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With or Without Wheel Covers? High Res Comparo Photos

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by priusblogg, Nov 19, 2009.

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  1. priusblogg

    priusblogg New Member

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    #1 priusblogg, Nov 19, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  2. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    [IMGLINK]http://priuschat.com/forums/members/priusblogg-albums-without-wheel-covers-high-res-comparo-pix-picture3271-1.jpg[/IMGLINK]

    [IMGLINK]http://priuschat.com/forums/members/priusblogg-albums-without-wheel-covers-high-res-comparo-pix-picture3272-2.jpg[/IMGLINK]

    Nice!

    IMO, from a distance it definitely looks better without the wheel covers. But up closer, it looks better with the wheel covers because of the unsmooth, unfinished, fat lip of the wheel at the end of the spokes.

    Note: One of the mods should probably move this thread to the Gen III forums.
     
    #2 Boo, Nov 20, 2009
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I thought it's the opposite. It looks better up close. From that distance, the naked ones look tiny. The covers make it look larger.
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Nov 20, 2009
  4. going red baby!

    going red baby! still a n00b

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    Although the whole car looks tiny in that second pic compared to the one with the covers.

    I vote for no covers, caps.
     
    #4 going red baby!, Nov 20, 2009
  5. DarrenG

    DarrenG Member

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    Isn't this a moot question? If the covers are installed to improve economy, why remove them just for aesthetics?
     
    #5 DarrenG, Nov 20, 2009
  6. rachaelseven

    rachaelseven New Member

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    Hardly moot. I suppose it could be up for debate, but given the 1000's of posts on the forum about buying the center caps, it certainly cannot be considered moot. Personally, I have no problem getting close to 60mpg on summer tires without the fugly (imho) covers.
     
    #6 rachaelseven, Nov 20, 2009
  7. johalareewi

    johalareewi Member

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    Do the covers improve economy? If so, is it significant?
     
    #7 johalareewi, Nov 20, 2009
  8. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Because they actually make no or little difference to fuel consumption. It would be unmeasurable if it made any difference.
    I added chrome wheel covers to my Gen II and they did nothing for economy but cost me money. Some people like their car to look its best and will even spend a little money to do it.
     
    #8 patsparks, Nov 20, 2009
  9. DarrenG

    DarrenG Member

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    Perhaps 'moot' was a poor choice of phrase. What I meant was that Toyota fitted these for a reason, clearly there must be some benefit to them being fitted on top of the alloy wheels?

    Why would they fit them if there was no benefit? The only times we normally see plastic covers are where they are fitted to disguise/dress up cheap steel wheels.

    I'm on the fence about the aesthetic benefits either way but I would be interested to know why they exist if there is no benefit to economy?
     
    #9 DarrenG, Nov 20, 2009
  10. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    To protect the expensive alloy wheels from curb rash. Hubcaps are (relatively) cheap.

    Toyota claim they improve the cD figures but I suspect it is a minor improvement. They would have made the wheels look as ugly as they do with the caps but alloy is heavier than plastic.
     
    #10 patsparks, Nov 20, 2009
  11. DarrenG

    DarrenG Member

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    Thanks, I can see the merit in protecting the wheels but are they more susceptible to damage than other alloys?
     
    #11 DarrenG, Nov 20, 2009
  12. chrisj428

    chrisj428 Active Member

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    I like both looks for different reasons.

    The wheel covers make the wheels themselves look heavy-handed, whereas the nekkid alloys look much lighter.

    However (at least from the two photos in this thread), removing the covers gives the wheels the illusion of being smaller in diameter. Of course, I'm a little biased, given that I have the 17s...
     
    #12 chrisj428, Nov 20, 2009
  13. rrolff

    rrolff Prius Surgeon

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    ??? They are to protect the alloys ??? What next - plastic seat covers to protect the leather :rolleyes:

    They're just a low cost trim that was added for "looks".
     
    #13 rrolff, Nov 20, 2009
  14. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Yes, and I don't mean this to sound discriminatory, but Prius is marketed to over 50s men and women.
     
    #14 patsparks, Nov 20, 2009
  15. codybigdog123

    codybigdog123 Got Mad and Left in a Tizzy

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    Crap, so does that mean I won't find any hot chicks in a Prius? :D
     
    #15 codybigdog123, Nov 20, 2009
  16. going red baby!

    going red baby! still a n00b

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    As soon as I get mine you will. :cool:
     
    #16 going red baby!, Nov 20, 2009
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Perhaps as higher speeds? I'm sure around town, it will have limited effect. It is true that the covers are there for aerodynamic purposes. Ideally, it'll look like the Civic Hybrid (near solid with a few small pie slices) but that looks rather ugly. The next best would be alloy with a plastic cover to get the design they want because plastic is lighter.

    Besides, what other car has owner-customisable wheels? lol
     
    #17 Tideland Prius, Nov 20, 2009
  18. DarrenG

    DarrenG Member

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    Is that true? Seems to me that will all the tech on board it'd be rather daunting to the older driver and much more likely aimed at a younger age range, perhaps 40+?
     
    #18 DarrenG, Nov 20, 2009
  19. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    No it doesn't, my girlfriend has been in my car a number of times.
     
    #19 patsparks, Nov 20, 2009
  20. priusblogg

    priusblogg New Member

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    Voted No Covers at Store by Customers

    I had to get a flat repair so had covers on one wheel (rear) and off on other (front) and the unanimous vote was Covers off by regular non Prius people. We actually grabbed people off the street!

    Bottom line is, BOTH are ugly as sin..... AND its still a Prius. The only wheels that look really good are the Stock Package V's. AND even then, at the end of the day, its still a Prius. I'm not willing to shell out $1,000 for those wheels, and certainly I bought fro MPG, so eating another 4-6 mpg to have 17's seems very counter productive.

    Toyota has gotten a lot of flack for making boring vehicles. Hopefully they'll start looking at Tesla's 4 door sedan, etc., and get back on track.

    I love the car, but... its still silly looking, just 100 times less than the previous model. Honda's new C Coupe Hybrid is right on the money as far as style. So is Hyundai's upcoming Sonata Hybrid design.

    Toyota? Listening?
     
    #20 priusblogg, Nov 20, 2009
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