Help me buy new tires please? :)

Don't scrimp, the savings is an illusion. Get a good tire. I have the #1 rated Michelin Primacy MXV4. The Prius is 185 65 15, but the Primacy will require moving up to 205 60 15. It fits. There is a $70 rebate on 4 tires. Final cost about $130 a tire.
A less expensive option is the Cooper CS4, Ther is a $50 rebate on 4, and it will run just under $100 installed per a tire.

 

Many of us have been using TireRack.com to purchase and we go by their ratings for snow etc.
I had very good luck with Goodyear Assurance ComforTread. The GY Assurance TripleTred is a top tire.
Recently I used the Continental Procontact EcoPlus for front tire replacements. If you want top MPG something like GY FuelMax. There are some others but these are the ones I tend to gravitate to. I was a little sorry I did not use COSTCO as we had just joined COSTCO when I got the Continentals. COSTCO has some of the good Prius tires such as possibly the Michelins above. I have been ordering from TireRack for all of my Prius tires.

 

I am using Michelin Harmony (for summer) but some people say they cut down on the fuel mileage a bit. If you do a Google or forum search, you'll come up with many results; they can be overwhelming but you'll start to see certain names crop up a lot. Everyone has a different opinion on this matter.

 

You should select your tires based on the worst road conditions you'll see, which obviously will be snow-covered roads. Here's a link to a winter performance test of "eco" tires. The Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 outperforms its rivals from Continental, Goodyear and Yokohama. Tire Rack has them for $84 per tire.

Another candidate for an all-season tire with great snow performance would be the Hankook Optimo H727. The installer would have to use a 195-60/15 to replace the factory original size, though. They're $77 per tire at Tire Rack.

 

I Have 4 X radials from michelin and they are rated for 80k and at 28000 miles, 2 need replacement at 2/32 and 2 rear are close at 3/32. I went back to sams club and they would not warranty them even though wear is even on all 4 of them. They said that I didn't rotate them every 5000 miles and that voids all warranty work period. This reminds me of a jewelry warranty, chipped diamond and would fix due to missing an inspection date. My life is to busy to stop here and there to update warranty info on a regular basis on items I have purchased and the manufactures know this and use it to void you out, also a valve stem that breaks or a puncture on the side wall voids warranty. Always get new valve stems and good luck. Michelins SUCK !!!! this tire (probably a michelin re badged-LOL) is 62 bucks and you could get them mounted at wally world. I paid damm close to 800 after all the spank fees for those michelins what a rip off.
Falken ZE-912
28921542 185/65R15 88H

Tire Size:​

Side Wall:​

Service Description:​

Mileage Warranty:​

UTQG:​

185/65R15​

BSW​

88H​

65,000​

​

 

I think we should all find the cheapest place to mount tires and buy off the internet, Wally World probably. This would stop the gouging at dealers. I know that 4 generic tires mounted at wally will be cheaper than those 4 you buy at your dealer, They wont warranty yours unless you rotate with them every 5000 miles and have documented proof with stamps and signatures from them. The illusion of savings thinking that more expensive tires wear longer is just that and is making the tire company's big money. My Michelin's at 28000 are worn out!!! This is an 80k tire. Didn't rotate sorry!!!

 

Tire quality is more then mileage. Handling, traction, stopping, and safety. Depending on the type of tire, and the way you drive, as well as the car being properly aligned will effect the life of the tire. I get 40 to 60K on a set. Something else was wrong it you only got 28K miles, not the tire, unless you got a very soft one, which model were they?

 

Tire warranties are very explicit on what you need to do to maintain warranties. Tire rotations, wheel alignment, proper psi, etc., are among the responsibilities of the owner. No one cares if you didn't have time to do them, only if they were done, or not. Don't fault Sams Club as the tires are not warrantied by them, but by Michelin. If Sams Club were to submit the tires back to Michelin for warranty reimbursement, they will need documentation either from their files or from you that you maintained the tires properly. Since neither exists, the warranty is voided. In your case, to keep your costs down, you should buy the cheapest tires and run them until they wear out and not worry about maintenance or warranties.

 

Good price, but those tires could cost you an extra $300 plus in increased fuel cost over their lifetime, as they're decidedly non LRR.

 

Yikes!!!

