- #71 of 86
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Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman]
by bioman
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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
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- #72 of 86
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Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman]
by 210delray
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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.
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- #73 of 86
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Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman]
by bytrain1
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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.
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- #74 of 86
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Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bytrain1]
by bioman
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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
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- #75 of 86
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Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman]
by 210delray
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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.
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- #76 of 86
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Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [210delray]
by pf_flyer HOST
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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 
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- #77 of 86
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Use of Chains
by swethog
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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?
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- #79 of 86
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Re: Use of Chains [swethog]
by hihostevo
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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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- #80 of 86
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Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman]
by 63pro
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Oct 29, 2009 (12:34 pm)
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Replying to: bioman (Oct 15, 2009 4:06 pm)
Hi, brand new to this forum, but your situation is also one of mine. I recently damaged a wheel cover on my new 2010 Prius via a car wash, and was pleasantly surprised by the good looking alloys that were underneath the covers. I wanted to put the center caps on, but found them quite expensive from Toyota. You mentioned you purchased center caps. If you don't mind, can you tell me where you got the center caps and how much you paid. My Toyota dealer is asking about $70 for for small plastic caps. Thanks for your help. 
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