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Low Rolling Resistance replacement tyres (Europe)

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by Britprius, Jan 24, 2013.

  1. R-P

    R-P Active Member

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    I don't know if manufacturers add another groove for a wider tyre or if they use other tricks for scaling them, but I have seen similar results, or discrepancies if you will, whenever reading tests about tyres since early 90's. So I assume they are due to actual findings, not due to them randomly giving out ratings for tests without checking if they are in line with each other between tyre sizes... :p
    But I do not remember ever reading a specific explanation for it.
    I will have a look if I can find the magazine and see if it is mentioned there and possibly even write them about it.
    (Edit: no explanation in magazine and I wrote them, will post back if their answer adds anything)

    The test being about 205's is because it was obviously not a test for Prius tyres. I switched to 205's because I was told on here it could be done without risk and the 205's are >25% cheaper because it is a far, FAR more common size.

    Which is also the reason it is highly unlikely to ever find a test on the right 195's unless it is a Prius specific test.
     
    #181 R-P, May 27, 2015
    Last edited: May 29, 2015
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  2. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Dunlop now have an A A rated tyre at 68db. It is in the 205/55/16 size and is XL rated 94V tyre. Good for those that carry extra weight or with EV conversions.
    List updated accordingly.

    John
     
  3. james909

    james909 Junior Member

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    If i increase my tyre size from 195 to 205 will my insurance be invalidated? I can get two kumho kh31 tyres fitted for £100 in Leeds in the 195 size. Any thoughts on these tyres? I recently read that one grade lower rating ie C instead of B is equivalent to one car length in wet at 50mph. Any truth in this?

    James
     
  4. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Need to check it with your own insurers. They all vary, and vary on different types of policy within the same company.

    Yes I've heard that said about the different car lengths on the wet rating. You really don't want C rated tyres if you can help it when most decent manufacturers are offering A & B ratings. If I recall correctly I could get branded tyres with B/A ratings for about £65 each. That extra £30 for an A rated wet tyre will be more than worth it, and the extra fuel economy rating will pay that difference in fuel saved.

    Your call. Each to their own. But personally I get the best tyres I can find. Why pay £5k on an economical car and then bugger up the fuel economy to save £30 and also reduce safety on wet roads? And if you crash the car in the wet, even slightly, you'll find that the insurance excess will be significantly more than the £30 you 'saved' getting C or even B rated tyres.
     
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  5. Tony D

    Tony D Active Member

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    Grumpy is dead right (as usual :p)

    Re the tyre size, it's highly unlikely that any motor assessor would notice the different tyre size - and he would only be looking at the car if you were in involved in a serious accident. Touch wood that doesn't happen and won't therefore be relevant. I have 205/55/16s on my Gen2 and won't be going back to 195s. 205s have better selection and are better value
     
  6. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    lol I don't know if you mean that or are taking the piss :cautious: :D

    One side of me thinks it must be the latter as when did an Irishman agree with an English one, but then I'm from Yorkshire, so it might be the former. :confused:

    I'm pondering bringing the Leaf over to Ireland next year. Apparently the charge network your way is meant to put ours to shame and I've been meaning to get me arse over for years. The west coast looks nice, the south too, do I do a drive around the coast taking in the north as well? It would mean spending a week in the car with Mrs Cabbie, so I'm not so sure I could handle that :unsure:

    I digress.
     
  7. Clubber

    Clubber Junior Member

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    Hi all, the wifes Prius needs new tyres and I am thinking of getting Hankook K115 Ventus Prime 2 Hankook K 115 - 215/45 R17 91W XL TL

    They are £58.65 each.

    Are they our best option for the 17" wheels?
     
  8. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

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    Not pricey, Clubber. (y)
    I have no clue about their performance, though.

