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I finally ditched those ugly plastic wheel covers!

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by WePriiMore, May 12, 2012.

  1. WePriiMore

    WePriiMore 2012 Prius Plug-in + 2012 Prius v Three

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    Thanks to information posted in this forum on where to order the Toyota logo center hub covers, my Prius V wheels are breathing a lot easier today. The center hub shipment came in, the ugly grey plastic wheel covers came off my V model 3. My jaw dropped at how much better the 16" alloy wheels look without those lame plastic covers. What were the Japanese thinking? If you haven't done it yet and you own a V model 2 or 3 - get busy. You'll love the results. I do. Take a look.
     

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    #1 WePriiMore, May 12, 2012
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  2. DianneWhitmire

    DianneWhitmire High PRIUStess

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    inserts for caps

    I have posted this here before, but my son (a US Marine Corporal) buys these in bulk (kinda) and re-sells them on ebay ... he makes his little $8 profit per set and helps to pay for his gas and car insurance money monthly ...

    ebay item # 290636825476

    He also sells the inserts for the Prius hatchbacks there as well.
     
    #2 DianneWhitmire, May 12, 2012
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  3. anewhouse

    anewhouse Active Member

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    Yes indeed! Very cool!

    FWIW, my (lightly used) wheel covers fetched a surprisingly good price on ebay...

    Enjoy your lighter and better-looking wheels!
    Andy
     
    #3 anewhouse, May 12, 2012
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  4. runnermom

    runnermom Junior Member

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    We also decided to get rid of the wheel covers. We really like the new sporty look.
     
    #4 runnermom, May 15, 2012
  5. blacklab

    blacklab Junior Member

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    The Sales Rep we purchased our V from mentioned the wheel covers were added to improve gas mileage. Has anyone else heard this? If it's true wondering how much of a difference in MPG it could make?
     
    #5 blacklab, May 16, 2012
  6. anewhouse

    anewhouse Active Member

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    Yeah, this has been discussed in a couple other threads. Someone got an official email response from Toyota that said something like "the wheel covers may increase mileage..." Sounds to me like BS.
    Basically, I've never heard an explanation that's even semi-reasonable for HOW these particular wheel covers can increase mileage. I can't imagine they'd make a difference in aerodynamics or airflow, since they're almost exactly the same shape as the rims underneath. If they were perfectly smooth (like the original Honda Insight hubcaps?) that might make sense, but these aren't.

    In fact, since they add almost a pound EACH of rotational weight to the wheels, it's my belief that they would marginally DECREASE the gas mileage. (Many people pay extra for lightweight rims to help with their gas mileage!)

    Either way, I really doubt any mileage difference would be noticeable - maybe one percent at the most? That's a wild guess, but it can't be very much, or else hubcaps would be a popular aftermarket gas-saving accessory, and every auto-manufacturer would be adding them to help meet CAFE standards. :rolleyes:

    Andy
     
    #6 anewhouse, May 17, 2012
  7. Fore

    Fore Don't look back!

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    No difference in MPG for me since I took mine off!
     
    #7 Fore, May 17, 2012
  8. dstrauss

    dstrauss 2018 Honda Clarity PHEV Touring

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    So why cover those good looking wheels with covers?
     
    #8 dstrauss, May 17, 2012
  9. DianneWhitmire

    DianneWhitmire High PRIUStess

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    It's not so much "covering" the steel wheels as finishing them off. They have holes in their centers once the wheel cover comes off.

    The center cap looks like what you see here in my kid's photos.
    2012 Prius v Wagon Wheel Insert Caps SET OF 4 to replace plastic wheel covers | eBay
    With the entire wheel cover removed, it leaves a 2.5" hole in the middle of that wheel and there's a part designed to fit that hole that looks pretty good!
     
    #9 DianneWhitmire, May 17, 2012
  10. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    The wheel covers tend to make the wheels appear larger.
     
    #10 F8L, May 17, 2012
  11. Rhizzlebop

    Rhizzlebop Member

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    OP, so you're saying alll you did was take the wheel covers off and put those little small center caps in? I thought the wheels were probably black or dark grey behind there. It looks better than those plastic hubcaps.
     
    #11 Rhizzlebop, May 17, 2012
  12. anewhouse

    anewhouse Active Member

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    EXACTLY what I was wondering.

    Sure, when you take them off, there are little holes. But it sure seems like it'd be cheaper for Toyota to install center caps than entire hub caps... I just don't get it.

    Andy
     
    #12 anewhouse, May 17, 2012
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  13. roostercruiser

    roostercruiser Junior Member

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    My factory rims are bland also
     
    #13 roostercruiser, May 18, 2012
  14. pernst

    pernst Junior Member

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    Just purchased a set! How hard is it to get the plastic covers off?
     
    #14 pernst, May 18, 2012
  15. DianneWhitmire

    DianneWhitmire High PRIUStess

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    It's not. I yank them off cars all the time with my bare hands. Not yet broken a nail but that day will come LOL.

     
    #15 DianneWhitmire, May 18, 2012
  16. pernst

    pernst Junior Member

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    Inserts came today, very fast shipping!! Installed easy, no problem! Car looks so much better now!
     
    #16 pernst, May 21, 2012
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