LE wheels and wheel covers

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Main Forum' started by Kalianyia, Feb 27, 2023.

  1. Kalianyia

    Kalianyia New Member

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    While we still await photos of what the LE wheels look like without the covers... I did some poking around.

    A reminder that what you see in photos are the wheel covers. They have alloy wheels hidden behind the wheel covers that you can't see.

    Screenshot 2023-02-27 002510.jpg

    I randomly saw a Tesla Model S accident video of a poor guy who flew somewhere to buy his Tesla and was driving it back when he wrecked it. The photos before showed the wheels with wheel covers. The accident tore off his wheel covers so you could see the stock wheels.

    [​IMG]

    On left, the alloy wheels behind the covers. On the right, the wheel covers.

    Then it made me think, what's the gas mileage like if you take the cover off?

    Car and driver had the same thought and tested this. Article here: The Tesla Model 3's Aero Wheel Covers Improve Efficiency

    TL;DR it made about a 3-4% difference in MPGe. I would expect something in the ballpark for the Prius LE. If going by the EPA mileage: 57 with the wheel covers, and ~54ish with out.

    Anyway, just some musings that I thought I'd share for anyone likeminded.
     
    #1 Kalianyia, Feb 27, 2023
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I kept the ring off the Gen 2 because it looked better. I kept the wheel covers off my Gen 3 unless I was on the highway because it looked better. I kept it on on the Prime because it looked better.

    So I’ve been variable in terms of whether I keep it on or off. Since I don’t drive on the highway often, I don’t see as big of a difference.

    Ditto my current EV - I chose an alloy without the wheel covers (it was $300 more if I wanted the aero covers) because I don’t typically drive on the highway in the winter time. My OEM rims do have aero inserts that I’ve left on.
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Feb 27, 2023
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  3. someoneinva

    someoneinva New Member

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    LE wheels… 3EEBD797-110B-4BB2-ADEA-535F8EE5F2AF.jpeg 963C6B42-E169-4A08-AEDE-33AA653FCCBC.jpeg
     

    Attached Files:

    #3 someoneinva, Feb 27, 2023
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  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    #4 Tideland Prius, Feb 27, 2023
  5. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Active Member

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    I like them better than the wheel covers, but I think they did a disservice putting them in black, especially gloss black. Personal opinion, but I think it makes the angled segments look like a jumbled mess. The gloss black makes it tough to see the direction each segment is angled. I think a simple texture/powder coat in regular Toyota silver would look better(like the other smaller alloy wheels on previous generations were done). Even better would be some form of two-tone in silver/charcoal or white/silver or something. The leading edge would be the lighter color and the trailing edge the darker. I think the contrast would pull out the design way better than the gloss black.

    If I end up forced to go with separate wheels for winter tires because no all-weather is ever made in a compatible 19", I might end up looking into buying a set of 17" wheels for winter tires and finding someplace that refinishes wheels to see what they could do with them.
     
    #5 Hammersmith, Feb 28, 2023
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  6. TGTGUUD

    TGTGUUD New Member

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    interestingly ugly looking wheels, might have to print them in bronze.
     
    #6 TGTGUUD, Feb 28, 2023
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Patron saint of newly poured sidewalks

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    First words out of my mouth:

    W_T_F

    Piano black, clunky/chunky, about par for the course for Toyota Prius rim decisions.

    Too bad you didn't get a close up... Or maybe for the best. :unsure:
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Feb 28, 2023
  8. someoneinva

    someoneinva New Member

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    I would rather have the wheel covers than this ugly alloy wheels…
     
    #8 someoneinva, Feb 28, 2023
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Patron saint of newly poured sidewalks

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    Tried to boost size/sharpness in PS:

    upload_2023-2-28_9-52-53.png
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Feb 28, 2023
  10. TGTGUUD

    TGTGUUD New Member

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    there
     

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    #10 TGTGUUD, Feb 28, 2023
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  11. Mountaindewsprite

    Mountaindewsprite New Member

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    #11 Mountaindewsprite, Mar 16, 2023 at 5:08 PM
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  12. JoeBlack

    JoeBlack Member

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    There probably isn't a chance, someone knows how heavy they are? Based on a design, those rims look fairly light 10-12 kg.
     
    #12 JoeBlack, Mar 16, 2023 at 5:26 PM
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Insanely ugly
     
    #13 bisco, Mar 16, 2023 at 8:21 PM
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Patron saint of newly poured sidewalks

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    They’d be right at home on a Hummer.
     
    #14 Mendel Leisk, Mar 16, 2023 at 9:02 PM
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