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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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#70 of 86
What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? by bioman
Oct 15, 2009 (4:06 pm)
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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.
#71 of 86
Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman] by bioman
Oct 15, 2009 (4:10 pm)
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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)
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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)
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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.
#74 of 86
Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bytrain1] by bioman
Oct 20, 2009 (5:18 am)
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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
#75 of 86
Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman] by 210delray
Oct 20, 2009 (7:01 am)
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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.
#76 of 86
Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [210delray] by pf_flyer HOST
Oct 20, 2009 (11:11 am)
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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)
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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?
#79 of 86
Re: Use of Chains [swethog] by hihostevo
Oct 28, 2009 (1:38 pm)
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Replying to: swethog (Oct 28, 2009 11:43 am)

I am curious about snow operation with the Prius also. I have had a 2008 model for two years, but only operated it in desert conditions (Las Vegas)... mostly dry with occasional rain.
 
I recently bought a low mileage 2005 model that I have up in Utah (approaching snow time). The previous owner put a set of Big O's top of the line tires on it even though it only had 22000 miles on it.
 
I am curious how these tires will fair in winter driving... I have heard good things about the Michelin Hydro-Edge in snow and slush, and of course there are the pure winter tires like the Blizzak and Xice2.
 
I am quite curious as to what most of you folks do who live in the part of the country where there is that "white stuff."

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