    Recently I chose Turanza T001 215-45-17" and they wear pretty fast (it'll be hard to get 30k miles from them on the front axle)

    note: this thread is for low resistance tyres. :rolleyes:
     
  9. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    The Hankooks Are the lowest rolling resistance tyres in that size with good wet grip. Rated B-B.
    I have not tried these myself, but I have used the Hankook 425 EcoKinergy tyres in 205/55/16 on my Prius, and found them excellent for fuel economy, wet grip, and long lasting. These were also rated at B-B, but unfortunately not available in your size.
    Since there are no tyres better rated in your size that I can find, they would be my first choice in your position.

    John.
     
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  10. GasperG

    GasperG Senior Member

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    Almost forgot to mention, I wore down Ecopia EP001s after 36k km, the outer edges on front tires were so much worn that I had troubles at MOT, it went through but with persuasion. I rotated them every 12k km, when I change them for winter tires. I did measure wet braking with phone accelometer, I measured 0.9 G, very good for worn tires, will measure other tires on same spot when possible.

    For winter I bought Bridgestone LM001, it feels like they are constantly braking, maybe they will brake in a little with time.
     
  11. Clubber

    Clubber Junior Member

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  12. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    It makes no difference because the difference between the two sizes is in the side wall height. The width of the tyres remains the same. The (7J) in the wheel size is the distance between the wheel flanges that keeps the tyres on 7 inches.

    John
     
  13. Clubber

    Clubber Junior Member

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    Thanks mate. On the page I linked above it says that the correct tyre for 7Jx17 is 215 50 17 and for 8Jx17 it is 215 45 17

    Just wanted to check before I ordered

    Could you please take a look and confirm for me. Thanks
     
  14. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    Check alignment. Both of our Prii had too much toe-in from the factory.
     
  15. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    You can fit either tyre to either wheel rim without problems. The difference in the tyres is in the outer diameter of the tyre. This varies slightly with different manufacturers and the amount of tread ware of the tyre.
    The formula is for the outside diameter:-
    The wheel dia + the tyre width x the aspect ratio (in your case 45% or 50%)to give the wall height (x 2) because you have 2 side walls and the wheel diameter that make up the tyre diameter.

    For 215/45/17 tyre:- 17 inches + 215x45% (96.75 mm x 2 = 193.5 mm divide this by 25.4 to give inches = 7.6 .inches + 17 inches gives the tyre read diameter as 24.6 inches.
    For 215/50/17 tyre:- 17 = 215x50% (107.5 mm x 2 = 215 divided by 25.4 = 8.5+ 17 gives the tyre diameter as 25.5 inches

    John
     
  16. Clubber

    Clubber Junior Member

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    Thanks John, will go for the 45 profile as they are £50 cheaper for the exact same tyre
     
  17. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Tyre prices are a mine field. I use 205/55/16 tyres instead of the OEM 195/55/16 because the tyres are 25% cheaper in the wider size. This means I can buy 4 wider tyres for the price of 3 narrower tyres.
    The wider tyre give better handling and straight line stability with no loss of economy. There is also a much grater choice of tyres in the wider size.

    John
     
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  18. GasperG

    GasperG Senior Member

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    I did, right wheel was a little off but otherwise OK.
     
  19. GasperG

    GasperG Senior Member

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    Any feedback on Toyo Nanoenergy 2?

    The only test there is is from Auto Bild braking test, results are pretty bad under wet braking:
    2015 Market Overview Braking Test - TyreReviews

    I have Toyo tires on Hilux, I wasn't too pleased with them at the beginning, but after 1.000 km they grip excellent in the wet, I logged 0,76 G deceleration on the wet road, that is good for 51 m braking distance from 100 kmh - in theory at least. I was wondering if it's the same thing with Nanoenergy, any difference when new and after they brake in? @Maxwell61 any thoughts?
     
  20. Tony D

    Tony D Active Member

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    I personally haven't heard anything about them here. Toyo are generally a decent enough tyre. What size are you running on your Gen3?

    If 195/65/15 I'd say that there are better LRR tyres out there than a Toyo