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Does this happen with a lot of wheels?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Wraiththe, Nov 15, 2021.

  1. Wraiththe

    Wraiththe Member

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    I looked at a 2017 prius... there were some rough edges that needed attention... and then there was this too... All 4 tires were like this:
    upload_2021-11-15_23-48-22.png

    The metal was really showing on some wheels. All needed replacing or resurfacing and painting... Good reason not to buy a car if you care how it looks?
     
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    It happens a lot when people get too close to a curb. Hence the term curbed or curbing the wheel.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  3. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Easy to do - one of mine has a small scrape. Only one person drives mine - so must have been me (I recall the event actually).

    But that looks like the paint is coming off - maybe something corrosive - salt water? I'd be checking the rest of the car for salt corrosion.
     
  4. Wraiththe

    Wraiththe Member

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    That is pretty scary.
     
  5. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    How old is that car - and how many kilometres?
     
  6. Wraiththe

    Wraiththe Member

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    157,000 miles. 252,667KM
     
  7. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Ahh - that sort-of explains it - well used.
     
  8. Wraiththe

    Wraiththe Member

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    No, I do not think that is the case. They are only 4 years old. $550 last longer than that. This has to be neglect
     
  9. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    Yes, I notice it on size 17" wheels and up. Nothing changed on the driver as far as I know. Wheels got bigger. There is now less tire to hit the curb so the rim does instead. The 16" rims on my older car looks fine but the 18" on my newer vehicle do not.
     
  10. Wraiththe

    Wraiththe Member

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    I have owned a lot of cars... never seen this. If it was from hitting the curb, it would only be on the outmost surfaces... not the areas that are going beyond the face of the mag.
     
  11. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

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    Pull the hubcaps off and look at all the wheels underneath to see their condition.
     
  12. Wraiththe

    Wraiththe Member

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    This is what I hate about the internet.
    This is what I hate about the internet and text communications... I cannot tell if you are joking or insulting me, or just unaware.

    The are mags... or 5 spoke alloy wheels... there are no hubcaps on them. However... I did see this, which blew my mind...
    upload_2021-11-16_16-39-9.png
    saw this and thought Imaybe the grey areas are removeable???

    upload_2021-11-16_16-39-45.png

    I checked with Toyota and apparently they are NOT removeable. (or meant to be removeable.)

    I don't get it because I put my fingers on the wheel and scratched the metal to see if the oxidation would flake and it did not.

    I think they look like !tihs $550 at Toyota... $150-$350 used I think.
    upload_2021-11-16_16-51-35.png upload_2021-11-16_16-51-52.png upload_2021-11-16_16-52-15.png upload_2021-11-16_16-52-43.png

    There is a local place that may fix them for @120 a rim.
     
  13. Wraiththe

    Wraiththe Member

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  14. privilege

    privilege Active Member

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    well, if you hit curbs, yes, this happens to all wheels.

    the good news is you can rip off the plastic hubcap things and the wheels will be lighter, and look better.

    a quick shot of appliance black spray paint will make the wheels look new.

    hubcaps belong in dumpsters. or fires
     
  15. Wraiththe

    Wraiththe Member

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    LOL... I posted a pic of an unpainted mag w/o the inserts. (not hubcaps)
    You really think that looks better with the mounting holes and all?
    Have you done this mod? If so... Post a pick... because the @$2,200 price tag for the mags is definitely a reason not to get this car... suspected flood damage too (but for other reasons not listed.)
     
  16. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    It is commonly referred to as "curb rash." Happens it all of us who drive.
     
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  17. Wraiththe

    Wraiththe Member

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    Ain't no penicillin gonna fix that!
     
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  18. privilege

    privilege Active Member

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    yes, I'd rather see the wheel than the plastic pieces.

    it's not a modification, to me. its just removing unneeded stuff that has already failed.

    I don't understand why you listed the price if brand new Orem wheels.

    are you planning to replace everything on the car that has scratches ?

    I wouldn't. as mentioned earlier, appliance black spray paint will cover up the barely noticable curb rash. assuming it's only curb rash and not corrosion from salt water.

    had you said it was a flood car in the beginning I would have immediately agreed to pass on it. flood cars are definitely not worth the annoyance it expense of repairs.
     
  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Geez last time I checked they were $24 USD apiece. What's that, $120 per rim, to replace, someone's got balls... And without the plastic pieces (if I'm not mistaken you need the wheel off the car to remove the plastic pieces), that rim looks pretty horrendous, my opinion.

    Regarding the pic in your first post: that looks more like failing paint?
     
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  20. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    The aesthetics of wheels on a car is the least of my concern. As long as it is not functionally defective, I would not worry about them on a used car. Certainly, I would never pay MSRP for OEM wheels to replace purely cosmetic blemishes. This is not just for the Prius but for any car. I bought a set of used OEM 18" alloy wheels from a junkyard for our SUV winter tires for less than what would cost to buy new aftermarket steel wheels. And the wheels came with free OEM TPMS sensors still in good condition. Unfortunately, for my Prius Prime, I could not find reasonably priced used OEM wheels for winter tires. I ended up buying a set of new aftermarket alloy wheels package deal with winter tires. The final cost came to be less than $50/wheel, again cheaper than the least expensive steelies.