These rims are painted, right?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Prius_Gnome, May 23, 2025 at 7:14 PM.

  1. Prius_Gnome

    Prius_Gnome Member

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    I bought the Prius used several years ago. It did not come with hubcaps. As far as I know, the OEM rims are alloy so that means they're not painted, right? There shouldn't be any "peeling paint" or "bubbling"? I ask because mine look like the attached photos and I don't have a reference point to compare if unpainted rims should be peeling. So it seems the previous owner painted the rims to make it look nice before selling it?

    In the end, it's only aesthetics, right? I can just buy some hubcaps to cover them up and I'll never have to worry about them, right?
     

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    #1 Prius_Gnome, May 23, 2025 at 7:14 PM
  2. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    They are painted, as you can tell by it pealing....
    And yes, wheel covers will hide them.
     
    #2 ASRDogman, May 23, 2025 at 9:17 PM
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  3. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Hubcaps stock will help aero also.
     
    #3 Grit, May 23, 2025 at 9:38 PM
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  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    There are no hub caps, only wheel covers.
     
    #4 ASRDogman, May 23, 2025 at 9:57 PM
  5. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Only a minuscule amount. Most people will not notice any difference in gas mileage. Took our wheel covers off right away, they're still sitting somewhere in my garage.

    SM-S936U ?
     
    #5 xliderider, May 23, 2025 at 10:15 PM
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  6. Prius_Gnome

    Prius_Gnome Member

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    Thanks for the confirmations. Yeah, I'll just buy some wheel covers. Thanks all!
     
    #6 Prius_Gnome, May 23, 2025 at 11:47 PM
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    They’re painted, Classic Silver Metallic (1F7).

    just curious: how much did they cost you? In decent shape they go for around $400 USD, but peeling like that $200 is fair.

    technically true, but language is a democratic entity, and of late “hub caps” has, erroneously, been applied to wheel covers.

    I agree though, “hub caps” technically means caps for the hubs, the smallish, centre openings.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, May 24, 2025 at 7:24 AM
    Last edited: May 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
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  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    We were calling them hub caps when I was a kid, which isn't so very "of late".
     
    #8 ChapmanF, May 24, 2025 at 8:44 AM
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  9. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    If you have a spare set, you can glass bead them, or sandblast them, but that eats into the aluminum.
    Then paint them, while the tires are off.....

     
    #9 ASRDogman, May 24, 2025 at 8:49 AM
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  10. Prius_Gnome

    Prius_Gnome Member

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    Back in 2019, I bought the entire car as-is (with those 4 rims) at auction for $4500. I don't plan to buy new rims unless the current ones fail (or if I see a super great deal on them :D ). I don't think I'd bite at $400. I feel the most I would pay would be $150ish since I could just get new Costco Velox rims at that price.

    With that said, I do have a small minor leak in one of the tires (loses probably a few psi in a week) that I HOPE is due to a faulty valve stem and not a bent rim. I plan to get that looked at when I get my next tire rotation.

    Thanks for the idea, but I probably won't go through with that much DIY.
     
    #10 Prius_Gnome, May 24, 2025 at 12:39 PM
  11. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Perhaps I misread, I thought thought you had gotten a 2nd set of rims.



     
    #11 ASRDogman, May 24, 2025 at 2:15 PM
  12. Prius_Gnome

    Prius_Gnome Member

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    After I reread my original post, I see where someone could've thought that. Sorry for any confusion.
     
    #12 Prius_Gnome, May 24, 2025 at 2:28 PM
  13. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    No big deal....

     
    #13 ASRDogman, May 24, 2025 at 2:30 PM
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