How is the driving experience difference between 15 or 17 inches wheels on Gen 4?

I think every journalist I've read of who tested the car - always was given one with 17" wheels. (And RED.)

 

Roger that, the touring wheels ride way better - crisper and less oversteer. But you pay a mileage penantly. I drove a three for 8 days while my car was in the shop. I noticed a maximum of 8 mpg difference, approximately 5 mpg hit overall. The wider tires seem to transmit more road noise into the cabin, over certain road surfaces. They will probably wear out faster, and cost more to replace. Oh well, I love my 4 touring.

 

The 17" wheels ride harsher than the 15" (it makes since because the 17" tires are thinner). The 17" handles a little better, but only a little. I love the 15" wheels because they ride really well. 17" wheels have more road noise. Super smooth. The 17" wheels are good if you don't drive on crappy SoCal roads and freeways. 17" wheels consume more gas, a reason why the Tourings aren't offered with a sunroof or HUD (that's why I got the Four. You get more features.). Four and Four touring are good, but I'd go with the four. I know because I test drove the Four Touring and Four back to back.

 

True, the wider low profile touring tires transmit more noise and bumps. Equals more harsh ride. My 2016 touring with PCP included the ATP and cost me $1000 less than a comparably equipped four. The only thing I didn't get were sunroof but I'm tall and brush the lower sunroof headliner so did not want it. And the HUD. The 2017 have changed included features and pricing. Tidelands Prius can clarify I'm sure.

 

But you can't get the ATP with the Four Touring. I got the Four to get the ATP. You can only get the PCP with Four Touring. The Four is technically "Top of the line." The PCP gives the parking assist, head unit, and some other things. ATP gives sunroof, TSS-P, and HUD. I thought the ATP was a little pricey. Here are the packages for my 2016 Four. They don't offer the ATP on Four Touring because they wanted to compensate the wheel weight increase for the deletion of the sunroof and HUD.

 

My four touring has the TSS-P (DRCC, PCS, PD,, LKA, ) but no HUD or SR. I added PCP (ICS, IPA, Simple advanced parking assist system and a pretty bitchin' sound system upgrade). If you don't understand all of the abbreviations I feel so sorry for you, try working for a government agency for 9 months. Anyway, my trim has all of the upgrades except heads up and sunroof. I got it for $26,000 plus TTL.

 

Oh, I messed up. I forgot TSS-P was standard on Four Touring.

 

After driving on 15s in Gen2 and Gen3, I really like the 17" wheels on Gen4 (Four Touring). I might have liked the 15s too, but I didn't want a sunroof and I did want nearly everything else.

The suspension has been redone in this 4th generation for all trim levels, but besides the wheel size I think there was additional suspension tuning on the Touring trims.

 

The 15s are smoother but sways like a boat since there's more sidewall. I'm coming from a sport sedan and can appreciate the 17s. I'll be changing out the wheels anyway.

I also was annoyed that I couldn't get the ATP with my 4T. Happy with the PCP though.


2016 Prius 4T Premium Convenience Pkg
2016 NX200t F Sport

 

With our 3rd gen, I alternate between 215/45R17 Michelin Pilot (all seasons on OEM 17" alloys) and 195/45R15 Michelin X-Ice (snow tires on Corolla steel rims). I can tell the difference, but it's not that much, and within a day or two of the switch you forget about it..., well I do, lol.

 

Both of mine are quiet and no road noise with great handling. But have no way to compare it with the 15" tires except my 2011.

Touring tires are smooth on my two.

 

FWIW:

My 17" Bridgestone Ecopia tires are down to 6/32" tread depth after 1 year and about 37,000 miles.

Since they started out with 10/32" I am thinking they have served about 1/2 of their useful life if I pushed them to them to the "Lincoln Penny" limit.

 

What PSI do you run and is the wear even?

Thanks,

 

33 Front, 32 Rear.

Very even wear -- I rotated every 5k up to 20k, then stopped. The dealer was chipping black coat on the rims and I concluded that any small benefit to treadwear with front to back rotation was not all that important to me. I may reassess at 50k.

 

Somewhere I have a thread on tire wear????????????????

Anyway keep them at that pressure and I will keep mine at 42 PSI and we will compare results. Unfortunately I do not drive very much these days so it will be two years before I hit 36K.

I have two BTW.

 

2016 Touring Tire Reliability Master Thread for 17" OEM tires | PriusChat

Unfortunately the lowest is 34 on the survey so just post your results as a post.

Thanks,

 

Here in UK Toyota GB do not give you a generally choice. My Auris TS Excel was on 17" despite what I ordered and It cost me at leat 8mpg over the life of the car. I hate low profiles, they are noisy, look stupid, very expensive do nothing for the ride and ruin the fuel consumption. The inside edges on my Lexus IS were shot in under 9,000 miles on the front. Put me off them for life.
Gen 4 on 15" is great. of the three demo ones I drove all on 17" one was ok the other 2 noticeably noisier than my Auris . Unfortunately here you cannot find a dealer with a 15" tester. From this year the 17" models will be subject to higher taxation congestion charges. I would not take a car out of the showroom without a spare and here if you have 17" wheels you cannot get the spare as part of the order.
The reviews all say the choice is a no brainer as you save £400 but mine is the only one I have seen on 15 " tires.

 

That's too bad. In the 'States there are two levels with 17", and one does have a temp spare. In Canada ALL the levels have a temp spare, 15" or 17", except the top level with some extra tech options.

Odd though: Toyota giveth, and taketh away.