With or Without Wheel Covers? High Res Comparo Photos

Discussion in 'Gen III 2010+ Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by priusblogg, Nov 19, 2009.

Page 1 of 6
  1. Offline

    priusblogg New Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 2, 2009
    Message Count:
    24
    Likes Received:
    5
    Location:
    Ca
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    priusblogg, Nov 19, 2009
    Like Reply Share #1
    1 people like this.
  2. Offline

    Boo Boola Boola Member

    Member Since:
    Feb 13, 2007
    Message Count:
    5,086
    Likes Received:
    602
    Location:
    Flushing, NY
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    [IMGLINK]http://priuschat.com/forums/members/priusblogg-albums-without-wheel-covers-high-res-comparo-pix-picture3271-1.jpg[/IMGLINK]

    [IMGLINK]http://priuschat.com/forums/members/priusblogg-albums-without-wheel-covers-high-res-comparo-pix-picture3272-2.jpg[/IMGLINK]

    Nice!

    IMO, from a distance it definitely looks better without the wheel covers. But up closer, it looks better with the wheel covers because of the unsmooth, unfinished, fat lip of the wheel at the end of the spokes.

    Note: One of the mods should probably move this thread to the Gen III forums.
    Boo, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #2
  3. Offline
    • Moderator

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North

    Member Since:
    Oct 2, 2004
    Message Count:
    27,008
    Likes Received:
    1,175
    Location:
    Canada
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I thought it's the opposite. It looks better up close. From that distance, the naked ones look tiny. The covers make it look larger.
    Tideland Prius, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #3
  4. Offline

    going red baby! Pit Bull Lover - v Rescued Sat

    Member Since:
    Jul 21, 2009
    Message Count:
    543
    Likes Received:
    89
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Although the whole car looks tiny in that second pic compared to the one with the covers.

    I vote for no covers, caps.
    going red baby!, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #4
  5. Offline

    DarrenG New Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 18, 2009
    Message Count:
    132
    Likes Received:
    9
    Location:
    Hampshire, UK
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Isn't this a moot question? If the covers are installed to improve economy, why remove them just for aesthetics?
    DarrenG, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #5
  6. Offline

    rachaelseven New Member

    Member Since:
    Jul 7, 2009
    Message Count:
    618
    Likes Received:
    205
    Location:
    Adams, MA
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Hardly moot. I suppose it could be up for debate, but given the 1000's of posts on the forum about buying the center caps, it certainly cannot be considered moot. Personally, I have no problem getting close to 60mpg on summer tires without the fugly (imho) covers.
    rachaelseven, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #6
  7. Offline

    johalareewi New Member

    Member Since:
    Nov 10, 2009
    Message Count:
    384
    Likes Received:
    38
    Location:
    uk
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Do the covers improve economy? If so, is it significant?
    johalareewi, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #7
  8. Offline

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

    Member Since:
    Jul 12, 2007
    Message Count:
    10,558
    Likes Received:
    430
    Location:
    Adelaide South Australia
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Because they actually make no or little difference to fuel consumption. It would be unmeasurable if it made any difference.
    I added chrome wheel covers to my Gen II and they did nothing for economy but cost me money. Some people like their car to look its best and will even spend a little money to do it.
    patsparks, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #8
  9. Offline

    DarrenG New Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 18, 2009
    Message Count:
    132
    Likes Received:
    9
    Location:
    Hampshire, UK
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Perhaps 'moot' was a poor choice of phrase. What I meant was that Toyota fitted these for a reason, clearly there must be some benefit to them being fitted on top of the alloy wheels?

    Why would they fit them if there was no benefit? The only times we normally see plastic covers are where they are fitted to disguise/dress up cheap steel wheels.

    I'm on the fence about the aesthetic benefits either way but I would be interested to know why they exist if there is no benefit to economy?
    DarrenG, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #9
  10. Offline

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

    Member Since:
    Jul 12, 2007
    Message Count:
    10,558
    Likes Received:
    430
    Location:
    Adelaide South Australia
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    To protect the expensive alloy wheels from curb rash. Hubcaps are (relatively) cheap.

