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Aero inserts

I had the aero inserts removed from my Pure AWD's 19" wheels at the time of delivery. I love the look without them, but am thinking about putting them back on before a series of road trips totaling around 5k miles. It sounds like I can expect around a 5% range boost, BUT I've read on the forum that not only do the retaining clips scratch the wheels on the way on and off, but also that while the inserts are on, dirt and aerodynamic forces conspire to damage the entire surface of the wheels. (FWIW, I will be driving conservatively, and at the posted speed limits.) If you have experience both with the range boost and the cosmetic damage of the inserts, I would value your input, as I'm pretty much on the fence as to whether the good justifies the bad. Thanks! B/B
 
Buffalo Bob said:
I had the aero inserts removed from my Pure AWD's 19" wheels at the time of delivery. I love the look without them, but am thinking about putting them back on before a series of road trips totaling around 5k miles. It sounds like I can expect around a 5% range boost, BUT I've read on the forum that not only do the retaining clips scratch the wheels on the way on and off, but also that while the inserts are on, dirt and aerodynamic forces conspire to damage the entire surface of the wheels. (FWIW, I will be driving conservatively, and at the posted speed limits.) If you have experience both with the range boost and the cosmetic damage of the inserts, I would value your input, as I'm pretty much on the fence as to whether the good justifies the bad. Thanks! B/B
Click to expand...
Installing and removing the inserts does scratch the rims unfortunately. I usually drive without them, but installed them to take a roadtrip recently. I got about 0.2 more miles/Kwh with the inserts installed (from 3.9 to 4.1) on a route where I have driven with and without the inserts on different trips.
 
Buffalo Bob said:
I had the aero inserts removed from my Pure AWD's 19" wheels at the time of delivery. I love the look without them, but am thinking about putting them back on before a series of road trips totaling around 5k miles. It sounds like I can expect around a 5% range boost, BUT I've read on the forum that not only do the retaining clips scratch the wheels on the way on and off, but also that while the inserts are on, dirt and aerodynamic forces conspire to damage the entire surface of the wheels. (FWIW, I will be driving conservatively, and at the posted speed limits.) If you have experience both with the range boost and the cosmetic damage of the inserts, I would value your input, as I'm pretty much on the fence as to whether the good justifies the bad. Thanks! B/B
Click to expand...
Upon further analysis, I think I answered my own question to a certain extent. If the 5% range improvement is correct, and I raise my performance from 3.8 miles/kWh to 4.0 miles/kWh, that would only save me around 64 kWh over 5,000 miles. IF I were paying for electricity along the way, which I am not, that would save me around $34 at an assumed $0.52/kWh. Even if I was paying, it doesn't sound like it's worth the effort of removing and eventually reinstalling the inserts, and that is before considering the potential for damaging the wheels. Thoughts?
 
ken43 said:
Installing and removing the inserts does scratch the rims unfortunately. I usually drive without them, but installed them to take a roadtrip recently. I got about 0.2 more miles/Kwh with the inserts installed (from 3.9 to 4.1) on a route where I have driven with and without the inserts on different trips.
Click to expand...
Thanks, ken43! Sounds like the 5% range boost is about right.
 
Buffalo Bob said:
Upon further analysis, I think I answered my own question to a certain extent. If the 5% range improvement is correct, and I raise my performance from 3.8 miles/kWh to 4.0 miles/kWh, that would only save me around 64 kWh over 5,000 miles. IF I were paying for electricity along the way, which I am not, that would save me around $34 at an assumed $0.52/kWh. Even if I was paying, it doesn't sound like it's worth the effort of removing and eventually reinstalling the inserts, and that is before considering the potential for damaging the wheels. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I guess it's just a matter if you like the look or not. As previously noted, the inserts will retain dirt and grit that will cause small scratches to the metal rims. Of course, if you don't take off the inserts, you don't see the scratches. And the inserts don't protect against curb rash, either. In the end the scratches will be minor and should be easily polished out. If you hire someone to do that, the electricity savings will not cover the cost so 🤷
 
Buffalo Bob said:
Upon further analysis, I think I answered my own question to a certain extent. If the 5% range improvement is correct, and I raise my performance from 3.8 miles/kWh to 4.0 miles/kWh, that would only save me around 64 kWh over 5,000 miles. IF I were paying for electricity along the way, which I am not, that would save me around $34 at an assumed $0.52/kWh. Even if I was paying, it doesn't sound like it's worth the effort of removing and eventually reinstalling the inserts, and that is before considering the potential for damaging the wheels. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Oops. I meant 'installing and eventually removing' the inserts. Not the other way around. My bad.
 
joec said:
The silver caps will pop off. Just need something like a flathead screwdriver to pry them. Or a good small suction cup.

No need to take any wheels of
Click to expand...

joec said:
The silver caps will pop off. Just need something like a flathead screwdriver to pry them. Or a good small suction cup.

No need to take any wheels off.
Click to expand...
So my Lucid Service Advisor also said I could use a flathead screwdriver and use something like paper to protect the wheel and the center cap while I pry it off - she did say that I will bend the plastic on the inside of the cap. I'm afraid to screw this up (pun intended! LOL)...
QUESTION 1: Has anyone used this technique successfully WITHOUT scratching anything (cap or wheels)? I want to pop my Aeros back on for an upcoming long distance trip.
QUESTION 2: Any thoughts about using tape on the clips of the Aeros where they are in contact with the black pant on the wheels so they don't further scratch my 20" wheels?
 
Anyone have a link to a suction cup device on Amazon that will pull the center caps off? My searches are drawing a blank - lots of suction cups, just none that would be useful
 
unHookt said:
Anyone have a link to a suction cup device on Amazon that will pull the center caps off? My searches are drawing a blank - lots of suction cups, just none that would be useful
Click to expand...
Check that - I just used the suction mount for the Escort Max 360 and it worked like a charm!
 
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