205/60 R15 tires for the prius

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(annaeus @ Jun 9 2006, 08:16 PM) [snapback]269009[/snapback]</div>

That is a very good price. As you may have already noticed the tires are directional so make sure your installer gets them pointed in the right direction.

 

yeah man for sure...i've run into that problem enough times on my mountain bike. I really appreciate all the info on the tires and I look forward to trying them out. Thanks!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(annaeus @ Jun 10 2006, 09:01 PM) [snapback]269340[/snapback]</div>

When you get the Toyo TPT 205/60R15 tires on your Prius, please let me know how they work. IE: is there plenty of clearance? How's the cornering? How does it feel on the highway? How is it in the rain? Is noise less or more than the OEM tire? How's the mileage compared to the OEM tire? How does it look? etc...

 

I just installed 4 new Michelin Defenders size 205/60R15 on my 2006 Prius and I love the difference in handling so far. I traded my 2006 BMW 325XI for this wonderful Prius and wanted as much help with handling as I could get.

 

In the UK I run 205/55/16 tyres "16 inch wheels are OEM here" there are no clearance problems going to that width and the handling of the car improves so much.
I have also tried a set of Kumho 215/50/16's also without problems.

John (Britprius)

 

if you really want to improve your handling, upgrade your sway bars. this will make the car corner flatter-- it feels like it squats a bit when cornering hard.

 

Would love to see what these look like

 

Here's a couple of pics.

 

I got the exact same tires 205/60/15 Defenders and am really upset with the overall performance. After using Fuelmax (195/65/15) I have taken a huge hit in MPG, with the heat (100+ degrees) and AC turned ON the engine stays on most of the time and drains the battery quickly. I used to get 47 - 48, now down to 39 - 40. I have about 2000 miles and looking to sell these set of 4 new tires, let me know if anyone is interested, I would rather go back to Fuel Max (205/60/15) or may look into Ecopia 422 (185/65/15) as Ecopias are not available in 205/60/15.

 

how much psi in them? running the pressure higher helps w/ mpg. but if they aren't LLR, mpg might still suck. I had yokohamas and they didn't seem to hurt mpg.

 

These Defenders are LRR. I kept playing with the pressure and figured the optimum is 39 / 37. Because anything more than this would make the ride very rough. I did go upto 42 /40 cold (Note defenders have a max of 44 PSI), with 100+ degrees this would expand to about 46 / 44 and the ride would be super rough, I got worried it might make my car have loose parts over period of time. with 39 / 37 I get 39 MPG with AC about 44 without AC + battery draining causing high load on engine. I don't think it is the size that is a problem I think it is the kind of rubber that is not a good fit for Prius, even with 185/65/15 the defenders would be very close. Which Yokohama did you have?

 

yokohama as430. I can't vouch for the as530 which replaced it, and I'm not even sure they make those anymore. there is a thread here which had a link to LRR tire tests. the Michelin energy saver was best for mpg if I remember correctly.