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Toyota Prius Tire/Wheel Questions

86 messages,  Last post on Oct 31, 2009 at 12:13 PM

You are in the Toyota Prius Maintenance & Repair Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Tires, Wheels, Hatchback, Sedan

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#69 of 86 Re: 2007 Prius Needing One Tire- Touring [danabeach] by snead_c Oct 06, 2009 (2:47 pm)
Replying to: danabeach (Oct 05, 2009 1:26 pm) Some drop can be caused by the new, stickier tread which will improve with age. Was the previous tire size 55 or a wider 65?...wider could also impact. Finally, check your air pressure...it could be too low...try f42/40 or f40/38 if the sidewalls and your comfort allow. PriusChat.com also has lots of info that might help.
#70 of 86 What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? by bioman Oct 15, 2009 (4:06 pm)
I am the happy owner of a 2010 Prius 4. Yesterday I noticed that the car was missing one of the 4 plastic wheel cover that cover the alloy wheels. Now that the wheel cover is missing I had a good look at the alloy wheel and it looks nicer, IMO, than the wheel without the plastic cover. Since the wheel cover costs anywhere from $60.00 to $90.00 each, I was wondering what do this wheel covers do? If they are there for "beauty" they do not hold a candle to the "naked" alloy wheels. I can see purchasing 4 center caps and removing the three remaining plastic wheel covers. Of course if the wheel covers serve a functional purpose that might change my thinking. I've Googled the issue and have found little evidence to support the functional hypothesis. Any thoughts/knowledgeable replies greatly appreciated. Other that this issue we love the car. It meets and exceeds all of our expectations. Replies to this message: bioman (Oct 15, 2009 4:10 pm) 210delray (Oct 15, 2009 7:15 pm) bytrain1 (Oct 18, 2009 3:54 pm) bioman (Oct 20, 2009 5:18 am) 210delray (Oct 20, 2009 7:01 am) and 1 more... 63pro (Oct 29, 2009 12:34 pm) bioman (Oct 30, 2009 4:18 am) 63pro (Oct 30, 2009 6:58 am)
#71 of 86 Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman] by bioman Oct 15, 2009 (4:10 pm)
Replying to: bioman (Oct 15, 2009 4:06 pm) Sorry I meant "than the wheel with the plastic cover"!!   Bioman
#72 of 86 Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman] by 210delray Oct 15, 2009 (7:15 pm)
Replying to: bioman (Oct 15, 2009 4:06 pm) Because the Prius has relatively small tires, it's easy to scrape the wheels against even a low curb when parallel parking. The plastic covers protect the most vulnerable part of the wheels: the rims.   If you can assure yourself you'll never scrape a curb, you can remove them without losing any functionality.
#73 of 86 Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman] by bytrain1 Oct 18, 2009 (3:54 pm)
Replying to: bioman (Oct 15, 2009 4:06 pm) A Toyota engineer told me that the covers represented an aerodynamic benefit resulting in about a two percent increase in fuel economy. Thus, I don't agree that their only functionality is to protect the allow wheels. Replies to this message: bioman (Oct 20, 2009 5:18 am) 210delray (Oct 20, 2009 7:01 am) pf_flyer (Oct 20, 2009 11:11 am)
#74 of 86 Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bytrain1] by bioman Oct 20, 2009 (5:18 am)
Replying to: bytrain1 (Oct 18, 2009 3:54 pm) Thanks for the replies. I'm going to test the hypothesis that the covers provide an aerodynamic benefit. My wife came up with a solution to our problem. We lost one wheel cover. So, I purchased one new wheel cover from www.Centercaps.com. Their price was $15.00 cheaper than our local Toyota dealer and included shipping. In addition, I purchased four center caps because we like to look of the alloy wheels without the plastic covers. Over the next couple of weeks/months I will be observing mpg with and without the wheel covers to see what the data says. I guess I can "splurge" on the center caps using the money I'm saving driving the Prius relative to the Explorer the Prius replaced!!   Thanks guys,   Bioman Replies to this message: 210delray (Oct 20, 2009 7:01 am) pf_flyer (Oct 20, 2009 11:11 am)
#75 of 86 Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman] by 210delray Oct 20, 2009 (7:01 am)
Replying to: bioman (Oct 20, 2009 5:18 am) If the covers provide only a 2% benefit in fuel efficiency, I think you'd be hard pressed to measure the difference. Replies to this message: pf_flyer (Oct 20, 2009 11:11 am)
#76 of 86 Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [210delray] by pf_flyer HOST Oct 20, 2009 (11:11 am)
Replying to: 210delray (Oct 20, 2009 7:01 am) It may be difficult to measure because of variations in driving conditions, etc., but I sort of doubt the number. A 2% increase in mileage, applied across the entire population of cars would amount to a very large amount of fuel saved per year. I really don't think something as simple as a solid wheelcover is going to make that much of an aerodynamic difference. It certainly will make some difference (my gut is telling me a fraction of a percent) but 2% seems highly optimistic.   In a wind tunnel on a dyno, MAYBE, but even then it doesn't seem to intuitively make sense. Let me know the next time you do any extended driving in those conditions
#77 of 86 Use of Chains by swethog Oct 28, 2009 (11:43 am)
Can you use chains in snow and ice? Or should you get studded tires..Also in replacement tires, can you go a size larger than original? Replies to this message: hihostevo (Oct 28, 2009 1:38 pm) snowboarder4 (Oct 30, 2009 2:20 am) hihostevo (Oct 31, 2009 8:51 am)

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