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I just replaced my original Tyres @51K and noticed mag' wheel under plastic covers...

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by Ulev, Feb 19, 2017.

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  1. Ulev

    Ulev Junior Member

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    I decided that the 'mag' wheels looked better than the plastic covers...
    Only concern is the opening at the 'axel'
    Wondered if anyone found a 'plug' to fill that opening in order to keep stuff from entering.... IMG_1730.PNG
     
  2. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    #3 Mendel Leisk, Feb 19, 2017
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2017
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  4. Neohippy

    Neohippy Active Member

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    Amazing those are hiding under the ugly hubcaps.
     
  5. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Yea the plastic covers were part of the car aerodynamics for mpg.

    I removed mine after the first couple of weeks and did not see a noticeable drop in mpg. They have been gathering dust ever since.

    I bought my center caps at the dealership with the Toyota logo in the center.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Not that amazing; they are kinda utilitarian. With the Prius, Toyota LOVES top put plastic wheel covers on alloy rims
     
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  7. ILuvMyPriusToo

    ILuvMyPriusToo Senior Member

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  8. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    I derived my information from post 9 in that thread. The parts.com links in that thread are invalid.
     
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  9. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    The center caps are really easy to find on ebay. Search for Toyota Prius, Yaris center caps. They're all plastic, despite some that describe them as "chrome".
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah I used OEM caps (a bit pricey though).

    I only use the covers if I'm going on a road trip. No idea how much of a difference but I assume if I'm on the highway more often than city driving, I'll put the aerodynamic covers on.
     
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  11. Samprocat

    Samprocat Active Member

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    Plastic covers are there for improvement of drag that mag wheels make ..better MPG......in my opinion that is not looking better.....
    If you want the look ....get good aftermarket true wheels....

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  12. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    And that's your opinion...

    I'd rather have the bare alloy wheel, with centercaps, than the cheap looking plastic wheel covers that look like the ones typically installed on cheap steel wheels.

    And that's my opinion...
     
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  13. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Opinions are like noses. Everybody s entitled to have (at least) one of their own. :D
     
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  14. William Redoubt

    William Redoubt Senior Member

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    I have to agree here. I like how the "tail" on the hub cab mirrors the same element on the headlights and taillights when seen from the side.
     
  15. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    They've been turned into mediocre Frisbees, ever since 2004.
    ;)
    .
     
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  16. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    I seem to remember reading somewhere on here that an owner tested mileage with and without the plastic and found no significant difference between the naked wheels and ones with hubcaps!
     
  17. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    And also the opinion of the Prius engineers that Toyota made available to invited participants at the Gen3 rollout events seven years ago.
    The differences the Prius engineers were working with were much too small for us ordinary consumers to measure. But they were working with many of these factors, trying to hit the magical marketing target to 50 EPA-MPG for the product mix.

    0.1 MPG is vanishing small to we drivers. But getting a 49.55 rating number that rounds up to 50, is a big marketing leap over getting just 49.45 and having to round down to 49. The engineers were juggling many factors like this. As a collection, they all really add up.
     
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  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yup. What he said.

    The difference between with and without the underbody covers are minimal (the rear side bumper extensions and front underbody covers are optional on the base "L" model of the Gen 3 in Japan). However, all the pieces (underbody covers, wheel covers, wheel spats, aero corner bumpers etc) all add up.
     
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