After Market Wheels

No, any competent tire shop can just move the TPMSes from your current wheels to the new ones. This is usually included in the mounting/balancing charge and nothing would need to be reset in your Prius computer or anything.

 

Look up wwwTirerack.com u can even see what the wheels will look like on your car, with there website.

 

You need to establish the stock 10-spoke rim width, offset/backset and hub centric (center hole) diameter in order to be sure that your new rims and tires will fit and clear the hub, brake and suspension components. Check the v page on PC for this data or you are left to rely on a vendor's statement that the rims will fit.

 

A related question that I hope the OP finds useful: How do you know if a wheel is durable? Things like will it retain its finish and not damage easily. What aspects should you look for?

 

Purchase quality wheels, from a manufacture who has been around for a long time, if possible stay away from cheap china made wheels, Japanese, German wheels are the best. I also have had good experience with TSW wheels, not too expensive.

 

Something to keep in mind is that wheel styles come and go. I bought a set of aftermarket wheels from Tire Rack to use with snow tires on one of our cars and the wheels were discontinued within a couple of years. If one of these aftermarket wheels ever gets trashed, I'll be looking for a complete set of wheels and will likely buy only OEM wheels.

 

I don't know why I hadn't thought of that before but that's definitely something to remember.

 

Also consider that "NLS" aftermarket wheels circulate on ebay -- often at a significant discount...

 

A potential problem with that plan is that finding a particular low volume aftermarket wheel in the correct size and offset after a wheel has been discontinued may not be feasible when one is up $#!+ creek with a severely bent wheel on a car you need to get back on the road.

Unless buying a generic aftermarket wheel that uses a wheel cover, consider buying at least one extra wheel when purchasing an aftermarket set.

I suppose this is more important for those who keep their cars a long time. Our 2012 Prius v replaced a Camry that was owned 14 years which replaced a Honda Accord that was owned 12 years. The extra wheels we bought to use with snow tires on the Prius are easily obtained steel wheels that use wheel covers.

 

Run your spare while you bid? In 45 years of driving, average car retention 12 years, I have never bent or broken a wheel, FWIW.

 

Ditto!

 

Here are some 18" TSW's....

 

There are wheel repair places, so I am not sure if you really need to buy a spare wheel for that reason. (If I remember correctly: When talking to staff at the place I bring wheels to as long as the area where the wheel mounts to the vehicle is intact, it can be repaired, meaning most damage is repairable. You'd have to have damage to the lug area for them to not be able to repair.)

One concern is that most aftermarket wheels in my experience have a larger center bore to accommodate various vehicles, (they are generic.) This requires, (although some say it is not necessary,) the use of hub centric rings. Sometimes in the unfortunate incident when you have a flat tire and you need to change to the spare, they are difficult to remove. (My friend had this experience and reported it to me, hence the reason I know.) First thing I would do is check if I can remove the ring, and then possibly buy a spare wheel/tire combo. My friend's experience was not pleasant to say the least. I'm not sure if a full size spare would fit where the current temporary spare goes though...

I actually tried selling my set of wheels, tires, and sensors, but got no takers. Might have been the price though....

 

Enkei 18" Lowered

 

Your V looks really nice....more pictures!

 

what kind of springs are you lowered on?

 

Megan Coilovers

 

LIGHTEST PRIUS v WHEELS

I changed my 16" Two model wheels to 17" X 6" ENKEI RPF1 wheels. They are absolutely the lightest wheels I could find anywhere with the gen III Prius bolt pattern and proper offset.

Yeah, I briefly thought about 18" wheels but i wanted the lightest I could find and 18" RPF1 wheels were just too much more weight. Rotational mass is nearly 2 times the effective weight as static weight on the car. That's one reason super cars have carbon brake rotors.

I put Yokohama YK 580 V-rated tires on the ENKEI rims. They are a Discount tire tread pattern but the body is Yokohama's top end tire with orange oil in the tread compound for better gas mileage and wet traction.

Photo here also shows car after install of Tanabe lowering springs. (Hood accidentally left partially open after photographing cold air intake.)