1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

First impressions of my new Yokohama Avid Ascends

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by jellybug, May 15, 2012.

  1. jellybug

    jellybug Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2012
    24
    1
    0
    Location:
    South Dakota
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    I
    These seem to be an increasingly popular tire among Prius owners, despite the fact the tires only came out 2 months ago. Since getting them installed ($372.80 after $100 MIR), I have taken one road trip and two commutes to work. All in all I have about 500 miles on the tires. My previous tires to compare them to were the Mastercraft Strategy, purchased by the owner before me. Here's what I have to say about the Yokohamas :

    1. The first thing I noticed was the way the car handled. The tires connected with the pavement in a way I can only describe as synergy. Comfortable. It felt as if the car and the road were working together to get things moving (like an invisible conveyor belt). Very secure when cranking the wheel and turning corners at slow speeds (5-10 mph). At slow speeds (5-15 mph) the handling is tight, very tight.
    2. At 25-35 mph the car rides nice and smooth. I wouldn't say it glides faster than other tires, but feels reassuring.
    3. At 40 mph the car loses a bit of its smoothness and now begins to feel average like other all-season tires. Bumps are hard and jolting. At 50 mph + you start to sway a bit and will need to keep your mind on your steering wheel.
    4. Controllability on the highway (dry) is good but not fantastic. On a windy day I was getting knocked around like a toy on the highway. This was the same way my Mastercraft tires behaved.
    5. On our jaunt to Sioux Falls we got rained on. Controllability on the highway in wet weather was frightening at best. Immediately the car started drifting and I felt very insecure. My wife begged me to slow down (we were going 65). I tested the security of the tires a little bit by gently rocking the wheel back and forth. I did NOT feel safe doing this. I did not feel like I had control of the vehicle. We were definitely hydroplaning and the tires were doing nothing to keep us from that. I slowed down to 45 or 50 and other cars passed us by without any problem.
    6. Gas mileage has been fair, I averaged around 44 mpg (as low as 36, as high as 58) on my Mastercraft Strategy's. With the Yokohama's I have generally averaged 47 (34 low and 61 high).

    Overall I am not phenomenally impressed with these tires. I love how they feel at slow speeds in town, but feel drifty on the highway, and you WILL feel bumps and dips in the road. Road noise is less than average, and a few dB quieter than my last set. These tires do not fair well in a downpour, they drift a lot and make you feel out of control.

    Perhaps when I get more treadwear on them I will see a significant increase in MPG and performance. These tires I would rate a 6 out of 10, 5 being average, 10 being phenomenal. My Strategys I rate a strong 4, maybe weak 5.


    Got some pictures for y'all too. MPG was from my commute from work to home, a hilly highway. :)
     

    Attached Files:

  2. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    What pressure are you running?
     
  3. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    3,193
    2,323
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Tires usually take 500 miles to wear off the mold release compound. Before the compound is worn off, the tires can be slippery. Did the incident on the highway occur before or after 500 miles were accumulated?
     
  4. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    That's interesting. I have ran these tires in heavy downpours and through large puddles on the freeway at 60mph and they performed excellently. I am as curious as The Critic about when this experience occurred.

    The insecure feeling on a windy day at highway speed is normal for the Prius. I have not found a tire that fixes that. Lowering and larger wheels did help quite a bit, however.

    I agree with the loudness when encountering expansion joints and such.

    What was the pressure set at?
     
  5. sidecar

    sidecar Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2010
    342
    44
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    hmm interesting
    especially since they don't seem to be making Integrity's available in Prius sizes here anymore, and I intend on fitting new tyres before the winter season hits.
     
  6. ProximalSuns

    ProximalSuns Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2012
    1,877
    21
    27
    Location:
    PNW
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Eyow!

    You describe a dangerous tire and vehicle. I have the OEM Yokohama S33, tons of rain and wind, lower end of Columbia Gorge, highway and hilly, and the car and tire are very secure.
     
  7. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    And yet the Ascend is more stable and less likely to tramline than the S33D. Ive had both tires.
     
  8. ProximalSuns

    ProximalSuns Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2012
    1,877
    21
    27
    Location:
    PNW
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    So did Prius 2012 fix the described very dangerous handling conditions? The driving behavior described would result in safety recall for car and/or tires.

    Consumer Reports, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety would be flashing big warnings and "Don't Buy" signs.

    Interesting that a fairly solid 3,000 lb car with arguably the most aerodynamic shape, least susceptible to wind is described as incapable of going 55 mph on wet, windy freeway.

    I find the car well behaved and safe on wet, windy (very windy) freeways with standard OEM tires. Didn't see any handling warnings from Consumers, IIHS, US DOT for the Prius when I was researching buying it.
     
  9. sidecar

    sidecar Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2010
    342
    44
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    No doubt tyres are a factor in dirctional stability in instances like tramlining that F8L describes. Mass certainly helps, but it is the position of the centre of that mass in relation to the profile shape which matters, particularly in a side buffet.
     
  10. jellybug

    jellybug Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2012
    24
    1
    0
    Location:
    South Dakota
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    I
    So far we have accumulated 1,000 miles on the tires. Definitely not a highway tire. Which is unfortunate because my job is 40 miles away, highway driving. I will have to check the pressure, perhaps maybe alignment too? Maybe the guys didn't do what they were supposed to? I'm boggled as this was supposed to be a superior tire.

    As I said, windy days are horrendous, wet weather is scary. I always find myself drifting either to the middle of the road or the side of the road. I cannot take my hand off the steering wheel (I do this to test 'play') for more than 1.5 (one point five) seconds before needing to correct the car from going either way.