    Toyota claim they improve the cD figures but I suspect it is a minor improvement. They would have made the wheels look as ugly as they do with the caps but alloy is heavier than plastic.
    patsparks, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #10
  11. Offline

    DarrenG New Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 18, 2009
    Message Count:
    132
    Likes Received:
    9
    Location:
    Hampshire, UK
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks, I can see the merit in protecting the wheels but are they more susceptible to damage than other alloys?
    DarrenG, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #11
  12. Offline

    chrisj428 New Member

    Member Since:
    Sep 24, 2009
    Message Count:
    563
    Likes Received:
    103
    Location:
    Vernon Hills, IL
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I like both looks for different reasons.

    The wheel covers make the wheels themselves look heavy-handed, whereas the nekkid alloys look much lighter.

    However (at least from the two photos in this thread), removing the covers gives the wheels the illusion of being smaller in diameter. Of course, I'm a little biased, given that I have the 17s...
    chrisj428, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #12
  13. Offline

    rrolff Prius Surgeon

    Member Since:
    Aug 19, 2009
    Message Count:
    1,602
    Likes Received:
    219
    Location:
    So Cal
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    ??? They are to protect the alloys ??? What next - plastic seat covers to protect the leather :rolleyes:

    They're just a low cost trim that was added for "looks".
    rrolff, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #13
  14. Offline

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

    Member Since:
    Jul 12, 2007
    Message Count:
    10,558
    Likes Received:
    430
    Location:
    Adelaide South Australia
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes, and I don't mean this to sound discriminatory, but Prius is marketed to over 50s men and women.
    patsparks, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #14
  15. Offline

    codybigdog123 Got Mad and Left in a Tizzy

    Member Since:
    Sep 17, 2009
    Message Count:
    239
    Likes Received:
    26
    Location:
    Chicago, Il
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV

    Crap, so does that mean I won't find any hot chicks in a Prius? :D
    codybigdog123, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #15
  16. Offline

    going red baby! Pit Bull Lover - v Rescued Sat

    Member Since:
    Jul 21, 2009
    Message Count:
    543
    Likes Received:
    89
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    As soon as I get mine you will. :cool:
    going red baby!, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #16
  17. Offline
    • Moderator

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North

    Member Since:
    Oct 2, 2004
    Message Count:
    27,008
    Likes Received:
    1,175
    Location:
    Canada
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Perhaps as higher speeds? I'm sure around town, it will have limited effect. It is true that the covers are there for aerodynamic purposes. Ideally, it'll look like the Civic Hybrid (near solid with a few small pie slices) but that looks rather ugly. The next best would be alloy with a plastic cover to get the design they want because plastic is lighter.

    Besides, what other car has owner-customisable wheels? lol
    Tideland Prius, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #17
  18. Offline

    DarrenG New Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 18, 2009
    Message Count:
    132
    Likes Received:
    9
    Location:
    Hampshire, UK
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Is that true? Seems to me that will all the tech on board it'd be rather daunting to the older driver and much more likely aimed at a younger age range, perhaps 40+?
    DarrenG, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #18
  19. Offline

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

    Member Since:
    Jul 12, 2007
    Message Count:
    10,558
    Likes Received:
    430
    Location:
    Adelaide South Australia
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    No it doesn't, my girlfriend has been in my car a number of times.
    patsparks, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #19
  20. Offline

    priusblogg New Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 2, 2009
    Message Count:
    24
    Likes Received:
    5
    Location:
    Ca
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Voted No Covers at Store by Customers

    I had to get a flat repair so had covers on one wheel (rear) and off on other (front) and the unanimous vote was Covers off by regular non Prius people. We actually grabbed people off the street!

    Bottom line is, BOTH are ugly as sin..... AND its still a Prius. The only wheels that look really good are the Stock Package V's. AND even then, at the end of the day, its still a Prius. I'm not willing to shell out $1,000 for those wheels, and certainly I bought fro MPG, so eating another 4-6 mpg to have 17's seems very counter productive.

    Toyota has gotten a lot of flack for making boring vehicles. Hopefully they'll start looking at Tesla's 4 door sedan, etc., and get back on track.

    I love the car, but... its still silly looking, just 100 times less than the previous model. Honda's new C Coupe Hybrid is right on the money as far as style. So is Hyundai's upcoming Sonata Hybrid design.

    Toyota? Listening?
    priusblogg, Nov 20, 2009
    Like Reply Share #20
Page 1 of 6

Share This Page