Corolla wheel covers with steel rim snows?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Mendel Leisk, Nov 11, 2014.

  1. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    For $100 I can get a set of four: Corolla 15" wheel covers for steel rims. Thinking I might give them a try to dress up our snow tires, which are mounted on bare, black steel Corolla rims. On the fence, any opinions?

    Our 17" OEM look:
    Prius - 17 inch rim.jpg

    And a rough impression of our 15" snows on steel rims with the Corolla covers:
    Prius - 15 inch Corolla wheel cover.jpg

    Yeah, I know. But compared to black steel?
     
    #1 Mendel Leisk, Nov 11, 2014
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Hmm: one of my sons says he likes it. The other saying "keep it commando", let's people know you have snows. :ROFLMAO:
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Nov 11, 2014
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I've debated about getting wheel covers until I realised that two of the four wheels have their weights on the outside of the rim. Whoops.

    They're not bad. You have other designs too (There's a Corolla S wheel cover of the same vintage from the U.S. cause their S trim level had standard steelies but ours had alloys).

    [​IMG]
    Same vintage Corolla LE
    [​IMG]

    There's also the Gen 5 Camry LE's wheel cover design.
    [​IMG]

    Gen 4 Camry LE
    [​IMG]


    Hmm, yeah I think the one you chose matches the best :)
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Nov 11, 2014
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Well, I'm not 100% sure what this part's department is going to come up, but I'm guessing it's what I photoshop'd in. The rim was on 2003 thru 2008 Corolla/Matrix.
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Nov 11, 2014
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    The one you photoshop'd in is the 2005-2007 Corolla CE.

    This is the 2003-2004 Corolla CE wheel cover

    [​IMG]

    It won't be the Matrix since the 2003-2007 Matrix wore 16" wheels as its standard size.
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Nov 11, 2014
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah I got an email back from parts yesterday, just saying it's "original Toyota accessory". I gave them the rim part no, and described it as being 03-08 Corolla, so I'm not sure what exactly he's coming up with. They're shut down today of course.

    Thanks for all the pics, very helpful. ;)
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Nov 11, 2014
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Well I mean it will fit the rims for the entire generation lol. It's not like there are differences in the clips (at least I don't think so). I'm just letting you know which years that design was fitted from the factory.
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Nov 11, 2014
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'm not clear regarding your mention of weights, interfering?
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Nov 11, 2014
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Got an image from the parts department. They're different than anything I've seen, seem to have a centre cap. Not sure if it's ornamental, or could be pulled off for nut access. Also, looks kind of busy, and is quite directional, ie: will look sort of backwards on one side of the car. Looks strangely aftermarket. Decided to stay with bare rims.

    Photoshop'd it onto our car again:

    Prius - 15 inch rim- westminster cover.jpg
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Nov 12, 2014
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    1999-2000 Solara SE wheel covers!

    The wheels have small weights that are added when the rim/tyre is balanced on the machine to ensure it rolls down the road evenly. On our Prius, the weights are mounted on the inside because we have the aerodynamic wheel covers that need the clearance around the lip of the rim.

    Take a note on cars with alloys at the next traffic light. You may see a small rectangular piece of metal around the lip of the rim.

    [​IMG]
     
    #10 Tideland Prius, Nov 12, 2014
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    All 4 of my steel rims have weights on outside, with just the usual clip protruding, maybe 1/16" above rim edge. I guess you're saying this makes the covers sit a bit unevenly? But this must be the norm.

    You are a font of knowledge regarding these wheel covers, many thanks for id'ing those last ones. When the parts guy sent that picture, I was taken aback, looked unlike anything I'd seen, searching for 03-08 Corolla wheel covers.

    Either way, elected to go with bare rims now. I think pretty much every year, right after I put on the snows, I have this internal argument re wheel covers, lol.
     
    #11 Mendel Leisk, Nov 12, 2014
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yes, they'll sit unevenly because of the weights. You can mount the weights on the inner face so that they're not visible if you don't have covers.

    Well the last one stumped me a bit. I haven't seen a Solara cover in ages so I had to google that one :oops:
     
    #12 Tideland Prius, Nov 14, 2014
  13. ilikethempgs

    ilikethempgs Junior Member

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    I'm curious as to what you paid for the corolla steel wheels. Thanks.
     
    #13 ilikethempgs, Nov 15, 2014
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    $70 each for the rims, through the dealership. They were brand new. I also got plain, open-ended galvanized lug nuts, for about $1 each. You can use the ones that work with alloy rims, but they stick out, look odd, with their washers.

    Bottom line from the parts department: I could get the proper covers, but they would need to be ordered in, and are $100 each! More than rims?? I'm guessing the only time they sell these is in insurance claims, to body shops. ;(
     
    #14 Mendel Leisk, Nov 15, 2014
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2014
  15. ilikethempgs

    ilikethempgs Junior Member

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    $70 isn't bad compared to the tirerack ones at $50 which I'm assuming are lower quality. I'll have to check with my dealer. Thanks.
     
    #15 ilikethempgs, Nov 15, 2014
  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Remember that Cdn$70 :)
     
    #16 Tideland Prius, Nov 15, 2014
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Jeez! The $200 underbody cover doesn't look so bad after all. At $100 each (plus $70/rim), I'd be looking at aftermarket alloys from Tire Rack.
     
    #17 Tideland Prius, Nov 15, 2014
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    id just fugedabout the covers.
     
    #18 Mendel Leisk, Nov 15, 2014
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