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

Can I remove ugly wheel covers?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Heather Anderson, May 5, 2019.

  1. Heather Anderson

    Heather Anderson Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2017
    6
    5
    0
    Location:
    Cincinnati
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I am about to take delivery of a 2019 Prius LE. Unfortunately, the wheel covers are hideous, but I wasn't interested in upgrading to premium wheels this time. (I have a 2016 Prius currently, and the alloy wheels started to peel and look funky. I don't want to go through that again.)

    I mentioned something to my salesman who is a "friend" about removing the covers altogether and he said it wasn't a good idea, as the covers are there to help with aerodynamics. I do try to get the highest mpgs possible and if it makes a substantial difference, I won't mess with it.

    Btw, I achieved 59.4 mpgs over the 48,500 mile life of my 2016.
     
  2. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You'll get used to them. I never noticed them after the first day. They're easier to clean than the raw wheels, and I don't really like them without the covers - which I've seen a couple with no covers (TAXIs mostly).

    Try them for a while. TOYOTA indicate that they help with aerodynamics.
     
    Heather Anderson likes this.
  3. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    2,592
    2,388
    0
    Location:
    Whittier, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I took my wheel covers off at the dealership before I drove my car home on the first day. If there is a efficiency difference with or without I can't imagine it is worth worrying about.
     
    jb in NE, Heather Anderson and Merkey like this.
  4. Heather Anderson

    Heather Anderson Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2017
    6
    5
    0
    Location:
    Cincinnati
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I've been looking at them for 5 days now and I think I'm ok with the covers. I've seen worse. Thanks for the input.
     
    alanclarkeau likes this.
  5. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    And when it's driving, you can't see them - nor can anyone else!!

    upload_2019-5-11_10-40-21.png

    What colour is your car? [you might want to change your profile - from 2016]
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    If you take off the covers, I'd recommend to get centre caps, cover the small hub openings at centre of rim. Especially if you're in an area with salted roads through winter. This I believe is the correct Toyota cap, though there might be cheaper EBay knockoffs by now:

    Center Cap - Toyota (42603-52170) | Toyota Parts

    Also, consider getting a touch-up paint, in CLASSIC SILVER METALLIC 1F7, should be a perfect match for the rims. It's good for curb rash, and I suspect the Toyota wheel cover jaws chew up the alloy rims a bit.
     
  7. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2018
    2,233
    1,595
    0
    Location:
    Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    Get a can of Fluid Film and spray in the hole where the centre caps would cover. This will coat the metal and prevent corrosion.
     
    The Electric Me and Mambo Dave like this.
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
  9. timothevs

    timothevs Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    21
    6
    0
    Location:
    Tampa
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    I see a lot of aftermarket options for snap on wheel covers that look better than the monstrosity my LE shipped with. Does anyone have any experience with these aftermarket wheel covers?
     
  10. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    2,404
    2,773
    47
    Location:
    South Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    You could just paint the covers trendy gloss black. :cool:
     
  11. timothevs

    timothevs Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    21
    6
    0
    Location:
    Tampa
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    Very true, some very good examples on this forum. I think I will do just that. Thank you!
     
  12. LewLasher

    LewLasher Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2004
    244
    66
    0
    Location:
    Cambridge, Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    XLE AWD-e
    The problem that I'm having with the wheel covers is that it makes it harder to unscrew the caps off the valve stems to check the tire pressure. Once I accidentally dropped the cap under the cover - yes, my life really is that tragic - and so I had to figure out how to remove the wheel cover and then put it back securely. And, that much more work when swapping the snow tires.

    I'm seriously getting the little center caps.

    Lew
     
    Mambo Dave and krmcg like this.
  13. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2019
    640
    305
    0
    Location:
    33312
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    L Eco
    I'm surprised at how heavy, but also sturdy, the wheel covers are.

    Center caps are on their way to me, here, probably arriving toward the end of the month.
     
    krmcg likes this.
  14. Mark Carnahan

    Mark Carnahan Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2019
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Try Plastidip. Peels right off if you get tired of the color. Sprayed my 4Runner's wheels Anthracite gray and it's still solid after 2 years.
     
  15. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2019
    640
    305
    0
    Location:
    33312
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    L Eco
    I think he was joking. Don't do that.

    ----------------

    The wheels look great without the covers.

    [​IMG]
     
    RMB, krmcg and Mendel Leisk like this.
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I suspect he wasn't joking, but agree: not a fan of black rims. Well, I'm currently using black steel rims with snow tires through winter, but they're definitely not lookers.
     
  17. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    2,592
    2,388
    0
    Location:
    Whittier, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    When I took my wheel covers off I thought it improved the overall look of the car a lot! I painted my brake calipers red and that gave a real pop of color.
     
    Mambo Dave likes this.
  18. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2019
    640
    305
    0
    Location:
    33312
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    L Eco
    Black wheels are one thing; black Prius hubcaps would be hideous.
     
    krmcg likes this.
  19. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2019
    640
    305
    0
    Location:
    33312
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    L Eco
    Hey - since you've done it, what torque are our wheels supposed to be tightened to?
     
  20. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    2,592
    2,388
    0
    Location:
    Whittier, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Don't know. I spent years in the tire installation business and learned to basically ignore lug nut torque settings. Righty-tighty...