I'm probably one of the few who, as bad as the 2010/11 wheel covers looked, think they look better left on. Now if I'm seeing it right, and those are chrome covers on the side mirrors, off. Lol
The fun part about modifying your car, is doing what you like..... I found that you can't please everyone, so just make yourself happy. So the real question is, which do you like?
Umm this is a luxury prius... Lets get serious!!! I don't see a major difference either way and it was barely noticeable to me... So I kept them on to keep OEM look
Mine have been off for years. If you lose a cover, it's about $80 to replace it - maybe more. So if you just remove them and store them until you are ready to sell it, you'll have all 4 before they can get damaged or lost. BTW, there's an easy fix for the center hole. Ace has electrical knock-out covers (1&3/4 inch) that can be fitted in there. Some silver spray paint and it all matches.
I think if you chromed the entire car the mirrors would look better. I like the hubcaps on, but I plan on getting new wheels, so meh...
OFF - except for the black painted wheels on the latest models. In my hot rod days black wheels meant you didn't have enough money to have your wheels chromed.
I'm from the generation where missing hubcaps denote base trim models. The owner couldn't afford or didn't want the next trim up with such luxuries as a passenger side mirror, power steering, or even a, AM/FM radio. Thats my stigma though, you shouldn't care what I think. Do what you think is best.
I've got chrome accents around car.. It actually looks pretty nice in person with the front grill chrome, door handles, bottom of doors chrome... Some people with white priuses like to do the black on white accents... It's not my thing so I do the chrome on white... Looks clean to me and doesn't give it that really drastic non OEM souped up look... Plus when you sell they all come right off Covers on I guess... Thanks for input all
Covers on or off should be your personal opinion, not based on what others think. Personally, I think the 2010-11 looks better with covers off and the 2012-13 looks better with the covers on. You can even order the 2012-13 covers and use them as they look much better than the old version IMO.
Did you have to spread the hinges (?) on the 1 3/4 inch cover? There's a thread here that recommended the same, but in 1 1/2 inch. Those require the hinges to be splayed.
Don't care much for the extra chrome. Sorry. But if you insist on keeping the chrome, forget the OEM wheels or the covers. You need a set of these to complete the look: And some stick on hood vents. I am a party pooper.
Again, it was years ago when I did this mod, but I think there was some splaying required on the clips to get a perfect fit. If you have tools, it shouldn't be a problem - maybe a pliers. Anyway, the important thing when buying the knockout covers is to be sure to get 4 that don't have any "dimples or dings" in them. I just got a small can of silver spray paint and sprayed them all on a newspaper once they were fitted. I think I put a coat of clear laquer on them to. Now I don't have to worry about a missing wheel cover and I put mine safely in the attic. As far as if they were 1 1/2 or 1 3/4, I think it was the latter, but you can take one of each to your car to be sure before buying a set. My Ace let me do that.
Try using the 15" wheel covers from a 2013 Liftback - I think they look better with the silver 15" wheels versus the painted black wheels. I had initially removed the covers when I had my 2010 IV, but ended up putting them back on because at 15", IMO the alloys looked too small.
I have added silicon tubing (picked up from pet store) on the clips to avoid damage ... to the paint/aluminium of the wheel. I think it is 1 1/2 though. But it is cheap and you can even return it .. what I did I bought one of 1 1/2 went out tested and went back to buy 3 more ... I took off the covers the first morning of the my 2012 !!! and spray painted the little cups (got from Home Depot not Ace) there are pictures in one of the thread ...