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Wheel Covers on Prius Prime

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by psoque, Jun 7, 2018.

  1. psoque

    psoque Member

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    Hi. I lost one of my wheel covers yesterday. I think it was getting loose over the winter/spring with numerous pot holes I drove over.

    A few questions:

    -Is it necessary to have wheel covers? Is it just simpler to remove the remaining 3 of them and call it a day?
    -if I were to get a replacement wheel cover (online?) it is easy to put it on myself?
    -What's the purpose of wheel covers?
    -I looked at an online catalog and there are so many order numbers for the same wheel covers with various prices....what's the best way to know which is the correct part number?

    Thanks.

    Naoyuki
     
  2. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

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    If you take them off get 4 1 3/4” electrical panel knock outs for 4$ and pop them on your hubs to cover the holes.
    Yaris centercaps are the same size if you want a Toyota emblem.
     
    #2 Lucifer, Jun 7, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2018
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  3. triggerhappy007

    triggerhappy007 Active Member

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    No. Just remove them and call it a day.
    The replacement wheel cover is expensive for what it. It's really easy to put on, just push it on.
    The original purpose is to make the black steel wheels look nicer. Toyota decided to put them over nice alloy wheels.
     
  4. Dudley1030

    Dudley1030 Active Member

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    Search some of the other threads. I have seen that there is a Toyota center cap to cover up the whole when you run without the hub caps. Just to make it look nicer.
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Have you ever started working for a new company, and had a "wait, what??" moment. For years we've had Hondas, but I had my sights set on a new Prius, so wondering around the lot in 2010, kicking tires, and I notice: "what is with these wheel covers? On alloy rims??". Apparently that's just how it is, in Toyota's Prius department.

    And yeah: the cost of a Toyota cover (one) rival the cost of an aftermarket alloy rim. Take the covers off, and you're looking at a functional but meh rim, sans centre cap (aka hub cap, in the old days). Getting a set of four centre cap, that also rivals the cost, of the aforementioned aftermarket alloy rim.

    Anyway, still wandering around that lot in 2010, we FINALLY found this dusty, way back in the corner Canadian Touring model, with the nice 17" rims, no wheels covers thank you.

    But now, with fourth gen, that door is kinda closed: All the wheels, 15" AND 17", come with expensive plastic doodads. The 17" rims are particularly insulting: each rim has FIVE plastic inserts, and each of those goes for around $24 US. Take them all out, and you have a rim only a mother could love:

    upload_2018-6-7_10-13-28.png

    Oh, and it'll still need the aforementioned centre caps, and Toyota in their wisdom changed the dimensions of the retaining groove in the center bore, so aftermarket third gen centre caps will not seat properly, so currently your only option is Toyota caps, for around $80 US, once again rivalling the cost of an aftermarket alloy rim.

    Maybe aftermarket alloy rim should be the new medium of exchange?? :coffee:
     
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  6. EyePrime

    EyePrime Active Member

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    Very easy put them off and put them on but maybe get a new one as it's for "aerodynamics"
    They are very expensive though
     
  7. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

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    I think the wheel covers add aerodynamic benefits.

    Look for part number 42602-47240, about $65, from an on-line Toyota parts dealer.
     
  8. Diemaster

    Diemaster Active Member

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    you could always PIP (Pimp-in Prius) and get those plastic spinner hubcaps from autozone:eek::LOL:
    connect the spinner part to the battery for even more re-gen!:LOL::LOL::LOL:
     
  9. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    I challenge any and all of you to prove there is a measurable "aerodynamic" difference with or without the wheel covers. I once drove through Missouri, and need to be shown. ;)
     
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  10. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Under the plastic covers
    [​IMG]

    I added the OEM center caps bought from Amazon.
     
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yup, a rather utilitarian-looking rim. The spokes are efficiently spaced, but the gaps are too much for my taste, show the utilitarian brakes too much.
     
  12. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    But it makes them easier to wash. Oh, and bonus, without the cheezy covers there is little sand/salt buildup in winter. AND lower unsprung weight! WHAT A DEAL!
     
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  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    David, I'm definitely not enamoured with Toyota's (bonehead) policy to put plastic wheel covers on alloy rims, that was the primary impetus that got us into a 2010 Touring (with the meant-to-be-seen, bare 17" rims). I agree, wheel covers are a pain.
     
  14. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Pearl S wheel covers are still brand spanking new, hanging on the wall in the garage.
    You can see the wheel cover-less wheels and the garage in my "avatar". ;)
     
  15. psoque

    psoque Member

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    I ended up ordering a replacement wheel cover online, since the actual "work" was easier to just pop the new one onto one wheel, instead of
    a) removing three remaining covers
    or
    b) removing three remaining covers and put four center doo-dads in.

    I guess the cheapest and least time consuming option would have been just doing nothing, though.
     
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  16. shimsha2005

    shimsha2005 Junior Member

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    Hey, do you have a link to amazon.
     
  17. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    I bought mine 2 years ago. Sellers come and go, but look for these Toyota part numbers...

    [​IMG]
     
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  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    What a succinct name.
     
  19. SC_Mitch

    SC_Mitch New Member

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    Inexpensive option for hub caps.

    Seems these are designed for a Mini but fit 18 prime perfectly.

    Sorry first post, unable to share link.

    Search eBay for :

    4pc 54mm Black ABS Car Emblem Badge Wheel Rim Center Hub Caps

    $4.07 four caps


    prius caps.jpg
     
  20. Rob43

    Rob43 Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat !

    ******************************

    Using your inexpensive black center caps as the starting point, add these high quality resin Toyota stickers for the win. Total price is roughly ~$19 dollars for both pieces shipped, figure about 3 weeks for delivery. Below are pics of the Toyota resin stickers on my 17" wheels.

    www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Resin-Wheel-Center-Caps-Logo-Emblem-Sticker-Badge-4-pcs-45-mm-REVO-VIGO-/123056429464?hash=item1ca6bc1998

    www.ebay.com/itm/4pc-54mm-ABS-Car-Emblem-Badge-Wheel-Rim-Center-Hub-Caps-For-Mini-Cooper-Fresh/153075796204?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649


    Rob43

    thumbnail (24) - Edited.jpg