Tires dilemma - what to do?

Good diagram. Let's not make this complicated. If it's repairable, repair it. If it's non-repairable and diagnosed as outside the safe tread distance (but not because they don't feel comfortable doing it - that's their problem, so go somewhere else), then scrap it and buy 2 new tires since they're in their half-life.

 

Alot of the tires being suggested are not LRR rated and do not offer anything over a LRR tire so I would keep shopping.

The top LRR tires right now are:
Michelin Energy Saver A/S
Goodyear Fuel Saver
Ecopia EP100 and 422
Y okohama dB Super E-Spec
C ontinental ContiProcontact w/ecoplus

For a complete list click on the link in my signature.

 

Replace all 4. I would not sacrifice good handling and safety for a few mpg. Forget the LRR unless they're rated High Performance All Season or better. Check Tirerack ratings. The Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S is the best rated High Performance A/S tire for a 2010 Prius. They're expensive but when you calculate the price difference per mile (or even per year), the price difference is negligible.

 

I'd say he has plenty of choices in LRR All-Season tires...

Michelin HydroEdge w/ Green X (All-Season)
UTQG=800 A B, 44psi, 11/32, 21lbs, 842, $99 (90,000mile warranty)

Michelin Energy Saver A/S (All Season)
UTQG=480A B, 44PSI, 9/32, 18LBS, 832, $101

Michelin Energy MXV4 S8 w/GreenX (All Season)
UTQG=440 A A, 51PSI, 9/32, 830, $117

Kumho eco Solus HM KR22 (All Season)
UTQG= 800 A B, 44PSI, 11/32, 20LBS, 834, $77

Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max (All Season)
UTQG=580 A A, 51PSI, 10/32, 18LBS, 836, $90

Continental ContiProContact (All Season)
UTQG=500 AA A, 51PSI, 10/32, 835, $87

Continental ProContact with eco Plus (All Season)
UQTG=600 A B, 44PSI, 11/32, 17LBS, 831, $75

Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 (All Season)
UTQG=400 A A, 44PSI, 10/32, 18LBS, 833, $94

Firestone Affinity Touring (All Season)
UTQG=500 A A, 44psi, 19lbs, $90

Nokian eNTYR (All Season)
UTQG=700 A A, 18.7lbs, 11/32, 831, $116 (Tiresbyweb.com)

 

I agree, Around here(MIDWEST), we only do a combo, PATCH AND PLUG, and they last very long and work perfectly well. I don't even know a place that wouldn't do both at the same time. By doing both,I have never had one fail again, before all of the tires needed to be replaced. I have had this done several times over the last 15 years or so, with never one fail.

If it were me, I would just patch AND plug it and just replace all 4 of them a little bit earlier than normal. I would also recommend replacing all 4 at a time. A matched 4 tire set is always better than just 2, however if money is tight 2 would work, but that is for your wallet to decide.

Just my 2 cents

 

Concur.
I always buy my tires 4 at a time, and rotate assiduously. Just keeps things easier to track. I've used patches on both motorcycle and auto tires for years w/o a problem. I live in hurricane country. If I replaced a tire every time I pulled a roofing nail out of one of them, I'd have to get another job to support my tire habit.
If a patch fails, the tire is not going to explode. You're just going to have to deal with the same hole that you patched over to begin with. No tire repair emporium in the US is going to put a patch anywhere near the sidewall (one good result of living in a country with bottom-feeding, bed wetting attorneys... ) If you can't deal with a flat tire while driving (especially in a car!) then you need to consider public transportation.
Still...we're only talking about $500 worth of tires---if you replace them 4 at a time. One of the many benefits of driving a small car! If you're uncomfortable with driving with a patched tire---replace it. If you're uncomfortable driving with mismatched tires---replace all 4, or two at a time.
It's your ride!

Short answer: If it were my car, I'd patch the holed tire and finish grinding them down to whatever replacement spec you feel comfortable with---then replace all 4 at once. If you rotate your tires, they'll be evenly worn.

Yer call.

 

Me too ...

REV

 

It'll be fine ... you'll never know the difference. I've had several tires repaired this way, and watched them do it. If you saw how it was done you would have total confidence in the repair.

REV

 

1

 

I got Continental ProContact with EcoPlus Technology only $300 + shipping. Alot better than stock prius tires. Handling's better and it's quiet too. 600AB is good too.

 

For a $15" tire they would be high on my list as a replacement.

 

you could buy one yokahama to replace the bad one and not think about it, depending on wear. i've been driving my prius for 3 years on 3 wynstars (chinese made michelin) and one goodyear integrity without issues (prior owner damaged a tire and replaced just one). when i was younger and i'd get a blow out on my old saabs i'd just go to a used tire shop and buy a decent used tire same brand, similar tread, and no issues. if you aren't ready to commit to 4 tires, don't, then again, you will be buying new tires someday in the future, so how much are you losing if you move up the schedule. the big question that really matters is if you buy 4 new tires, and this happens again, then what are you going to do??

 

It's too bad you have a 2010 (tire size difference) or I'd give you 2 Nokian i3s (185/65/15) half worn.