Will a 205/70/15 tire fit on my 2012 Prius?

Tires never last me near their warranty since I drive aggressive.

 

Thanks for the info.

Decided to just stick with the 195/65/15 size. Five T-rated Ascends which has the same speed rating as the governed limit of the 2010 or newer model Prius of 112mph (2004-2009 model year is 102 mph). T-rated is also longer lasting vs the H-rated plus still has better handling than the OE S33D tire being only S-rated. They're coming in later today for me at Discount Tires. All for a total of about about $477. 00

That price includes a $55 new steel wheel so I have a full size spare to put under the cargo cover on long trips. They gave me a $200 credit for all four of my S33D tires towards everything would have been $677.00. So, a great deal. The OE tires would wear out too fa. I rather have a $200 credit than those cheaper tires. I had a blow out last year so I now set my air pressure right at 40 psi on all tires. Not too low or high. Spare tires suck cause of 50mph speed limit and about 50 mile range.

 

A couples days ago, I finally got some 205/70/15 Yokohama AVID Ascend T-rated tires on my Pearl White with dark Gray interior 2012 Prius III with remote Solar Sunroof:

Tire Details - Discount Tire Direct

I went into the local Discount Tires last week. I told them that I was reading in different places online that the taller size tires should fit.

I advised the manager that his employees talked me out of that taller tires size saying the tire won't fit. I told him there are very few "2-plies sidewall passenger car" tires. About 99% of all car tires are merely a 1-ply sidewall. SUV or truck tires comes standard with 2-plies. But, starting at 205/70/15 or larger the Ascend car tire has a 2-plies sidewall.

So, I told the manager that he needs to put the taller tire 205/70/15 & see if it rubs. It didn't rub when they tried. So, my new tires now measure 26.4" across vs the the much smaller 25.0" OEM size 195/65/15.

I believe the Yokohama AVID Ascend T-rated tire is the best all around of any tire for any vehicle little alone the Prius for the following reasons:

1. Is a LRR fuel efficient tire.
2. Has a massive 800 treadwear rating & 85K mile warranty.
3. Has a great 2-plies sidewall starting on 215/70/15 or larger size tires. 2-plies are more difficult to puncture and are therefore more reliable.
4. Made of orange oil making them more environmental. A particular bonus for Prius owners.

No other brand or model tire has all 4 of these excellent features.

So, the manager only charged me the $64.00 difference since I had bought a set of 4 Ascends just in 195/65/15 back in July 2012.

So far, I love the whopping 1" increased ground clearance. It feels like in between an SUV & a car now. Thanks to the 7/10's of an inch increase in height. I'd never go back to the plain boring OEM size 195/65/15.

I'm taking a road trip to the L.A. area on May 23rd and I'll be back around May 27th. I'll let you know how my mileage is. I read in the places online that the taller tires get better gas. Also, read the future (plug-in without gas gets 30 miles) 2015 Prius might have taller & narrower tires as well:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1080514_2015-toyota-prius-rumor-roundup-60-mpg-awd-lithium-ion-battery

This link seems to agree with my idea as well as Toyota's on the possible tire size idea (taller) for the 2015 Prius:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/taller-tire-test-5-7-mpg-increase-observed-23055-2.html

 

But, I only need the best government traction rating of an A which this tire possesses. I live in the Southwest (Phoenix area) where it rarely rains. Soon to be moving to Sunny Southern California.

It is hard to precisely determine my gas mileage since the speedometer is now 1-5 MPH slow. But, doesn't matter the speedo difference since my Garmin GPS says my actual speed. My speedo may say 45 but I'm really going about 48 now.

But, nonetheless its nice to know that whatever I calculate my gas mileage as being. The actual gas mileage is better since I'm really going 1-5 MPH faster at any given speed. So, my actual gas mileage is better now after calculating.

It's almost a given that the gas mileage is better since I only added height not more width vs a normal 195/65/15 tire which usually has a tead width of about 6.2" which is the same as my 215/70/15 at 6.2" as well. So, the engine has lower RPM's and a slightly altered transmission gear ratio in favor of engine longevity & gas mileage.

Bottom line is no matter what tire is on my car. It will always be among the best gas mileage vehicles. A Hummer regardless of the tire you put on it will always get no better than half the gas mileage of what a 2012 Prius gets.

Fact is no other tire has those 4 great attributes that I listed earlier in my last posting above.

My Yokohama AVID Ascend 215/70/15 is a true 85K mile warranty tire with a 800 treadwear rating tire unlike this 215/70/15 tire with a false advertising 100K mile warranty with merely a 700 treadwear rating:

Tire Details - Discount Tire Direct

Left click on "Testing" on this page:

AVID ASCEND Tire Details

Yokohama Tires states:

1. The AVID Ascend lasts 17,000 miles longer.

2. The AVID Ascend tires rolls 11% easier that even the LRR tire: Michelin Hydroedge.

3. Save 58 gallons of gas or $204 (through the life of the tire) in gas. Based on 22mpg & $3.50 a gallon but only 12,000 miles a year vs Michelin Hydroedge.




The Ascend gas mileage is

 

Here's photos

 

Again, lets all use a lot of common sense.

No matter what tire I put on my car within a reasonable size. My 2012 Prius will always get better gas mileage than most cars. A Hummer no matter what size tire will always get among the worst gas mileage. I drive fast in my Prius unlike most Prius drivers who try to Hypermile and get 70MPG. My roommate said I should be given a medal by a cop if I'm pulled over since most Prius drivers drive like the elderly.

Personally, I prefer the whopping 1" increase in ground clearance of my 215/70/15 tires on my 2012 Prius. Which will never fit the 2004-2009 Prius.

 

When I had my 2007 Prius I hit some blown tire on the right edge of the carpool lane on Hwy 91 in the L.A. region. It ripped off part of my black plastic that covers the bottom of the car. That 1" higher ground clearance can be the difference of a costly repair such as that. That repair wasn't covered under my Toyota Platinum Extended 100K mile Warranty either.

I don't consider the 6.2" tread width a disadvantage. Since, here's a different model Yokohama (LRR) low rolling resistance tire that's the OEM size 195/65/15 that's even wider at 6.3" tread width:

Yokohama dB Super E-Spec

which states:

Currently Selected Tire Size(s)
Size
Service Description
Load Range UTQG Max
Load Max.
Inflation
Press. Tread
Depth Tire
Weight Rim
Width
Range Meas.
Rim
Width Sect.
Width Tread
Width Overall
Diam. Revs
Per
Mile Country
of Origin*
195/65R15
Load Index 91 = 1356lbs (615kg) per tire
Speed Rating “H” = 130mph (210kph) 91HSLMax Load = 1,356 lbs
Max psi = 44 psi
LRR: Low Rolling ResistanceLow Rolling Resistance Tire Technology Treadwear: 460
Traction: A
Temperature: A460 A A 1356 lbs. 44 psi 10/32" 19 lbs. 5.5-7" 6" 8" 6.3" 25" 831 Country of Origin "JP" = JAPANJP