anyone else prefer running WITHOUT hubcaps?

LOL! That is hilarious. I am pretty sure he meant wheel covers! Anyway, one of these days, I will get the gumption to do the official Bob Wilson type test on this but I'm kinda lazy so maybe someone will beat me to it (hint, hint). I do think that at higher speeds, you might notice a statistically significant difference, but without the good test, who knows? It's anecdotal at this point! Still love the rims without the covers though!

 

You could be right... but I think its so negligible its not worth considering IMO... kinda like having an extra person in the car... yes the weight makes a difference, but not enough to make your wife walk!

If you look at the body of the car, it looks like the wind shear goes around the tires and misses them.... true there are a few inches underneath the body that are exposed, but negligible.

One size wider tires would be much more of an impact than covers or no covers IMO.

 

I am sure the hub caps AKA wheel covers that Toyota put on at an added expense were not for cosmetic value. When they went for MPG testing they must have showed superior results. To keep the government rated MPG's Toyota had to pay extra for the hub caps AKA wheel covers.

My Prius looks a lot better with the out the hub caps AKA wheel caps but if they prove to save money and I will keep them on the car. Again most do not buy a Prius for the looks. They buy the car for the research and development that Toyota invested to make it the best MPG car out. I am sure they invested a tad bit of money in wind tunnel testing.

 

I figured out the situation on my hubcaps and will share with others. I lost two on the right side when I hit a pothole/high curb. After getting the tire changed at the dealer (b/c there are special Ecotopia tires for the 2010), I realized I lost 2 caps and went back yesterday. The hubcap is the plastic outside shield that protects the center bolt. The wheels do look cool without the hubcap but you do need a center cap to cover the center bolt. For the 2010 they cost about $19 each so a cost of 4 is close to $80 and they are on backorder. They thought that the earlier centercaps would fit and they are about $4 cheaper /cap but they may not look right with these wheels. Rather than wait, I just bought 2 new hubcaps for $148 with a discount; usually they are $94 each. I still want my 2010 to look new and I didn't want to have to come back so that was my choice. If they fall out again, I will get rid of the hubcaps and get center caps. The dealer insisted that the hubcaps do not at all impact mpg rate.

 

"You Asked For It!*" ... I'll give it a try.
Note: * An early Toyota marketing jingle

Wheel - a metal cylindrical part that attaches to a car. A tire is
mounted to a wheel. All too often, a wheel is erroneously called a
"rim." (See definition of rim below.) At times, the combination of
wheel and tire is called a "wheel," as in "wheel alignment."

Rim - the outer part of a wheel at its circumfrence. To be absolutely
correct, a wheel has two rims, one facing inward under the car, and
one facing outwards. A tire mounts on a wheel at its rims.

Hub - the center area of a wheel where holes for the mounting
bolts/studs are located.

In the early days of the auto-mobile, a wheel had three components:
a rim, a hub, and thick wooden or thin metal spokes connecting the
two. These constructions were carry-overs from the horse and buggy
(wooden) and bicycle (metal). As vehicle speeds and loads increased,
a one piece steel wheel was introduced. The archaic terms "hub" and
"rim" have carried forward, now applied to areas of a one-piece wheel.

Wheel cover - a cover, typically plastic, that covers the outward
facing surfaces of a wheel from its center to its rim.

Center Cap - a small cap that mounts in and covers the centering hole
in the center of a wheel. When a wheel cover is removed, the
centering hole in the wheel is exposed and usually filled/covered with
a center cap.

Trim ring - A ring about 3 inches wide that covers part of the outward
facing surfaces of a wheel near its rim. The 15 inch, five spoke Gen II
wheels have OEM trim rings and center caps.

Hub Cap - A cap that covers only the center or hub area of a wheel.
A hub cap covers the centering hole and mounting bolts and is
typically 6 to 8 inches in diameter. No OEM Prii have hub caps. They
are typically seen on steel wheels used on police and other fleet
vehicles and on some pick-up trucks.

 

FOR SALE: 2010 Center Caps

If anyone is interested PM me, I have a new set still in package with the Toyota part number 42603-52030. I ordered them for my new Prius which still has yet to arrive, and I changed my mind and ordered aftermarket wheels.These are the ones most other member bought that do fit. I will sell them for $11.50 each plus shipping . I have 4 so they go as a set. Shipping would be USPS at whatever it cost me.

When my car arrives I will also have a set of 15" wheels, tires and hubcaps for the 2010 with 5 to10 miles on them if you are interested again let me know and I will be real reasonable on the price.
My dealer is expecting my car in around the end oof the month.

 

Those look exactly like mine.... I love them!

 

You don't know me very well do you.

 

LOL!... and I thought you went to Detroit all the way from Australia because your wife was being nice!.... but in reality, you left her home to tend to the chickens!

 

If you drive around banging curbs and deep holes then keep the covers, they are cheaper to replace than scratched up wheels.

I expect that is their purpose, to take the hit instead of the wheels.

 

yea... they are just wrappings till you get home.... kinda like that plastic film that comes on your cellphone when its new!

I bet taking the mirrors off would save more gas than having these on.... but that doesn't mean I will do it!