TOYOTA PRIUS 15" CHROME WHEEL EXCHANGE GENUINE NEW 2010 : eBay Motors (item 200421450672 end time Jan-23-10 19:43:12 PST)
When I was shopping for my Prius this past summer - during the Cash for Clunkers program - dealers were chroming out the rims and charging a ridiculous cost for it. I have never enjoyed the look of chrome rims, would rather powder-coat them black.... but I guess to each their own.
Even on the Prius? Haven't seen one with chromed out rims. Tim, I checked your profile and noticed you have a silver Prius. Chrome definitely doesn't go with silver paint so I'd suggest upgrading to the 17" rims if you want a different look and money is no factor.
I think there is a time and place for chrome. On a 50-60's era Cadillac, yes... a 10 Prius, not so much. I have seen a few Gen IIIs with chrome around OC. IMO, the chrome seems a bit out of place. And if you put the covers back onto the rims, there's one uncovered edge which would look a bit odd to me. As 32K recommended, I would also go for the 17s even though it'll be a big mileage hit.
ugggglllllyy The prius wheel is not pretty to begin with, then you want to spend over $500 to make it a gaudy ugly heavier wheel? If you want chrome, you can get it on a better looking wheel for less than $100 more and sell your old ones. Or you can make the car actually look and preform better with 16, 17, or 18 inch rims, not in chrome.
It's just 1.8 mpg worse for the factory 17" according to European testing, hardly a big mileage hit. Even I consistently average 50 mpg (computerized, not actual).
I am starting to think that the EPA numbers are based on the Prius V. I have a IV with the solar panel package and have been able to maintain computerized avg of 52-54 mpgs, even with cooler temps of winter (I live in SoCal, so I guess "cooler" is relative to our regular temp). I just changed my tires and rims to the Scion tC 17s and have been having a hard time reaching and maintaining 50... The tC 17s are very similar in size, width, and weight when compared to the Prius V's 17s. So I'm hoping to consistently average 50s. Sorry this reply is off topic...
I've noticed that forum members who switch to bigger wheels other than 17" OEMs seem to take a bigger mpg hit, even with lighter aftermarket wheels (less unsprung weight). Some have attributed this to increased drag caused by the open spokes, similar to the mileage hit that some people have reported getting when driving their 15" wheel Prius without the wheel covers (which are the same design as the 17"). Another prospective factor, disputed by some here, is that the Prius Vs are tuned to ride on 17" wheels whereas II through IVs are not.