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Does 2010 Prius NEED wheel covers???

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Stealth Prius, Nov 10, 2011.

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  1. dz302

    dz302 Prius Rookie

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    That looks great. Any tricks to get the wheel covers off easily? Also, did the tabs on the wheel covers leave any scratches on the wheel?
    Thanks.
     
    #21 dz302, Nov 12, 2011
  2. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    Thanks - some here have also gotten Toyota emblems that they attached to the finished face of the knockouts. Me, I don't need to overstate the obvious and just went plain-Jane.

    Nope - there were no scratches left by the original covers that I could find and they pry off fairly easily.
     
    #22 phoenixgreg, Nov 12, 2011
  3. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Just grab roughly opposing spoke on the wheel cover and give it a yank. No tools required

    I didn't notice any marks on my wheels.
     
    #23 xs650, Nov 12, 2011
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Well each cover has an area where you can wedge a flat-blade screwdriver if you wish but I usually just grab two of the spokes and yank it out.

    Just don't let the service technicians pull it out (e.g. tyre rotation or swapping tyres). They use the same tool they used to remove the wheel covers off steel rims but the difference is that they leave a mark on alloy wheels.
     
    #24 Tideland Prius, Nov 12, 2011
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  5. dz302

    dz302 Prius Rookie

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    Thanks guys, I appreciate it.
     
    #25 dz302, Nov 12, 2011
  6. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    The bare 15" alloy wheels have an obvious look that they are designed to have hubcaps on them (the groove near the edge of the rim). I suppose the basic advantages would be -

    Don't have to remove hubcaps to clean the wheels.
    Much easier to unscrew valve stem caps (which can only turn with fingertips)

    disads -
    Hit a curb and you've scraped the wheel
    Have to put in center caps
    w/o center caps, they look pretty bad.
     
    #26 cycledrum, Nov 12, 2011
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah it's double the work for me with the covers on - I have to clean both the covers and the rim itself. I tend to leave it off during the winter because it can get pretty dirty behind the covers if I had them on with the sand and salt and so forth. It's a little easier to maintain in the summer so I put them on whenever I feel like it or if I take a road trip (why not maximise mpg while i'm at it, eh?)
     
    #27 Tideland Prius, Nov 13, 2011
  8. Feri

    Feri Active Member

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    I'm attaching some piccies with the oem centre caps. yep they were $86.00 AUD but I don't spend much on frivolities usually.
     

    Attached Files:

    #28 Feri, Nov 14, 2011
  9. Yogi56

    Yogi56 New Member

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    Has anyone swapped the 15" OEM's with a chrome exchange company? Just looking for some pictures to see if it's a good look or not. Love the 15's ride with more air between the road and the seats but the 17" look is nice.
     
    #29 Yogi56, Nov 14, 2011
  10. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    I saw a Gen III Prius with chromed 15 inch wheels a few days ago so they exist.

    My personal dislike of chromed aluminum wheels side... Chrome tends to make wheels look smaller. If you scrape a chrome wheel on a curb it's basically trashed. If it's polished aluminum or painted you can repair it and have it look like new.
     
    #30 xs650, Nov 14, 2011
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  11. dz302

    dz302 Prius Rookie

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    Ok, I bought 1 1/2" covers and they are way too small. Looks like it will take 2" covers. I have a '12 Prius v with the larger wheels so I guess that's why. I should get them on later tonight and I'll post pictures.
     
    #31 dz302, Nov 14, 2011
  12. dustoff003

    dustoff003 Blizzard Brigade #003

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    The wheel covers enhance the Prius's stealth. If you want a stealthy Prius you should leave them on. Just Kidding on or off its your call. If you do remove them please get some center caps.
     
    #32 dustoff003, Nov 14, 2011
  13. dz302

    dz302 Prius Rookie

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    Took off my covers and put on center caps today.
    The new v takes 2" covers.
     
    #33 dz302, Nov 14, 2011
  14. swoodchuk

    swoodchuk Junior Member

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    If you remove the hub caps on your Prius, does this affect the dealer's Warrenty in any way?
     
    #34 swoodchuk, May 22, 2012
  15. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    No.
     
    #35 F8L, May 22, 2012
  16. Jrz

    Jrz New Member

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    #36 Jrz, Mar 6, 2015
  17. Jrz

    Jrz New Member

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    I removed mine and am now hearing a lot of road noise from tires at about 55 mph - 65 mph. I believe this is cause. I'm putting mine back on to check and see if noise stops
     
    #37 Jrz, Mar 6, 2015
  18. EddieDesigns

    EddieDesigns Junior Member

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    Mine:

    [​IMG]
     
    #38 EddieDesigns, Mar 6, 2015
  19. phickson

    phickson Tron Pod Occupier

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    Here's what I did with my 2012 wheels... photo.jpg
     
    #39 phickson, Mar 7, 2015
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