Are 15 inches rims that bad compared to 17 inches in terms of handling?

comment deleted

 

Sounds like a perfect drive in the Prius to Islamorada. Ever do any offshore or back country fishing there? This area has a of good memories for me.

 

No 15" wheels aren't bad. Yes 17" wheels look cool, cost more to replace and ride harsher do to the shorter side wall. The turning radius between the 15" wheels and 17" wheels are a 34 foot turning radius verses a 36 foot turning radius on the Prius.

My last car was a G6 GTP with cool 18" wheels, which you felt every tar strip and cracks in the road way. Yes I could carve 25mph curves at 50mph but come time to replace them was a shock. $500.00 verse $300.00 for 15" wheels compared to my Alero with 15" wheels. Oh I almost for got the 36 foot turning radius on my G6 sucked especially in parking lots.

The steering ratio might be lower on the package's with the 17" wheels do to the greater pressure to overcome turning resistance of the wider tires, but I doubt it, with the electric steering and hydraulic's I doubt you would feel the difference.

One more thing when the tire tread gets thin on those wider tires the traction in snow decreases. Believe it or not my 2010 Prius III handles and rides better then my G6 GTP cruising on the highway at 80 to 85mph, just don't make right turns when you change lanes. My wife's 2009 Prius VI with 15" wheels handles equally as well.

 

I have a silly question. It seems that the bigger rims decreases gas mileage and power. Why where they made in the first place?

For looks?

So you can put in bigger brakes for racing?

Are they used for real professional racing or is it all cosmetic?

As you can tell, I know nothing with respect to the bigger rims and I freely admit it.

 

Rhino, there's a lot of discussion about why owners like the 17" rims in this thread here:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...us-v-has-worse-steering-than-lower-trims.html

 

comment deleted

 

comment deleted

 

Re: Just bought late this summer. Heading down this weekend

As you know your timing for purchase was very good!

We love the Keyes and the weather for this weekend will make you want to leave West by God VA!...well at least until summer and Hurricanes arrive.

From a local FL native welcome to your new (2nd) home.

 

comment deleted

 

11 degrees..OMG.

Not sure about the Keyes but you'll notice lot of Prius throughout South Florida. In fact I get some of my best mileage in the traffic jambs from FLL to MIA and back.

We purchase HOV stickers that allow us to drive free (and only one person in the car) in those express lanes you will encounter on I-95 in Miami.

 

comment deleted

 

I bought the Prius with a minimum of options. It is a commuter car. For me, at least, there is great beauty in functionality and economy so I will not do a thing to decrease the gas mileage. Also, the way I parallel park, I scratch the rim in no time.

 

I also had this dilema but after picking up my 2010 Prius IV with solar roof, I absolutely have no regrets. Personally, I didn't buy the Prius as a sports car and rarely do I drive it in the "power" mode. If I didn't really care about the MPG too much and drove the Prius to it's performance limits, I would go for the Prius V with 17 inch wheels.

 

comment deleted