Bald all seasons in snow are worst case scenario. For the short term I'd suggest to get something very similar, or identical, to the tires you have now. They'll likely be fairly cheap, half decent, and Low Rolling Resistance. Brand new all seasons should get you through the winter, especially if you just stay off the road for the first day or two after a snow dump.

My number one pick for stores would be Costco, if you have a membership or can swing it. And there are typically coupons going in the fall, aimed at snow tire purchases, but usable for any purchase of 4 tires. And Costco takes them off at the till, reducing sales tax.

Then, maybe next fall, consider getting dedicated snow tires on steel rims, if you have the budget. A competent Toyota dealership should be able to sort out a steel rim that's compatible, from other Toyota vehicle models having steel rims. Or use cheap alloy rims.

Brand new all seasons will be "ok" in snow, if you're careful. But even when they're half worn, still in legal tread depth, their traction abilities are greatly reduced.

All seasons tend to have half-decent cross slits in the tread, but they don't go deep, and their spaced pretty far apart. One or two years and they're gone, and often what tread is left is grooves running along the tire, not across, not very grippy in snow.

Also, all season tires have rubber that hardens as temperatures drop, becoming less grippy in general.

 

I'll second the Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 for the best tire in this situation is total cost to own is important. They are very fuel efficient, are priced nicely, last a long time and do VERY well in the snow for an all-season tire. They don't handle we'll but you can't have everything!

If snow wasn't an issue then the Energy Saver A/S tire is the best buy despite a high up front cost because handling and traction is better than the Ecopia as is fuel economy.

 

I just bought a pair of Michelin xi3's for winter. Good warranty and good reviews all-around. With the ever-present Michelin rebate and Tire Rack's discount prices, it came to $109/tire, which is pretty decent.

 

4 Bridgestone Ecopia EP422's cost me $413 out the door, installed at Costco a couple days ago. Price included $70 off plus add'l $30 off installation. Next day did my slight overdue 40k service with wheel alignment at the dealer. Total cost with alignment about $480. I have just over 100 miles on them and they are fantastic - at least compared to the original Yoko's that came on the car. On center feel is much better and the ride is so much quieter! I have my normal 38/35 psi and the ride is so smooth, I think I'll bump up to 40/37 and see how it affects the ride. Mpgs's so far is stable so no loss even with tires being so new. With the 65k warranty, I'm hoping to not need tires until I reach 100k.

 

Not sure what's going on with my EP422's. I really wanted the Michelin Energy Saver A/S, but they were not on sale at Costco and I wanted new tires before a trip. Installed the EP422's at Costco, filled them to 40/38, and had the car aligned at the dealership. I thought my mpg would improve over the stock S33's, but 3000 miles later my overall mpg went from 49mpg down to 45mpg... hmm... same routes, same driving style. Maybe i'll try to lower the psi a bit and see if that somehow will magically increase mpg.

 

Did you get 49mpg this time of year and in the same weather conditions with the S33Ds?

 

Hopefully the dealership alignment isn't a factor. Or could they have dropped the pressures to spec. for the alignment? Have you checked since then?

The dealership's the smoking gun in the room, lol. Did they do anything else: over-tighten the parking brake, overfill the oil (and/or put in wrong weight)?

 

Yup, as of today I have close to 55,000 miles. The biggest thing that I don't like about the EP422's is that the sidewall seems to be soft as cheese if you run it at 35/33 or whatever Toyota recommends. The tire loves to hook up on the freeway cement grooves and wiggle, making the car seem very rather unstable. I can live with it, but definitely going to Michelin on my next set.

I'm not sure if this question was directed to me, but yes, I double checked everything except the oil weight (I guess I could send a sample to Black Labs for testing??). I'm still running 40/38 psi (just checked yesterday). I'm due for an oil change soon so i'll ask them to put 5w20 or whatever is recommended for this fall season.

 

I'm using Michelin X radio for 25000 miles. Also got from Costco. Quiet,good handling, MPG average 50mpg.
Inflation 36/34.

 

I am thinking that you must have your tires by now as snow is coming one of these days.
I am on my second set of Cooper tires CS4 Touring, T rated. Actually I just purchased the second set about 3 weeks ago after deciding to continue with the Cooper. I did consider the Michelin.
These Cooper tires were great in the snow of Illinois for about three years. An alighnment problem started tire cupping so I needed tires before winter myself. I had over 66k on the tires even though they are rated at 80k. Tires were 85. each plus the add ons.
Anyway the tires gave a great ride with very little if any road noise.
Good luck.