The effect of removing wheel covers

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by C Clay, Dec 23, 2025 at 5:46 AM.

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  1. C Clay

    C Clay Member

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    Nov 24, 2012
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    2014 Prius
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    Four
    I left the wheel covers off because I wanted to drive to work and back and make it quick to re-torque the lug nuts. I don’t necessarily like the black wheel phenomenon of the last 15 years it seems, but the wheels underneath these wheel covers aren’t bad. I’m thinking about some Center caps. For 2014, what size are the caps? also do you give up much gas mileage in the aerodynamicy lost in removing the wheel covers?

    As always, thank you scholars for the lively discussion.
     
    #1 C Clay, Dec 23, 2025 at 5:46 AM
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Before 2012 the rims were silver (apparently Toyota Classic Silver Metallic (1F7)). My thought: they saw owners removing the covers, opted to discourage that by uglying-them-up more, going from utilitarian-silver to utilitarian-black.

    I would get the specific Toyota cap spec'd for the 17” rim, if your pockets are deep, or eBay knock-off. I went for the latter: they “claimed” to be genuine but it was not the case, fit was poor but I fixed with a Dremel. You might have better luck now, assuming the imperfections have been sorted out in the ensuing years since I bought some..

    For the 17” rim the centre cap is Toyota part no 42603-52110. That will fit the 15" rims as well. I'm using center caps thus, albeit on the more photogenic 15" Prius Plug-In rims for snows:

    IMG_2751.jpeg
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Dec 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2025 at 12:07 PM
    C Clay likes this.
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