Gen III - Why the plastic covers for alloy wheels?

Fstr911 · 10-04-2009, 08:15 PM

I'm curious why my 2010 Prius has plastic wheel covers over the (nice looking) alloys.

Is it for brake cooling, aerodynamics or what?

Also what is the downside to taking them off?

Thanks in advance to you Prius Guru's with fact based information.

Paradox · 10-04-2009, 08:19 PM

There has been much discussion about this but one reason is fuel economy, though it is very slight. It helps in the aerodynamics around the wheel, but like I said it is slight.

MANY have taken them off as some feel the wheels look better with them off. The MPG hit is negligible...

a64pilot · 10-04-2009, 08:25 PM

Only downside I see with them off is when the wife scrubs the curb with the alloys. Don't scrub the curb and I don't think there is a downside. I would like to put the Toyota emblems in the center though. All this has been discussed, even has a link to where to purchase the emblems

Paradox · 10-04-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Only downside I see with them off is when the wife scrubs the curb with the alloys. Don't scrub the curb and I don't think there is a downside. I would like to put the Toyota emblems in the center though. All this has been discussed, even has a link to where to purchase the emblems

That's just my dads thinking in a way... He took his off and figures if he does hit a curb he'll just put the covers back on when the trades in a few years and all sins will be forgiven.

namasteflc · 10-04-2009, 09:31 PM

If the plastic covers make the car more aerodynamic, why not go to the old 'moon covers' (solid dome covers that cover the wheel) of the 70's?
I also remember something about reducing 'unsprung' weight of a car(wheel covers, wheel size, disk brakes, etc.) for better handling.
Frank

Fstr911 · 10-04-2009, 09:59 PM

Frank,

I know you mentioned the 70's (I'm a leftover surfer from those days) but I never did like those "moon covers" because they seemed to be a 50's thing (to me at least).

Somehow I get the feeling Toyota likely expended the funds to do "real air tunnel" (aerodynamic) testing to justify the cost of these cheap plastic wheel covers.

About: "I also remember something about reducing 'unsprung' weight of a car(wheel covers, wheel size, disk brakes, etc.) for better handling." True. I guessing these factory wheels are very light and this is not an issue here (is anyone tracking or autocrossing these Prius beasts?).

Para and a64pilot, thanks for the good comments. But, a64 be careful about the wife making the skuff marks (I'm smiling here), I did that once and after a week skuffed em worse than her! Sh&% happens.

SlowTurd · 10-05-2009, 09:57 AM

Toyota put the covers on so we have a fast, easy, and cheap mod

octavia · 10-05-2009, 10:19 AM

I thought taking them off would give my son a sense of cool about the car. He just looked at me with that disgusted 13 yr. old look and said:

"Mom, the alloys on a prius are not like other alloys..."

Tad Moody · 10-05-2009, 12:23 PM

This is a job for "Mythbusters"

Grateful11 · 10-05-2009, 12:34 PM

You mean like this:

10-04-2009, 08:15 PM	#1
Fstr911 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 84 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Navigation Thanks: 20 Thanked 12 Times in 8 Posts Friends: 1	Gen III - Why the plastic covers for alloy wheels? I'm curious why my 2010 Prius has plastic wheel covers over the (nice looking) alloys. Is it for brake cooling, aerodynamics or what? Also what is the downside to taking them off? Thanks in advance to you Prius Guru's with fact based information.

10-04-2009, 08:19 PM	#2
Paradox Prius Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SI, NY Posts: 2,114 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 21 Thanked 298 Times in 179 Posts Friends: 9	Re: Gen III - Why the plastic covers for alloy wheels? There has been much discussion about this but one reason is fuel economy, though it is very slight. It helps in the aerodynamics around the wheel, but like I said it is slight. MANY have taken them off as some feel the wheels look better with them off. The MPG hit is negligible...

10-04-2009, 08:25 PM	#3
a64pilot Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany Ga. Posts: 732 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: N/A Thanks: 19 Thanked 45 Times in 40 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Gen III - Why the plastic covers for alloy wheels? Only downside I see with them off is when the wife scrubs the curb with the alloys. Don't scrub the curb and I don't think there is a downside. I would like to put the Toyota emblems in the center though. All this has been discussed, even has a link to where to purchase the emblems

10-04-2009, 09:31 PM	#5
namasteflc Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Georgetown Md Posts: 24 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: II Package: Base Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Re: Gen III - Why the plastic covers for alloy wheels? If the plastic covers make the car more aerodynamic, why not go to the old 'moon covers' (solid dome covers that cover the wheel) of the 70's? I also remember something about reducing 'unsprung' weight of a car(wheel covers, wheel size, disk brakes, etc.) for better handling. Frank

10-04-2009, 09:59 PM	#6
Fstr911 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 84 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Navigation Thanks: 20 Thanked 12 Times in 8 Posts Friends: 1	Re: Gen III - Why the plastic covers for alloy wheels? Frank, I know you mentioned the 70's (I'm a leftover surfer from those days) but I never did like those "moon covers" because they seemed to be a 50's thing (to me at least). Somehow I get the feeling Toyota likely expended the funds to do "real air tunnel" (aerodynamic) testing to justify the cost of these cheap plastic wheel covers. About: "I also remember something about reducing 'unsprung' weight of a car(wheel covers, wheel size, disk brakes, etc.) for better handling." True. I guessing these factory wheels are very light and this is not an issue here (is anyone tracking or autocrossing these Prius beasts?). Para and a64pilot, thanks for the good comments. But, a64 be careful about the wife making the skuff marks (I'm smiling here), I did that once and after a week skuffed em worse than her! Sh&% happens.

10-05-2009, 09:57 AM	#7
SlowTurd I LIKE PRIUS'S Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: nj Posts: 196 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: No Package Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 15 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Gen III - Why the plastic covers for alloy wheels? Toyota put the covers on so we have a fast, easy, and cheap mod

10-05-2009, 10:19 AM	#8
octavia Fairy Pincess Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 381 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: Navigation Thanks: 109 Thanked 33 Times in 24 Posts Friends: 9	Re: Gen III - Why the plastic covers for alloy wheels? I thought taking them off would give my son a sense of cool about the car. He just looked at me with that disgusted 13 yr. old look and said: "Mom, the alloys on a prius are not like other alloys..."

10-05-2009, 12:23 PM	#9
Tad Moody Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Duarte, CA, USA Posts: 34 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: II Package: No Package Thanks: 10 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Gen III - Why the plastic covers for alloy wheels? This is a job for "Mythbusters"

10-05-2009, 12:34 PM	#10
Grateful11 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central, NC Posts: 102 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: No Package Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 10 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Gen III - Why the plastic covers for alloy wheels? You mean like this:

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