After eight months of happily driving a 2005 Prius I found one of the plastic wheel covers missing. I removed the other three and think the wheels look better. I am guessing that putting cheap looking plastic cover on cool looking wheels is one of those .003 MPG air resitsance reductions like inflating the tires until the bumps dislocate your back. Kidding aside, why put dumb plastic covers on cool looking wheels? :blink: :huh:
They are, indeed, for aerodynamics. I, frankly, think they look better on than off, but we all have our personal preferences.
I reject Evan's opinion in insert one of my own. The wheels look better with them off. I took mine off and as you suspected, the reduction in weight has indeed improved my mileage by 0.003 MPG. Since the MFD does not display measurements that small, I have had to rely on my own imagination for confirmation.
I think the wheels look better without the rings too. They have to be for aerodynamics as they certainly serve no other useful purpose. I have four new ones hanging in my garage to put on when and if I ever trade my car in for a later model.
The dealer also told me that they were there so that in the event of you scraping your wheels on the curb, they can be replaced and you have no lasting scratches on the rims. Not that I care, after the first wash I took them off and they have never gone back on, they look much better off IMO. But then again, its all a matter of what you preffer.
Evan negated any aerodynamic impovement of the rings by putting on mudflaps. But he likes his rings, I took them off the wifes car and called her out to have a look and she said throw them away, yes dear. I stashed them away in the basement.
I also think that the wheels look better without the trim rings. I had one prospective Prius buyer ask me if they were after-market rims on my car. While I mostly agree with TonyPSchaefer's opinion, keep in mind that during the winter months the milage improvement will probably go down to 0.002 MPG.
What about weight issues? Having a small wheel made out of aluminium alloy and making up the rest of it with plastic will surely have weight gains. The Euro 16" wheel is tiny without its plastic cover.
Yes, this is true. But I just noticed on my new car today (still on the dealers lot) that the european wheels have changed for 2006. Still 16", but the design is now totally different - I will post pics later on this tread: http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=14826
:blink: Without having really looked at them, how do you remove the covers? And can you put them back on once they are off? In other words, is a chisel required in the removal?
I pulled one of mine off with my hands a few weeks back. Didn't care for the look and popped it right back on. They are made to come on and off as that needs to be done when you get new tires. Give it a try and see what you think.
Has anyone noticed that hole in the center of the wheel when the cover is removed? What are you guys putting in there?
I took mine off the first day, stayed that way for 3 years till the gf adjusted the curb one afternoon. they are now back on.
