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Wheels? Stock? Fancy alloys?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Ianmeister, Jan 1, 2021.

  1. Ianmeister

    Ianmeister Active Member

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    So my new to me gen3 package II has these allow wheels. Anyone know the scoop? Will they affect mileage over stock with the plastic zippy aerodynamic wheel covers? What day you? 36D4EDC2-D634-48EB-B878-D043291D7067.jpeg
     
    #1 Ianmeister, Jan 1, 2021
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Those are the stock wheels under the plastic wheel covers.
     
    #2 JimboPalmer, Jan 1, 2021
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    From 2012 on Toyota uglied them up even more, went from silver to black.

    If you stick with those putting centre caps on will make them look more complete, and hide the rusty hubs. You can get knock offs on eBay, may fit perfect, mine needed a bit of dremel tweaking.

    I picked up a set of PIP 15” rims, which look much more civilized imho. Have yet to use them though; will likely mount new snow tires on them next fall, a step up from black steel rims. Missus likes the OEM 17’s so I can’t sub them for the all seasons.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Jan 1, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2021
  4. magnumrtawd

    magnumrtawd Member

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    From the the road rash on your wheel, The previous owner probably trashed the nasty hubcaps. I picked up center caps from eBay for 10$ . fit great, just tapped them in! polish them up and they look much better then the plastic hubcaps.
     
    #4 magnumrtawd, Jan 1, 2021
  5. magnumrtawd

    magnumrtawd Member

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    As far as the Mileage difference, I have a 2010 with 80K. Driven under 5 mi. per trip and average 45-50 mpg in the summer and 40-45 in the winter. No lrr tires and I drive it like a normal car. No hyper mileling here!
     
    #5 magnumrtawd, Jan 1, 2021
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    For the curb rash:

    fill in and sand the gouges, clean well, then go over the distressed zones with a Toyota touch up pen, colour Classic Silver Metallic (1F7), it’s a perfect match.

    The pen style is better than brush applicator, applies easily and blends good; see if you can get that style from dealership. Up here that’s the only style they sell. One end has a colour nib, the other is clear coat. Your mileage may vary, but I found the clear coat was lifting the colour coat, avoided using after the first disaster. Looks good without.

    E39D0228-DA80-4CFF-8679-23FDCC577C12.jpeg
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Jan 1, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2021
  7. Ianmeister

    Ianmeister Active Member

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    um, no the picture is of alloy mags.
     
    #7 Ianmeister, Jan 2, 2021
  8. Ed Beaty

    Ed Beaty Active Member

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    "um, no the picture is of alloy mags."

    They may or may not be alloy mags, but they are indeed the stock wheels; what you see when you take the (stupid, IMO) wheel covers off.
     
    #8 Ed Beaty, Jan 2, 2021
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  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yes. And we're telling you that they're stock alloys and that you're missing aerodynamic wheel covers that previous owner probably tossed out.

    Yes the Prius is weird that way - alloys AND wheel covers. No matter, at least you get two different wheel designs for the price of one :LOL:.
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Jan 2, 2021
  10. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Yep. Like I said, those alloy mags are stock, beneath the plastic wheel covers.
     
    #10 JimboPalmer, Jan 2, 2021
  11. Ianmeister

    Ianmeister Active Member

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    Ohh. That’s odd. Why would they put cheap plastic covers over mags. I don’t get it. Do the covers are tidally increase mileage?
     
    #11 Ianmeister, Jan 2, 2021
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That was my question in 2010 lol. Plus, since nobody’s ever going to remove the covers [:rolleyes:], the alloy rims are utilitarian looking.

    This in part steered us to a CDN Touring model, with nice looking 17” rims (without covers). There’s also a couple of nice-looking and bare 15” rims: the aforementioned PIP (Plug-In Prius) rims, and I believe one of the gen 4 Prius levels.
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, Jan 2, 2021
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    They're for aerodynamic purposes (fill in the gaps between the spokes to reduce turbulence). It's also a weight and cost savings (since they could've used the same alloy to create the same design but instead went with an alloy design with less material then filled in the gaps with plastic).

    How much does it matter? I don't know if it's measurable without a spreadsheet.

    I usually keep mine off unless I go on the highway on a road trip, then I'll put it back on (I mean, that's what Toyota said it was for - aerodynamics).
     
    #13 Tideland Prius, Jan 2, 2021
  14. Rayman2010

    Rayman2010 Junior Member

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    I did a little black painting on my original plastic caps....look pretty cool 20210117_190637.jpeg 20201025_164734.jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #14 Rayman2010, Jan 27, 2021
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