Car wash destroyed wheel covers... what replacements do you recommend?

Check craigslist? Many owners ditch their covers completely, and are willing to sell. The 2010-11s are probably scarce by now, but newer ones should still be readily available.

 

Have you seen the wheel covers?
I keep taking mine through the car wash HOPING they will get destroyed.

It really is up to you. People who buy new wheels often ditch the covers so finding a set shouldn't be that hard.

Or if you don't care about the Toyota logo, or any rumored aerodynamic benefit, Your local Wal-Mega-Mart carries generic wheel covers that IMO are actually better looking than the OEM.

Also as you probably already know, a lot of Prius owners ditch the covers preferring the wheel underneath.

I'm still sticking with my ugly originals. So I can't speak to the lasting quality of any generic replacement. I know there are places on the internet that specialize in wheel covers, things can get pretty expensive.

 

EBay is your friend.

I ditched mine and use the electrical box knockout covers over the hub. Search 3 dollar center caps here for more details

 

After wrecking one of the original tires because of mud build up between wheel and wheel cover on our 10 Prius, I removed the covers. I like the appearance of the 2010's silver alloy wheels much better than the plastic covers, plus it is easier to clean the uncovered wheels. My wheel covers will stay on a garage shelf until it is time to trade the car.

 

I'll sell you the 4 like new hubcaps from our 2012 for $100 shipped ( PayPal ). They were on the car less then a week before I took them off.

 

Same here. My wheel covers sit unused in the garage since the first week of owning the car.

 

Take all wheel covers off. It will look better without them.
Save your money on future upgrades.

 

I think if you put your hands through opposing openings, get a good grip and jerk quick, they pop off.

Gotta say when we were walking around the lot, shopping, it was: say what? Plastic wheel covers over alloys? That tipped us to the 17" model, sans covers.

 

I think you'll like the look.
I resisted for a couple of years but when it came time to swap the wheels back on after winter wheels I didn't have the heart to put the wheelcovers back on.

 

The odd thing, is they are not. The wheel itself is alloy.

Arguably nicer without the covers than with the covers BUT in my opinion, has kind of an unfinished look to them.

But it begs the question, since I don't think the Prius wheel is being produced cheaply for economic or pricing reasons, why doesn't Toyota just ditch the covers and make all Prius just come with nice alloy wheels? Then you wouldn't have the complaints about the covers, or the great number of people simply ditching them and buying center caps.

I'd probably remove mine, except with a 2013 Sea Glass Pearl, I don't think I'd like the black wheels.

 

Yup. The wheel covers over alloys, and the dash instruments in the middle of the dash, two faux pas imho. D.O. for switching to black alloys, just pouring oil on the fire, lol.

 

This is what they look like with the "lowes" special center cap, before I plasti dipped them. Still have the covers somewhere in my garage.

 

You can always buy real Toyota center caps to pop in.

They're not *that* expensive and probably will continue to look nice over time.

 

The wheel covers supposedly reduce aerodynamic drag.

 

Yeah, I mention that is the "rumor" in one of my posts above.

However, since many remove the covers and aren't reporting a drastic or even noticeable reduction in MPG, and since Toyota does sell The Prius with different wheels.- I like the PiP wheels - I just can't believe the impact would be even noticeable.

Toyota could work with the vendor to design an alloy wheel that would match the performance of these wheels with covers.

Honestly? I'd be happy with just better looking covers. But if Toyota would just provide completely finished alloy wheels from the get go? That would be even better.

 

The wheel covers smell like some senior exec's idea. How else would an unpopular "feature" have so much staying power?

 

FYI to the OP, aftermarket wheel covers that are designed to fit over the lip of steel wheels do not fit on the Prius oem alloy wheels. Your only options are to take them off, or replace them with 2010 - 2011 or 2012+ wheel covers.