Plastic wheel covers

FreshAirGuy · 12-29-2005, 10:58 AM

After eight months of happily driving a 2005 Prius I found one of the plastic wheel covers missing. I removed the other three and think the wheels look better. I am guessing that putting cheap looking plastic cover on cool looking wheels is one of those .003 MPG air resitsance reductions like inflating the tires until the bumps dislocate your back. Kidding aside, why put dumb plastic covers on cool looking wheels?

**efusco** · 12-29-2005, 11:00 AM

They are, indeed, for aerodynamics. I, frankly, think they look better on than off, but we all have our personal preferences.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 12-29-2005, 11:26 AM

I reject Evan's opinion in insert one of my own. The wheels look better with them off.

I took mine off and as you suspected, the reduction in weight has indeed improved my mileage by 0.003 MPG. Since the MFD does not display measurements that small, I have had to rely on my own imagination for confirmation.

seasalsa · 12-29-2005, 11:29 AM

I think the wheels look better without the rings too. They have to be for aerodynamics as they certainly serve no other useful purpose. I have four new ones hanging in my garage to put on when and if I ever trade my car in for a later model.

Microamps · 01-14-2006, 01:19 AM

The dealer also told me that they were there so that in the event of you scraping your wheels on the curb, they can be replaced and you have no lasting scratches on the rims.
Not that I care, after the first wash I took them off and they have never gone back on, they look much better off IMO.
But then again, its all a matter of what you preffer.

Frank Hudon · 01-14-2006, 01:32 AM

Evan negated any aerodynamic impovement of the rings by putting on mudflaps. But he likes his rings, I took them off the wifes car and called her out to have a look and she said throw them away, yes dear. I stashed them away in the basement.

benighted · 01-14-2006, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Frank Hudon@Jan 13 2006, 10:32 PM
Evan negated any aerodynamic impovement of the rings by putting on mudflaps. But he likes his rings, I took them off the wifes car and called her out to have a look and she said throw them away, yes dear. I stashed them away in the basement.

[snapback]189671[/snapback]

Throw them away? lol I have seen these sell on ebay for $30 each

8AA · 01-14-2006, 07:40 AM

I also think that the wheels look better without the trim rings. I had one prospective Prius buyer ask me if they were after-market rims on my car.

While I mostly agree with TonyPSchaefer's opinion, keep in mind that during the winter months the milage improvement will probably go down to 0.002 MPG.

**Tideland Prius** · 01-14-2006, 12:00 PM

What about weight issues?

Having a small wheel made out of aluminium alloy and making up the rest of it with plastic will surely have weight gains. The Euro 16" wheel is tiny without its plastic cover.

habel · 01-14-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tideland Prius@Jan 14 2006, 07:00 PM
What about weight issues?

Having a small wheel made out of aluminium alloy and making up the rest of it with plastic will surely have weight gains. The Euro 16" wheel is tiny without its plastic cover.

[snapback]189821[/snapback]

Yes, this is true. But I just noticed on my new car today (still on the dealers lot) that the european wheels have changed for 2006. Still 16", but the design is now totally different - I will post pics later on this tread:

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=14826

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Removing plastic wheel covers	splashback	Prius Main Forum	26	07-15-2007 06:49 PM
Can anybody give me a good reason to not rip off the ugly plastic wheel covers off the rims?	sl7vk	Prius Main Forum	57	09-12-2006 06:00 PM
Plastic covers on the wheels	rudyp	Prius Main Forum	22	06-27-2006 12:35 AM
Plastic Wheel Covers - How to Remove	johnnieliu	Prius Main Forum	4	01-23-2006 01:53 AM
plastic wheel covers- keep or remove?	jamarimutt	Prius Main Forum	30	05-25-2004 06:18 PM

12-29-2005, 10:58 AM	#1
FreshAirGuy Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 101 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	After eight months of happily driving a 2005 Prius I found one of the plastic wheel covers missing. I removed the other three and think the wheels look better. I am guessing that putting cheap looking plastic cover on cool looking wheels is one of those .003 MPG air resitsance reductions like inflating the tires until the bumps dislocate your back. Kidding aside, why put dumb plastic covers on cool looking wheels?

12-29-2005, 11:00 AM	#2
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,253 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 24	They are, indeed, for aerodynamics. I, frankly, think they look better on than off, but we all have our personal preferences.

12-29-2005, 11:26 AM	#3
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 8,439 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 16	I reject Evan's opinion in insert one of my own. The wheels look better with them off. I took mine off and as you suspected, the reduction in weight has indeed improved my mileage by 0.003 MPG. Since the MFD does not display measurements that small, I have had to rely on my own imagination for confirmation.

12-29-2005, 11:29 AM	#4
seasalsa Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,199 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I think the wheels look better without the rings too. They have to be for aerodynamics as they certainly serve no other useful purpose. I have four new ones hanging in my garage to put on when and if I ever trade my car in for a later model.

01-14-2006, 01:19 AM	#5
Microamps Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 17 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The dealer also told me that they were there so that in the event of you scraping your wheels on the curb, they can be replaced and you have no lasting scratches on the rims. Not that I care, after the first wash I took them off and they have never gone back on, they look much better off IMO. But then again, its all a matter of what you preffer.

01-14-2006, 01:32 AM	#6
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,144 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Evan negated any aerodynamic impovement of the rings by putting on mudflaps. But he likes his rings, I took them off the wifes car and called her out to have a look and she said throw them away, yes dear. I stashed them away in the basement.

01-14-2006, 07:40 AM	#8
8AA Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 492 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I also think that the wheels look better without the trim rings. I had one prospective Prius buyer ask me if they were after-market rims on my car. While I mostly agree with TonyPSchaefer's opinion, keep in mind that during the winter months the milage improvement will probably go down to 0.002 MPG.

01-14-2006, 12:00 PM	#9
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,920 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	What about weight issues? Having a small wheel made out of aluminium alloy and making up the rest of it with plastic will surely have weight gains. The Euro 16" wheel is tiny without its plastic cover.