Low Rolling Resistance replacement tires: Current List

OH yea
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While I'm thinking about it, there are not nearly enough rave reviews in this thread for the Michelin Primacy MXV4. With most my driving being in town, and awful Houston streets, I wanted as much cushion as possible. They ride very soft, but with good handling (no wallowing). They are also quiet, after being broken in (seemed like there was of bit of muted wind whistling at first). Not seeing any mileage hit or improvement, but it's kind of hard to tell with my low miles and lots of EV driving. I didn't trust the rain performance of the Michelin Energy Savers. The Primacy had decent rain/snow/ice ratings on tirerack.com (though not as high as the Defender or the ProContact). I thank my wife all the time for hitting that pothole that prompted me to buy all new tires!

 

I too have the body roll problem with the energy savers, but I get almost 6 mpg better with them than the defenders. I bought defenders when the cAr was new and the mileage dropped about 3 or so mpg from the original tires. Then switched to energy savers and it went up by at least 6 over the original equipment and about 9 over the defenders,

 

Just special ordered the Primacy MXV4, so I appreciate the thumbs up on these tires. ((Note: the Ecopia EP20 that came on my Prius are worthless--terrible in snow; I only have a little over 20k miles and they need to be replaced.))

 

My Ecopia EP20's are excellent in snow, granted they are new! From what I have read you will take a big hit mpg wise , so keep us posted. H

 

I put MXV4 tires on my Volt and immediately saw a 10% drop in mpg and EV range from old worn down tires. This has only recovered somewhat after putting 16,000 miles on them. After buying them in somewhat of a rush I did more research and found others here with similar efficiency drops on the Prius.

While efficiency is a concern, the tires are otherwise excellent. I wanted something quieter than the original Goodyear Fuel MAX tires. The MXV4s also have very good overall test results for summer and winter traction and I haven't seen any of the complaints about sidewall failures or premature wear that you hear about the Ecopia tires. All tires designs make compromises and tradeoffs and you need to choose the tires that best match your own needs.

In retrospect, I probably should have chosen the Ecopia EP420 given my conservative driving style and desire to maximize mpg and EV range but it's a close call even for me. The MXV4s seem more reliable and will almost certainly wear longer.

 

Yes, EP20 tread is ok in snow when new. But a different story when down to 5 or 6 32's remaining tread: then they're pretty bad.

 

Maybe I'm just a terrible "snow" driver.

 

62,500 on my OEM EP20's now; probably will make 70,000. We've done fine in all weather with them, but this is the plains, and I cannot say how they climb on ice/snow.

 

Once an EP20 gets down to about 6/32" remaining tread depth there is NO lateral treads, nothing but longitudinal grooves. With that set up, I had to get our previous Civic Hybrid down to a tire place for snows, on a morning with a fresh dump, maybe 8". I barely made it out of our unshovelled (downhill sloping) driveway. Once I was on main roads where the stuff was flattened down I could stay mobile, but I was a menace, slip-sliding. It was crazy at the tire place too: they were expecting a plow to come in and clear the lot, but it hadn't made it, LOL.

I wouldn't entertain all-seasons, with their harder rubber compound and token lateral grooves and siping, for snow use.

 

Very detailed list….

Thanks F8L!

You rock!

 

Hey, I havent been on here in a while but referred back for some info. I replaced my OEM Avid s33d with new continental purecontact. I lost about 8-10 mpg immediately and have not regained the loss after 5000 miles. I was considering the Energy Savers AS and saw that you got them. I realize it has only been about a month, but how do you find the mpg's? Anything unexpected with them? Thanks

 

I got mine about the same time and the only thing I can say about MPGs is that this winter was colder than the last. It's too cold to make a fair comparison.

I do notice less rolling resistance on my Energy Saver A/S than I had with the Goodyear Integrity(s) and less than I had on my Yokohama Avid Envigor(s) when the tires have warmed up and I'm trying to coast or glide.

I went from the stock 185/65/15 to 195/65/15 and I'm noticing that it takes more pedal to start off the line due to the increased diameter tire but I'm hoping when the weather warms up the difference won't be as noticeable. I remember someone saying the Energy Savers get stiff below 50F.

I really need to wait for warm weather to make a fair comparison to the other two sets of tires I've had on this car.

 

When did you put them on? What air pressure do you have in them?
My mileage dropped too, but it was because the temperature turned cold right after I got them. On warm days I'm back up in the 53 MPG range.

 

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I just bought the referenced set for our 2012 Civic LX non-Hybrid with 52k on it now, same size as the ones on the 2013 Prius Two. The Civic came with Firestone Affinity Touring S4 Fuel Fighter. With those it would get 41+ mpg (as reported) at 70mph with cruise control and a/c, Central Florida terrain. The mph is almost dead on and the car reports mpg a little under actual.

 

I'll be interested to see your review.

I haven't seen anything like a 10% drop. MPG has been about the same as the Goodyear OEM tires for me. e.g., 52 MPG on a recent trip to Galveston, driving 70 to 75 mph. That's about what I did on a long vacation trip on the Goodyears last year (for the gas only portions). I'd be curious to see a carefully controlled comparison of AS to Primacy mpgs.​

 

I put the purecontact about 4 months ago. I made the fuel economy comparison based on the last 4 years numbers. The lowest fuel economy I ever got was during winter numbers, never got lower than 47 mpg in 4 years. During summer months I averaged 55-60. Overall FE "never reset trip B" was 55.4mpg. After tire change (and only tire change, no oil or other maint) my FE is hovering around 45-46. Tire pressure was set at installer per vehicle req, I increased to 42-40 but no improvement, so i bumped it up to 48-48 and now 51-50 (max sidewall pressure) still FE has not changed. Either the Avids were excellent for LLR or the purecontacts are not up to par. I considered the Energy Saver A/s or just going with the original Avids. I read that the energy savers provide a better handling and wet traction than the Yoko Avids, i dont want to risk getting the energy savers and then realize that they are not as fuel efficient as the yokos.

 

Went to the Michelin site today and see the new tires coming out next month that presumably are the replacement for the Energy Saver A/S

They call them Michelin Premier® A/S and they say they'll be available in April. No idea on pricing.

Premier A/S | Michelin Tires

For Gen II 15" 205/60/15 is ideal at 842 RPM
For Gen III 15" 195/65/15 is ideal at 832 RPM

For Gen II or Gen III 16" 205/55/16 at 836 RPM

For Gen II or Gen III 17" 205/50R17/XL at 828 RPM

 

It shows they have a 10 fuel efficiency rating, does that imply it is a LRR tire ? It doesn't say on the web page (unless I missed it)