Handling differences between 15" and 17" wheels

Right now I'm rolling with my stock wheels with the hubcaps stored in the attic. The center Toyota caps set it off pretty good. I would like a chrome 15-inch wheel if I could find one. If you have any ideas, I would appreciate hearing from you. I came to the conclusion that my Prius is a hybrid and as such is designed around the 15-inch wheel. I have decided to try to live with that if I can. I'd prefer a 16-inch wheel but 15-ings are fine too. Personally, the best thing we can do to dress up our Prius is to change the wheels but to what? I prefer chrome.

 

After reading all these threads on handling/steering differences, I almost changed my order to the V. I would end up waiting at least 2 more months and the 3 weeks has been painful enough. Should be driving within the next 7-10 days.

 

and a link to that please?
brand/type/model?

 

Get a used set of stock 15 inch Gen II Prius wheels and chrome wheel skins. Looks great!
http://www.hubcapnation.com/toyota_wheel_skins.htm

 

I started at 42/41, went to 45/44 and then 48/47. There is a thread on the tire pressure question (I warn you, though: It has many of the same characters in it that you've read in this thread!). See Tire Pressure for the 215/45 17s -- Here We Go Again!

 

One of the things I like most about the Prius is the ride quality. I would call it exceptional. I have a Corvette with Magnetic Select Ride Control, for a smooth ride. That is another reason, I would like to stay with the 15-inch wheels. Eventually, someone will make an alloy wheel for the G-III in chrome hopefully. 1950's Hubcaps just won't do it for me.

 

After test driving both a IV and a V yesterday, we're switching our order to a IV. We had a V with AT on order.

A lot of the roads we drive on in California are pretty rough these days. (Sadly to say, much of California leads the nation in poorly maintained roads.) The higher profile tires provided a nicer ride on rough surfaces. And we just don't need that much "sporty handling" going to/from school, the store, and kid's baseball games.

I won't mind having a quieter ride, either. The 2010 Prius is a bit of a disappointment as to how much road noise is present.

And, I'm sure we won't mind getting another 2-3 MPG when gas is up to $5 or more.

 

Well I have had 2 people ask me if I have new wheels.

 

The custom wheel market is absolutlety huge. It's one of those things you don't notice until you start looking for yourself. Pick up a tuner magazine and there will be pages and pages of full page ads for wheels.

I'd stick with a dealer/installer that is more reputable and performance orientated than one that is more concerned with being flashy or 'blingy'.

Tirerack.com is one of the best and most reputable online wheel and tire dealers. You can search by vehicle then by wheel diameter and weight. Do note that their selection is just a tiny fraction of what is available. Their tire selection is more comprehensive.

The stock 15" wheels are 16.3 pounds (7.4kg). Tirerack has several at that weight or less around $100 each, which is cheap for custom wheels.

The stock 17" are 24 lbs (11kg), there are tons of them that weight less than that.

And of course you have the option of putting 16" wheels on the car as well.

 

Will wheels that fit the 2009 work on our Gen III's? Websites have not updated their Prius wheels to include the 2010 Prius.

You wonder where they get all that aluminum? From soda pop cans of course. Most of the steel in our frame came from recycled cars. There could be metal from a Chevy or Mercedes in our Prius.

 

Be sure to let us know how 48/47 psi works out. I had already decided to try 48 when my car arrives.

 

If you change the rims to 17 along with tires, your speedo will be out by approx 10-12 miles per hour at 60mph. And your mpg will read less.
in ten hours of driving you will have driven 100 miles more than recorded.
each wheel turn goes further than the 15 inch. It is like having a higher gear. Your ride will be quieter depending upon the tires you choose.
Sincerely a Harry Cotton

 

The 195/65R15 and 215/45R17 have virtually identical Outside Diameter. The 17's are slightly smaller OD. The latter rim is (obviously) bigger, but the low profile tire balances things out.

We alternate between stock 215/45R17 all-seasons, and 195/65R15 snow tires: no appreciable difference.

 

I don't know for sure but Toyota probably programmed the ECU to compensate for the speedometer and odometer.

Like Mendel said though because the profile of the tire sidewall is lower making the OD really close to the 15 inch wheel.

It would be an interesting math project just to see how much.

 

This is just based on theoretical differences, not as tested, but should be close:

 

I see this is a thread resurrection, so I don't know if it even matters anymore. But it should be mentioned that the Prius V differs from the other Prii not only in having 17" wheels and tires, but also a quicker steering ratio. So you can't get the same steering and handling in another Prius only by changing out the wheels and tires.

The only other Gen 3 cars that had the 17" wheels and tires are the 2013-15 Prius Persona dress-up edition. I do NOT know whether those cars also have the Five's quickened steering.