15" alloy wheels w/center caps

I feel the opposite. IMO, the 2010's 15" wheels with the covers removed are the ugliest alloy wheels I've ever seen. The video shows them at a flattering angle. Face on, they're awful. Not because of the twin-spoke design, but because the spoke ends and the outer rims are clearly unfinished and designed with the intent that they'd be covered up:



Ouch! They're hurting my eyes. I've got to cover them up right now:



Ahhh ... much better.

 

I agree that once you add the center caps, they are the best looking stock wheels ever offered on Prius. They resemble what I would look for if I were to buy wheels.

I think it is wrong for Toyota to advertise Alloy Wheels in the specification if they are going to cover them with hidious looking plastic full wheel covers and not provide the center caps.

Good news is that the center caps from a 2007 Prius (and probably other years as well) fit perfectly. Bad news it they are about $18 each from Toyota. Try to go E-Bay if you can.

I am now a card carying (wheel displaying) member of the Wheels Look Better Without the Covers, but With the Center Caps club.

 

I just had an after thought. I wonder if Toyota would let you return brand new hidious plastic wheel covers for any credit in exchange for center caps

 

not bad.

 

I did the same thing with my 2006 and I will do it to the 2010 NO PLASTIC HUB CAPS

 

In focus, out of focus. Doesn't matter. You can still see the unfinished indented spoke ends and unfinished large double outer rims or lips -- but here's a better picture:



Compare, for instance, the Scion TC 17" twin-spoke wheels:

[imglink]http://www.importtire.com/robsimages/17scion_re92-1.jpg[/imglink]

 

No problem, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If a person doesn't like the ends of the spokes jutting out, that doesn't mean they are unfinished. They have the same finish as the rest of the wheel. I agree I would prefer a smoother rim that wasn't designed to accept the plastic hub caps, but oh well, I still like the over all look of the wheel.

I have always admired the Scion TC wheels, but htey are the ones that cut a Prius' gas mileage by 4 or more MPG. Not sure what aspect of the design make the big difference in weight, well other than I assume the Scion rims are 17 inch.

 

In our visits to PriusChat, whether many times a day -- guilty as
charged -- or less frequently, I suspect that most members forget
that we represent something on the order of .001% of the Prius
owners in the USofA. We are at least Prius enthusiasts, and more than
a few of us are Prius fanatics; to whom everything Prius is either
important, or at least worth commenting on.

And what about the other .999% of the Prius owners? In my
experience, they see their cars as highly reliable appliances, or maybe
even sophisticated high mileage vehicles... maybe only a depreciating
asset.

Never in the 1.5 years that I have been driving Amapola around
Ballamer have I seen another Prius with a single mod, enhancement,
or accessory. Not a single MFD hood, not a single shark-fin antenna,
and only a rare case of wheel ring/cover removal.

My suspicion is that Toyota is far ahead of the game providing the
rings and caps to minimize "curbing" damage for the vast majority of
owners.

Yeah, in my opinion plastic rings/covers are cheesy, but they serve a
purpose. If they weren't OEM, I suspect there would be a huge hue-
and-cry from the masses.

In the case of the 2010 five spoke wheel, it is probably somewhat
lighter overall to have a cast alloy wheel with the cover, than to cast a
wheel in the shape of the cover. So, Toyota is really doing everyone a
favor, what with lower rotational inertia and its small contribution to
FE.

 

I hear you.

It really is an individual thing. What I call the "unfinished" part -- severe indentation of the spoke ends, large double lips/outer rims -- also bothered me a lot with the Gen II 15" wheels.

But I wonder why Toyota does that. I don't think there's any good reason to have such an unfinished or unsmooth look.

For instance, the Gen II Touring Prius had full wheel covers, yet the underlying wheel looked smooth and complete.

BTW, in your photos I think your new Prius looks great with the wheel covers off and center caps in.

 

Hey, I do cheesey. Check out my Chrome Wheel Skins:

 

Looks like the Scion wheels (and wheel covers?) would also fit a Prius. Maybe that's not a bad 'factory' option instead of being stuck with the dorkmobile 15" wheel covers or the naked alloys.

 

I like the look of the wheels sans wheel covers.

Hey Boo, I love the chrome wheelskins, where can I get me a set of them?

Oh, hang on, I have them already.

 

Yo, Boo!

I followed your chrome wheel cover pursuit with great interest. While
chrome is not my cuppa' tea, I say good on ya' for making your
personal statement -- ditto for patsparks. I've gone in a different
direction:

Powder coated rims. Oops, dirty car!

On both the new 2010, 15" rims and the preceding Touring rims, the
extreme sweep-back of spokes is to clear the brake caliper while
moving the tire substantially inward. I know nothing about wheel
design, but it seems radical to me. I suspect is has to do with low
weight.

I'd like to see Prii arrive at the dealer with no rings/covers
whatsoever, and concurrently Toyota offering a no cost choice of
either the factory rings/covers or smart looking "aero" discs -- not
unlike the Honda Civic hybrid rims. What's available on the open
market leaves much to be desired; the commercially produced "racing
discs" either fall off at speed, or must be attached with screws tapped
into the rim.

Likewise, homemade versions made of corroplast -- think campaign
sign material -- or aluminum/stainless steel pizza pans, have to my
eye a distinctly bush-league appearance on an otherwise very classy
chassy (sic: chassis).

(Pre-emptive apology to TheForce: Nothing personal, of course. )

 

Hi Hybrid...,

My take on all this, is the Prius is an aerodynamic body design. So why not make it look more like an aircraft. Check out: http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-modifications/41338-aero-anticorrosion-mod-trim-rings.html

 

Tom, your wheel skins look great! I missed the thread where you tell how you did that. BTW: What is that hanging over the rear bumper? I've never seen that mod! Must be a New York traffic thing.

Lee