1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Are these wheel covers, or wheel protectors?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by hansgrason1, Aug 20, 2009.

  1. hansgrason1

    hansgrason1 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2009
    104
    7
    0
    Location:
    Washington D. C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Hello,
    My Gen III, Mod IV came with what appears to be alloy wheels UNDER these plastic wheel covers. I asked the salesman if the wheel covers should have been removed after the vehicle was removed from the car carrier. The salesman told me that Toyota infact puts plastic covers OVER the alloy wheels on the 2010s.

    So, is this true? I have seen other 2010s on the round lately without the plastic covers.

    Thanks!
     
    #1 hansgrason1, Aug 20, 2009
  2. LRKingII

    LRKingII New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2009
    679
    132
    0
    Location:
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    They are a factory item and come installed for delivery to the new owner. Take them off or leave them on, your choice.
    Do a search for 15 inch center wheel caps for pictures both ways.
     
    #2 LRKingII, Aug 20, 2009
  3. hansgrason1

    hansgrason1 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2009
    104
    7
    0
    Location:
    Washington D. C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Thanks. Do you know if I have to jack up the car to remove them, or do they simply "pop off" real easily by hand?
     
    #3 hansgrason1, Aug 20, 2009
  4. lefat1

    lefat1 Fat Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2007
    1,476
    47
    0
    Location:
    Sunny S. Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    By that question, I would suggest you leave well enough alone..lol..
     
    #4 lefat1, Aug 20, 2009
    2 people like this.
  5. LRKingII

    LRKingII New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2009
    679
    132
    0
    Location:
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Just grab a inside edge with your hand and pull straight out. They'r just like a wheel cover on any other car. But they are plastic so watch what you're doing.
     
    #5 LRKingII, Aug 20, 2009
  6. wvgasguy

    wvgasguy New Member

    Joined:
    May 6, 2009
    1,255
    185
    0
    Location:
    a
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    There is a thread showing how to remove them. It has pictures. The 17" wheels do not have the covers, the spokes are solid and wide. The wheels under the covers on the 15's look a lot like the Scion style wheel (split spokes). It is beyond me though why Toyota did not finish (meaning polish, smooth edges, etc) them a little more knowing many people would remove the covers. Somehow without the covers they look OK but they don't look like they were meant to be a completed stand alone package.
     
    #6 wvgasguy, Aug 20, 2009
  7. cpatch

    cpatch New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2009
    383
    81
    0
    Location:
    Carlsbad, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I think I'm the only person who likes the look of the wheel covers.
     
    #7 cpatch, Aug 21, 2009
  8. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    5,683
    952
    124
    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    It's actually transported on the car carrier without the wheel covers and they're put on after it's removed from the carrier.

    They're designed to improve the aerodynamics of the wheels. You might get worse mpg without the covers due to increased drag in the wheel wells.
     
    #8 32kcolors, Aug 21, 2009
  9. Moh-V

    Moh-V New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2018
    10
    0
    0
    Location:
    20710
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Yah I'm actually looking for caps for my 2016 prius V since I'm about to remove the hideous palstics that cover the wheels, any suggestions? Did you find any ?

    I found one that goes in rav4 as well but since imI new here for some reason I can't post any link

    Thank you
     
    #9 Moh-V, Oct 29, 2018
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)