly ever get over 65 much less 300! But then my wife thinks the speed limit is just a starting point!:behindsofa: