Wheel covers over aluminum wheels??

One theory is aerodynamics, I have yet to see it substantiated.

 

It's personal taste, but I think the wheels underneath look much better than the cheap wheel covers. But since the vast majority of Prii seem to keep on the wheel covers, I'm probably in the minority.

 

I just wish they'd ditch the whole concept, do a decent looking alloy rim from the get go. Toyota really marches to a different drummer.

The rims underneath are "ok", somewhat utilitarian, to my eye at least. The cost for centre caps too is onerous.

Around town you'll see the majority of 2nd and 3rd gen cabs missing the covers. Does look a little unfinished, not too bad.

It was the main factor in pushing us to the Touring package, with finished-looking 17" rims. Fourth gen: they're all sporting plastic.

@MelonPrius Another nail in the coffin for me was the switch to black painted alloys in 2012. To each his own, but they look all the more utilitarian to my eye, like snow tire steelies.

 

The wheel covers keep the curb induced gouges away. If you do not park in the cities with granite or steel curbs, you can remove the covers. I keep mine on and they already bear marks of having spared my wheels from damage. The wheels look really nice without covers, though. Your choice.

 

I know that you're asking about gen 2 Prius. But for my gen 3, I have these on order. $16 for a set of 4.

That's much cheaper than OEM, and of course, made of lower quality. Amazon has wheel caps for gen 4's, too. I'm sure a gen 2 owner will eventually offer advice.

 

I wish I had the touring wheels and not the base ones. I would totally run them no hubcap as I think they really look good that way.

Here is what it would look like (from the Priuschat media archive)

 

Here's my Gen II (touring). The wheels look so much nicer nekkid than when dressed in those silly covers!)
Chuggy_fall3 | PriusChat

 

Wheel covers or hubcaps serve little purpose other than cosmetic and that is factored out with Alloy Rims. If you live in an area where it snows a lot and the roads are salted hubcaps would add some protection, salt can corrode or pit the aluminum alloy which if on the seal bead may cause a leak. If you live in a desert, little or no snow "forget about it!" Also, unless the wheel covers actually cover the lug nuts they actually add little protection.

 

Centre caps (aka hub caps, now widely used to describe full wheel covers), the small diameter caps that pop into or over just the hub openings, are good for protecting the most rust-vulnerable zone. I ran bare steel rims (Corolla rims) with snow tires for a few winters without any centre caps, and the hubs became VERY rusted up. I cleaned them up and cobbled a centre cap using hardware store items.

I notice too, a recent sale of stock 15" alloys, the seller noted that just having the wheel covers on them a few times had abraded the paint. The Toyota wheel covers are the cheapie, friction-fit style.

Honda for a lot of years, had plastic collars on the lug nuts. You put on the wheel cover, then the lug nuts, and it was those plastic collars that held the wheel cover in place. Not sure if they're still doing that.

 

I found those Chinese cheepies on eBay. @Mendel Leisk found a great solution, which I couldn't quite get to work (lack of patience on my part I daresay)! I feel certain you'll get the answer you're looking for here on PriusChat! Good luck! - Wil

 

With Corolla (steel) rim part no. 42611-02471, I found a 2" ABS end cap (has 2.375" ID) is a loose fit over the raised flange of the centre hub opening. I snipped "rubber bands" from an old bicycle inner tube, pushed them carefully onto the raised flange, and then pushed the cap onto that. It holds on well, seals the hub from corrosive winter water/salt.