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Degraded Wheel Inserts

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by ATHiker, Oct 10, 2022.

  1. ATHiker

    ATHiker Senior Member

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    Yea, it’s a 2016 garaged outside in New England but other than this (and the peeled steering wheel) the car still looks great.
     

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  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    That is pretty bad for a 2016 car. I wonder if this is covered by corrosion warranty
     
  3. ATHiker

    ATHiker Senior Member

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    Plastic parts.

    Similar degradation on all 4 wheels.
     
  4. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Senior Member

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    Yeah, one of the reasons I took mine off. Other reasons: they don't get stolen, lost, damaged, and the actual wheel itself actually looks nice.
     
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  5. beef jiggles

    beef jiggles Member

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    Looks pretty typical for an east coast car. The thought of a "corrosion warranty' covering a nearly 7 year old vehicle aesthetic part is laughable at best.

    It's not the wheel, it's your roads in the winter and the chemicals they use to treat them. Take them off and spray paint them. Repeat every few years. Or you can get them professionally done. A similar car out West would not have that issue.

    "Spec Wheels" in Denver refinished my '17 IS350 F Sport wheels for $650, no corrosion.. just chipped and curbed.. and that was 2020 pricing. The F Sport wheels are "black chrome" and a very hard color to replicate so that was on the higher end.
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It reminds me of my teeth with the crowns removed.

    Just bite the bullet (no pun intended), take off the wheels, pop out the inserts and repaint 'em? They're over $24 USD apiece IIRC, so with five per wheel, roughly $500 for a set.

    Touch-up paint the curb rash on the black rim too, wax everything.
     
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  7. prius16

    prius16 Active Member

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    Just avoid sand, salt, snow, slush, ice, sun, rain, and dirt on the road. ;)

    Imho, it's always good to have a second set of wheel covers for the winter, or hopefully, your winter wheels.
    Plus, it's not that big of a deal with a Prius. Plenty of cheap options.
    I got the remanufactured Toyota wheel covers shown below for my winter wheels (~$100 for 4), even though they are not the 100% correct style for a Gen4 Facelift Prime.
    OMG, the humanity of not having the exact wheel covers for the year/model! :eek:
    lmao :)

    Also, new aftermarket wheel covers clones (no Toyota symbol), or a different design, are below $100 for a full set of 4.
    Plenty on Amazon, or ebay.


    The wheel covers that I received did look new. The paint and finish looks great.
    Imho, the cost of used 4th gen wheels (15"x6.5"), even scratched, was more semi-painful (~~$175 each).
    Add in the 4 Blizzak tires, 4 new TPMS sensors, the Autel TPMS programming tool, mounting and balancing, and having to spend ~$100 for a separate set of 4 wheel covers wasn't too bad.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/393226969691
    Code:
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/393226969691
    Set of 4 Wheel Cover Hubcaps Fit 2016 2017 2018 Toyota Prius 15" Black/Silver
    Condition: Remanufactured
    Remanufactured “THESE ARE GUARANTEED TO LOOK LIKE NEW OR YOUR MONEY BACK”
    Quantity: More than 10 available / 212 sold
    Price: US $92.99
    Shipping: US $8.99 Expedited Shipping
    Located in: Bronx, New York, United States

    Picture from their listing:
    PriusRemanWheelCoversEbay393226969691.jpg


    Good Luck!
     
    #7 prius16, Oct 10, 2022
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2022
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    OP’s got the 17” rims.
     
  9. prius16

    prius16 Active Member

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    There are plenty of 13" to 17" wheel covers available. Many aftermarket covers are knock-offs of OEM covers.
    These "RAV4" aftermarket wheel covers below, look similar, and imho better, then the 17" Prius wheel covers. They are also sold on Amazon. But, ~~$15 more.
    Fwiw, if the wheel covers have feed-through lugnuts, make sure that they are they are the correct number of lugnuts (4 or 5).
    Switching wheels, or wheel covers, for the winter helps a lot. The sand, salt, slush, snow, etc beat the crud out of wheel covers.


    https://www.ebay.com/itm/144616182416
    4PCS 17" Wheel Skins Hub Caps Full Rim R17 Skin Covers For 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4
    Condition:New
    Price: $70.50
    Shipping: FREE Standard Shipping
    Located in: New Castle, Delaware, United States

    17InchHubCapAftermarketEbay144616182416.jpg



    Orig for comparison:
    Prius17InchWheelCover.jpg





    Imho, if someone tries to sand and spraypaint the wheel covers, they often look like the wheel cover below:
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/295166333199
    Set of 4 Toyota Rav4 Hubcaps Wheel Covers 2019 2020 2021 17" 61186 Gloss Black
    Item Information
    Condition: Remanufactured
    Price: US $111.25
    17InchWheelCoversEbay295166333199RemanPainted.jpg


    They don't look "super horrible".
    However, imho, the new aftermarket wheel covers last for ~~7-12+ years. And, look better.

    .
     
    #9 prius16, Oct 10, 2022
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2022
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  10. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

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    Isn't this an oxymoron?
     
  11. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Black winter steelies 44 bux a pop on the A. At least wen I bought . So Ive 8 15 alloys 4 17 alloys and 4 17 steelies. 2 gen3 and 1 Gen2. No winters in NC really.
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    @prius16 OP’s wheel style has five plastic inserts on each rim; the black spoke portions are the exposed alloy.
     
  13. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I'm looking for some solid disc wheel covers for 17-in steel wheels however they are fixed like a regular wheel cover ultra miniature set screws I don't really care I just can't find 17 spun aluminum solid hub near flat covers they would look badass on 17-in rims on a black cherry persona.
     
  14. ATHiker

    ATHiker Senior Member

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    Yes, but old news.