    We are seeing better MPG which is a plus. About 3+ MPG when going 65 or above, and about 10+ MPG when going a straight 55. But if I had known we were going to have handling issues, I would have bought the Energy Savers. I stayed away from them because of reports of soft sidewalls and all of the stuff I'm experienceing with these tires.

    My wife just walked by and I asked her if she wanted to comment on our tires, and she said "did you tell them the car is hard to control in wet weather and hydroplanes very easily?". I said yep, she said "okay, that would be my comment."

    We are unfortunately disappointed in these tires. I'm sure there are much worse tires out there, but at $120 a tire including tax, we expected something better.

    Does Yokohama stand behind their tires? What about Ford? We are undecided and might want to exchange these tires for something different, but I don't know how that works.

    Anybody have any advice? Don't know if we want to stick these out for another 4-5 years. Thanks!
     
  11. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    You still have not checked the pressure or had the installer take the car for a test drive?

    The problem is not with the model of tires. The problem is with your installation, defective tire, or perception. My tires do not exhibit this problem nor should any tire. So take it back to the installer and express your concerns. If they duplicate the problem then a claim will be issued with Yokohama and the tires will be replaced.

    Your claims are concerning so please take it in ASAP before you or your wife are hurt. :(
     
  12. jtegf

    jtegf Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2007
    9
    5
    0
    Location:
    SUN CITY
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I found similar twitchiness immediately upon getting up to highway speeds on my new Ascends. After thinking about it for awhile, I raised the tire pressures to 37 all the way around (factory is 35f, 33r). It made a noticeable difference in straight line stability, especially in crosswinds. The aerodynamic stability is tested every day as I commute across a high bridge over the Houston ship channel and crosswinds are murder.
     
  13. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    How worn were your previous tires? I wonder if the twitchiness is due to a large difference between a set of worn tires with 3/32 tread and the new Ascends with 12/32 tread.
     
  14. jabecker

    jabecker driver of Prii since 2005

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2005
    448
    78
    1
    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I'm going to stick up for the OP here. My 2005 came with Yokohama tires on it. I bought it in February, the height of the Portland monsoon season. The tires scared the willies out of me. Seriously. Hydroplaning was definitely an issue. And they just felt... twitchy.

    I made it through that first winter. But before the second, I swapped out the P185/65/R15 Yokos for a set of P195/60/R15 Goodyear Assurance Comfortreds. Much, much better. I took a 4 - 5 MPG hit, from 53 down to 48, but it was worth it.

    I realize that the OEM tires on my 2005 are not the same as the tires the OP bought. But, at least in my case, size did matter.
     
  15. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    He is not talking about the OE Yokohama AVID S33Ds. These are Yokohama AVID Ascend tires. :)
     
  16. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Wait. How did your 2005 come ith Yokohamas? Did you buy it used? The OE tires were Goodyear Integritys.
     
  17. jabecker

    jabecker driver of Prii since 2005

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2005
    448
    78
    1
    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    My 2005 had 3 miles on the odometer when I drove it off the lot brand new. The tires were Yokohamas, which at that time I had never heard of. Sorry I have no pictures to prove it.

    And, yes, I said in my first post that I know the tires the OP bought were not the same. The point of my post was that the tires that came on my 2005 were scary, and I went to a wider tire to help with hydroplaning, etc. And it did help a lot. There was some discussion about it in PC back then and I was not alone. :)
     
    F8L likes this.
  18. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    No need to prove it. I've never heard of a Prius in the U.S. using Yokohamas for OE tires that year but there is a lot I don't know. ;) My point is your situation bears no resemblance to the OP's situation other than you at one point had tires you disliked and they were from the same manufacturer.

    We are simply trying to figure out what the problem is and so far have not received any answers. I do not like to recommend tires that are not safe but it seems odd that my tires were fine, albeit they were one size larger than his, yet his we're dangerous. There has been one other person who complained that these tires cause wandering but he only replaced the rears and I have n other I formation. Far too often people do things and they blame a product before making sure user error is not at fault. After 15yrs in retail I've seen it all. LOL
     
    jabecker likes this.
  19. jabecker

    jabecker driver of Prii since 2005

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2005
    448
    78
    1
    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I'm in IT and I know that most errors occur between the keyboard and the chair. The same is true of any user-operated piece of equipment.

    But, forget I ever said anything about tire brands, because it really wasn't relevant. Didn't you have larger wheels on your 2005? I had the OEM wheels, and they were 15x6 with P185/65/R15 tires. In a downpour, hydroplaning was a real issue and the traction control was sort of twitchy to say the least. There's one big curve on my daily commute where I slid every single day it was wet. Every. Day. Both directions. I hunted around in the PC forums, this was back in the fall of 2005, and there were a number of people with the same issue. Some were suggesting trying P195/60/R15 tires. When my OEM tires reached the ends of their short lives, I put on some P195/60/R15 tires. Problem solved - or at least greatly alleviated.

    If your wheels were larger and your tires were larger, you may never have seen this issue with your 2005.

    The OP bought his 2005 recently, and may not have driven in the rain with it before. He doesn't say what size his Yokohamas are, or what size the tires that were on there before were. So I just tried to offer a different perspective. Really it was about wheels and traction control and 2005 Prii much more than tire brands. You know way more about brands than I do.
     
  20. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I hear ya. I drove the OE Goodyear Integritys until they were toast. They were horrible little tires. I then went to Nokian i3s and then Yokohama dB Super E-Spec tires. All were OE sized 185/65/15s. I agree they were too small for the GenII. That car would have handled much better with the wider tire like the GenIII has. I did run a set of 17s as well but most of my 158,000 miles were on the little 15s. I never had issues with hydroplaning except with the Integritys. You did the right thing by upgrading to a wider tire for safety reasons.

    I'm just trying to get to the bottom of this issue the OP has but as you can see there is not much to go on and very little feedback. :(