Upgrading to 17in wheels?

You should do it!!! Is it really that much lighter though??

 

Those RFs look a bit like the stock wheels Evo Xes came with. I have RAYS Eco drives on our Gen2 Touring, which are quite a bit lighter than stock, but they don't make nearly as much of a difference as tire choice. Some of the very low UTQG (e.g. very high grip) tires I have mounted on them have decreased MPG noticeably.

 

stock is 15" right? and if going to the 17" what does it do to the MPG and EV reporting on the car?

 

Hey AJ,

I'm planning on doing the same thing upgrading to BBS SR 17s. Only cost $255 per wheel because it's not forged. The weight listed is 20lbs per wheel. Anybody know the stock OEM 15in wheel weight?

 

The weight of the Gen2 Prius 15"wheels was about 14lb. I expect the prime wheels to be about the same.

 

16~ pounds for the fourth generation?

I see the 14 lb second gen mentioned here:

Thinking About It: Tire & Wheel Weight : Vehicle Fuel Economy

And mention of third gen being 16.3 here:

'16 OEM wheel weights & options | PriusChat

 

Thanks guys. Another option for me is Enkei Racing PF01 17in $279 per wheel. Weight is 17.3lbs so no effect over stock wheels.

According to cars and driver bigger wheels gives you better handling but worse mpg due to weight.

Effects of Upsized Wheels and Tires Tested - Tech Dept. - Car and Driver

 

More than just weight I think.

 

Definitely. Larger rims puts more rotational mass concentrated at the outer diameter of the wheel,which makes accelerating and slowing the wheel down more difficult than a wheel of similar weight that has the weight more evenly distributed toward the center. 17 inch tires typically weigh more than 15 inch tires, so yes, a lighter weight rim helps, but a 15 inch wheel/tire combo will always get better mpg than a 17 inch wheel/tire combo of equal combined weight.