Are these tires good or bad? Prius V 2010

F8L lives in Sacramento, i.e. no snow

But he did review the Ecopia EP422 in 17s

The ExtremeContacts are non-LRR but a great tire that many members have especially in the 18" size (and the best looking one IMO). The PureContacts are LRR though.

 

Then get the Ecopia EP422s in 17s as they're more fuel efficient than other off-the-rack LRR 17s. Costco is running a $70 off promo on a set of 4 Bridgestones right now.

 

Yes.

Looks like tirerack.com is offering the same $70 off on a set of 4 Bridgestones but in the form of a prepaid mastercard after mail-in rebate so you might want to look into that if you're not a Costco member.

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/sp_events/bs/2013/11/B367_bridgestone_TR.pdf

 

Check the dealer. They have 4 for 3 specials sometimes.

 

I may be belabouring this, but Costco takes off these rebates at time of purchase. No delay, less tax to pay. Otoh, once your better half heads into their store, it can get expensive

 

Yes, it's an instant rebate (unlike tirerack's promo). Perhaps it's different in Canada, but around here I'm pretty sure the $70 off comes after tax.

One caveat though: Costco won't install non-OEM size tires. If you were thinking about getting 205/50/17, forget about going there (unless you trick them as I did once )

OP: Another option (as you're not in a hurry to replace tires) is to advertise a WTB ad in the Private Sales forum here for a set of slightly used OE 215/45/17 tires (either Toyo Proxes A20, Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02, or Michelin Pilot HX MXM4). They are custom designed as LRR and are likely even more fuel efficient than the Ecopia EP422. The advantage of going this route is you won't have to deal with the slight mpg drop that comes with brand new tires as they're already broken in. Do not accept any off-the-rack counterparts as they're not the same tires as OE and may not be LRR.

 

I'm in Blue Springs, MO and had the same trouble locating anything used. Check out tirebuyer.com. I purchased some new wheels from them for a fairly reasonable price. Free shipping. My first order about a month ago, I ended up with four 15" steel wheels, four nitto winter tires, four michelin a/s energy savers shipped.... all for $650. For some odd reason, the discount code knocked off 40% so I bought all of it. I think it was a glitch because I went back after I ordered and it wouldn't work. Weird.

After weighing the steel wheels (25 pounds each, very heavy), I ordered some Maxxim 15" rims last week for about $360 after a discount. I'll be using them for my Nitto winter tires. The steel rims are now up on craigslist!

 

I recall the bill showing the $70 deduction, and then tax was calculated. This is Costco Canada, fwiw. Our sales tax is 12%, so that's more-or-less another $8~9 off. And no waiting around for months.

It would be a bummer if Costco won't install alternate size. I'm still on the fence, but was seriously thinking about replacing our 215/45R17 with 205/50R17. That's if our Current Michelin Pilots ever wear out, LOL. Our yearly kilometerage is around 13000, and 5 months of the year I have the (15") snows on.

I will replace them after 5 years, one way or the other: I've heard that's a tire's "half life", ie, the time when their integrity starts to deteriorate, just due to aging. Like people

 

Costco will still sell you non-OE size tires for $70 off but won't install them. You can order online and when you pick them up they'll refund you the mounting and balancing fees.

 

What tires and size did you get?

 

New tires require a break-in period. What's the weather like? Some people are reporting 10+ mpg drop just from the weather.

 

You can reset your trip odometer. Displayed mpg is designed to be slightly off but this is normal.

 

The difference in tire diameters is very minor, roughly 1%. I go through a similar transition every fall, going from 215/45R17 to 195/65R15 (snow tires). I basically ignore the error.

I'm just looked up your old tire, Kumho Ectsa AST, does not show as LRR.

If you calculate a tank or two with the new tires, then multiply your mpg by 1.01, I think that'll give you a close idea of how the new compare to old.

This is just my spreadsheet, with theoretical differences, but should be close:



Oh BTW: could you post a picture? Be interesting to see how the car looks, with slightly taller tires. Thanks.