USA - LRR Tires for replacement

Michelin Energy Saver A/S (All Season) tires have been awesome for my car. No drop in mileage from my worn (51k) yokohamas. I've put 60k on these tires and still have 7/32 - 8/32 tread left (figure another 40k-50k miles). Quieter than the yokohamas as well.

 

Replace with same Avid's is an option. They're not the only tires toyota uses: they also supply some with bridgestone ecopia ep20, also good.

 

Might have been me. They're ok new, but horrible once down to about 6/32" or less. Still, finding a four season LRR tire is going to result in a lot of compromises, both in traction, RR and tread life. Switch to snow tires?

 

I replaced mine with Continental Pure Contact tires and they're very good. Not as quiet as my dad's Michelin Defender but get just as good MPG and much quieter than my OEM Bridgestones.

 

You have to tell us where you live from climate considerations.
The EP20 sounded good to me but for Gen2 I don't think they have the standard Gen2 size.
I use TireRack.com for rating info and ordering tires also. I recently went with the Conti True Contact which have been getting some rave reviews but for some reason not a ton of folks going with them (seem to be mainly avail on TireRack). I'd probably do Energy Saver A/S if I lived in CA or something warmer like that. I recently got the Defenders on my van and I agree with TireRack that the wet traction is not outstanding...didn't get to try the acid test this winter (snowy Pittsburgh hills). "Yet" I guess I should say.

 

It really boils down to cost/usage/availability. Reports here say the A/S gets the same if not slightly better mpg than the factory Yokos and the Defenders get the same or slightly less mpg than the same. In my area the Defenders cost $1 less each than the A/S, but you have to wait an unknown time to get the the A/S. The A/S are rated 65,000 miles and the Defenders are rated at 90,000 miles by the mfg. The defenders rate better in rain and over all handling. Do the math using your annual mileage to mpg savings to replacement cost to type usage to determine the best value for "your" purpose. For me the $ calculation was a wash, so I prioritized towards safety of flight (so to speak) and went with the Defenders having no regrets. Either way, both are great tires and both will show an initial drop in mpg until you cut them in.

 

If you're concerned about mpg, have a look at the Michelin site, what they say regarding their tire's rolling resistance. They rate Energy Saver A/S 10 (out of 10), the Premier A/S 9, and the Defender''s 8.

2013 Toyota Prius Base Tires | Michelin Tires

Everything's a trade-off. Personally I'm leaning towards the Premier A/S.

 

I have found an excellent & cheap replacement tire for my 2011 Prius. At least, it's good for non-snow areas. Judging from the reviews I've read, these aren't good in the snow at all.

The tire is called Radar RPX 900. I found it at Sears online store - replaced my fronts with these a month ago, and the rears today. Love them. They're very quiet, grip well, and are fine in the rain (well, as much as we get here in California, lately!) . And they're half the price of the Michelins!

I had replaced the original Yoko's with Primewell tires from Wheelworks at 50k, and the Primewells were horrible -noisy, and they tracked rain grooves in the freeway causing steering shimmy. And, we got only 25k miles with them.

As for gas mileage, we tend to be getting around 40mpg in mixed, pretty hard driving (I like the Power Mode). We used to average 42 with the original Yokos, but that was when the car was new-ish. Over the life of the Primewells, mileage gradually decreased from 42 to about 40mpg.

Hint - the Sears store sells the Radars for $20 more each. Instead, buy them at Sears online to be picked up at your local Sears store. Installation, etc. costs the same either way, but you'll get the better price online.

 

I am well on my second set of Michelin Energy Saver AS tires, 195x65x15. No tire is available in the U.S. that can deliver the mpg's as this tire can. If there is I have not seen it on these shores...

 

what pressures are you running them at?