Wheel Trim Rings- any downside to removing?

ghostofjk · 04-30-2006, 05:13 AM

w00t! Welcome to PC, Prizzle!

Congrats on coming from MA, too, with its groundbreaking health care plan. I hope it works, after all the planning and compromising that went into it.

Don't forget the mud flaps.

And Zaino for the paint (we have some devotees here).

grasshopper · 04-30-2006, 07:33 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ Apr 28 2006, 10:01 AM) [snapback]246608[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I think the Prius wheels look much better with the trim rings removed. I'm not a hydrodynamicist, but I don't see that they could make a significant contribution to reducing drag and improving mileage. I've read the posts here from people who have removed them and the consensus seems to be no effect on MPG.
My question is- is there any other reason not to remove them? I'm thinking that their actual function might be to direct cooling air to the brakes, and that removing them might contribute to brake wear. Are there any experts here who can answer that?
[/b]

They make terrible Frisbees, just won’t fly.
Take up space in garage.
Can’t eat off them, food falls through the middle.
So I just put them in my lips, makes me look and talk like a duck.

walt · 04-30-2006, 12:57 PM

Not an expert, as you requested, but the only downside I found is the decision of what to do about 4 tire rings that no longer are on the car. I thought about placing them around the planters on the fron porch, but my wife nixed that bright idea. For now, they are sitting in the garage. They will probably hit the dumpster next month.

**Tideland Prius** · 04-30-2006, 01:03 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prizzle @ Apr 29 2006, 08:45 PM) [snapback]247429[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

We ( wife actually ) just got the Prius today ( White) traded the 04 Aviator. , Joined the forum and first mod that was obvious from reading was to pull the "vanity rings". Whatta difference! To heck with the .0000005674 loss in mpg.

Next is the lock mod, the nav lockout mod, tint the windows and tails, door guard trim, cargo mat, Sirius and Ipod mods, better bulbs for the fogs, think about some tC 17's and keep the stock wheels for Blizzaks.

Lambo doors???

K

My other car is a Chrysler 300C SRT8 425HP. Sorry.... Still, 28.5 avg CAFE between the two is not bad considering.
[/b]

Search escaladeon22s in the search field. He has some comparos between stock, his tC 17s and his new Wedsport 17s.

darelldd · 04-30-2006, 03:05 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(walt @ Apr 30 2006, 09:57 AM) [snapback]247583[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Not an expert, as you requested, but the only downside I found is the decision of what to do about 4 tire rings that no longer are on the car. I thought about placing them around the planters on the fron porch, but my wife nixed that bright idea. For now, they are sitting in the garage. They will probably hit the dumpster next month.
[/b]

Since putting my page up showing the wheels with/without the rings, I've had about 10 PM's from people who want them. Just advertise them for the price of postage, and you'll have some takers, I'm sure. Don't put them in the landfill if somebody else can use them!

bagwell · 04-30-2006, 04:22 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Apr 30 2006, 02:05 PM) [snapback]247630[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Since putting my page up showing the wheels with/without the rings, I've had about 10 PM's from people who want them. Just advertise them for the price of postage, and you'll have some takers, I'm sure. Don't put them in the landfill if somebody else can use them!
[/b]

got my car Friday, took them off Saturday.....if someone wants them....$15......shipped...not a mark on them!

respond here and/or email me directly -- mholdr@coair.com

aaf709 · 04-30-2006, 06:04 PM

I had them on for almost a year before taking them off. When I took them off first I put them back on almost immediately. Then a month later I took them off and was going to wait a week to see if I was sure. I haven't put them back on yet.

Bob Allen · 04-30-2006, 07:22 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(walt @ May 1 2006, 12:57 AM) [snapback]247583[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Not an expert, as you requested, but the only downside I found is the decision of what to do about 4 tire rings that no longer are on the car. I thought about placing them around the planters on the fron porch, but my wife nixed that bright idea. For now, they are sitting in the garage. They will probably hit the dumpster next month.
[/b]

Send 'em to me if you're just gonna dump them. I'll reimburse you the UPS ground charge.
Bob Allen
4512 38th Ave So.
Sea 98118

asaulo1 · 04-30-2006, 11:48 PM

just got my wife's Seaside Pearl Prius yesterday and the first thing I did was take out the wheel rings. it sure looks better (IMHO) without them......

Charles Suitt · 05-06-2006, 04:21 PM

<_< Just removed the wheel covers after 1½ years. "Looks" are, IMHO, better. Only negative I see is that the alloy wheels are harder to wash than running the mit over the relatively smooth wheel covers. Another plus: the valve stems are somewhat easier to access.

In my case, grime had collected below the covers for over a year.

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04-30-2006, 05:13 AM	#11
ghostofjk Unrepentant Nattering Nabob of Negativism (V.P. Spiro T. Agnew) Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 981 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	w00t! Welcome to PC, Prizzle! Congrats on coming from MA, too, with its groundbreaking health care plan. I hope it works, after all the planning and compromising that went into it. Don't forget the mud flaps. And Zaino for the paint (we have some devotees here).

04-30-2006, 12:57 PM	#13
walt Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bel Air, MD, USA -=- Blair, Merlin, Merka Posts: 195 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Not an expert, as you requested, but the only downside I found is the decision of what to do about 4 tire rings that no longer are on the car. I thought about placing them around the planters on the fron porch, but my wife nixed that bright idea. For now, they are sitting in the garage. They will probably hit the dumpster next month.

04-30-2006, 06:04 PM	#17
aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,838 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I had them on for almost a year before taking them off. When I took them off first I put them back on almost immediately. Then a month later I took them off and was going to wait a week to see if I was sure. I haven't put them back on yet.

04-30-2006, 11:48 PM	#19
asaulo1 Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 12 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	just got my wife's Seaside Pearl Prius yesterday and the first thing I did was take out the wheel rings. it sure looks better (IMHO) without them......

05-06-2006, 04:21 PM	#20
Charles Suitt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,622 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	<_< Just removed the wheel covers after 1½ years. "Looks" are, IMHO, better. Only negative I see is that the alloy wheels are harder to wash than running the mit over the relatively smooth wheel covers. Another plus: the valve stems are somewhat easier to access. In my case, grime had collected below the covers for over a year.