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Wheel cover change? 15"

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by GasSaver1, Sep 16, 2012.

  1. GasSaver1

    GasSaver1 Member

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    Hey everyone!

    I have a wheel question..... I have the 15" wheels that are black 5-spoke with a silver plastic cover that covers the entire wheel (not just the outside like the gen2s). One dealership told me while I was looking to buy, that the covers can be taken off and a hub cover can be inserted in the center and it was fine to drive like that.

    Another dealer told me that you dont want to do that because dirt will get into the bearing and cause the wheel to fail.

    Which guy was telling the truth?
    If you can replace the entire cover with just a hub does anyone know the part number?
    Lastly, does removing the cover cause a drop in gas mileage due to the way the air flows?
     
    #1 GasSaver1, Sep 16, 2012
  2. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    Lots of posts on these issues, do a search.
     
    #2 Munpot42, Sep 16, 2012
  3. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    You have to be quite ignorant of basic automotive things to produce such BS.
     
    #3 Former Member 68813, Sep 16, 2012
  4. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

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    It's amazing how little car sales people know about cars :ROFLMAO:. I had one that didn't know the Prius now had a power seat 6 months after it hit their lot.

    To answer your question, no that hubcaps do not keep dirt out of the wheel bearings. The bearings are sealed as they have nearly been since the dawn of the automobile. The cap would be purely decorative. I used the 1 1/2" lowe's model and it looks pretty nice.
     
    #4 mrstop, Sep 16, 2012
  5. GasSaver1

    GasSaver1 Member

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    well they may have responded like that because I finally told them "throw in the caps and I will sign the deal". They then hit me with the story I posted and I was in the hot seat to sign so couldnt really look it up :/ I finally just said I would sign without them......

    I have been searching to see if removing the covers affects brake cooling or mpg. Where I find a lot of posts on what caps can be used ect I dont see much on these other two issues.
     
    #5 GasSaver1, Sep 16, 2012
  6. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Brake cooling would be improved, any effect on mpg would be almost unmeasurable.
     
    #6 xliderider, Sep 16, 2012
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