New Tires - "Squishy", floating feeling turns

It sounds like they have softer sidewalls than your old tires. If so, they won't get better with age.

I had the same problem with some Kumho tires I put on my Corvette about 5 years ago. I bought them from locally from America's tire (AKA Discount tire in most states). The tire shop gave me full credit on a better set of tires.

I have no idea what Discount tire might do for you, but it won't hurt to ask them

 

If you can't return the tires, then you might inflate them to the max pressure as stated on the tires' sidewalls. Typically that is 44 psi.

 

Are there any grooves in the road? I think the hankook tires follows grooves much more readily then the integrities... but then again, my integrities were pretty much bald when I got the hankooks a week ago...

I have mine inflated to 50psi.

 

Deeper tread depth may also be a factor, there's some 'give' there that was gone from the old worn out tires.

- D

 

1. Regarding traction and higher tire pressure, you'll have to try it and see what happens.

2. Regarding excessive center wear due to higher tire pressure, I have seen numerous posts from Prius owners who complain that the tire shoulders wear excessively. I have not seen any complaints that the center tread wears excessively. If you can make that happen at 44 psi, you'll be the first.

 

+1

Radial tire wear evenness isn't nearly as sensitive to over inflation as bias ply tires were.

 

Hi Metalnut,

The 195/60 -15 size has a bulgier side-wall. Its wider, yet fits the same size rim. So, the side wall has to bend out more. This means there is more sidewall side to side play. What has become obvious now is a Gen II Prius back end shimy problem that was masked by the taughter sidewalls of the 185/65 -15 tires. Which you apparently have not had a chance to experience - high gusting perpendicular winds.

It might be due to the new alignment too, in combination. The Prius alignment specs have too great a toe-in tolerance. Keep the toe in , inwards. If the alignment resulted in very close to center, or slgihtly outward toe of a tire, the handling will be poor.

Allot of us get the BT-Tech plate to help with the rear end shimmy of the Prius. There are also cheaper version , like on Ebay.

Patrick is right about tire wear and pressure on the Prius - 44/42 gives just short of flat wear, with more wear on the edges. I had Hydrodedges on my 2006 which were wearing very flatly, with the 44/42 and lately 46/44 pressure setting. At least that was my experience.

Also, the flatter the wear, the larger the integral of area times pressure over the patch. This should give the best grip.

In wet weather the higher pressure is superior for hydroplaning resistance however. Michelin has an internet video about that.

 

Hi Metalnut,

I had the same squishy or loose feeling on my 2005 Prius when I bought it used and it had fleet tires. The Prius is a heavy car for it's tire size and it has 60% of it's weight on the front wheels. It's also has a fairly short wheel base for it's weight. All of this tends to flex the sidewalls pretty hard in the corners and make the car feel loose.

It's hard to find the right balance between low rolling resistance and tight steering feel. The stiffer sidewalls of the H speed rated tires (and higher speed rated tires) tend to provide better handling, but increased rolling resistance. I went with what Tirerack calls a high performance all season tire (a Goodyear that's now discontinued). I love the handing and steering response, but I may sacrifice some MPG's (have to go 60 MPH or less to get 50 MPG on the freeway in the warm season). I don't know if I can stand to go back to looser tires when these wear out because I so enjoy the security of the extra grip and good control.

Don't give up on all 195/65 15 sized tires. Tires are too complex to find one single variable that makes or breaks handling.

As you know, Tirerack has user reviews, and their own tests. I think their own tests are more objective than the use reviews and infinity better than the Consumers Reports tests. I assume you need all season tire instead of summer tires. The Continental ProContact with EcoPlus does well in the Tirerack test, is a lot cheaper than the Michelin Energy Saver A/S, and has an 80,000 mile tread life warranty while the Michelin has no tread life warranty at all. The Bridgestone EP422 (not tested by Tirerack yet) seems to be the all season version of the EP100 that Tirerack said tested very well for handling.

You could consider the Yokohama Envigor. It would fix your handing problem without a doubt. It's a high performance all season tire that scored first in it's Tirerack test. Yokohama's web site stresses the low rolling resistance tread compound, but Tirerack does not list it as low rolling resistance. It might not be the most fuel efficient choice, but it's probably the most fun.

Have fun with your choice, Dan

 

Doesn't it take something like twenty years for tires to harden?

The only thing I don't like about my Prius is it is not made in USA. I look around the room, everything recent including my shoes are made in China. Sorry to say, but I won't buy a tire made in Korea or China when there are USA factories struggling, squishy or not squishy. It is the first thing I ask.

 

The Prius is manufactured in Japan. Where as China is more "developing" and Japan is more "developed". Huge difference in quality control and environmental damage.

However, your way of thinking is narrow-minded. The parts that make up the Prius are indirectly made AROUND THE WORLD. Raw materials from across the world are combined into parts which may be made in the USA, and then shipped to Japan.

And no, it doesn't take 20 years for tires to harden. They harden through a process called Vulcanization. Tires have a lifespan of 6 years, after which the rubber is highly susceptible to failure due to cracking and drying out.

 

I prefer to buy American when I can. I also like to support American business and workers. That's a major reason I bought the Goodyear tires that are on both my Prius and Escort. Turns out I really like the Goodyear Eagle GT HR tires, but they are discontinued now and Goodyear doesn't seem to make a comparable tire any more (they do have both higher performance and lower performance).

According to Tirerack, The Bridgestone Ecopia EP 422 is made in both Japan and the US, The Continental ProContact with EcoPlus in the 195/60 15 size (I try to get at least 6.0" of tread width) is made in the USA, and the Yokohama Envigor H speed rate (again the 195/60 15 for tread width) in almost all sizes is made in the US.

A US owned company with US factories is my preference, but it seems that Goodyear (and it's rebadged tires) and Cooper are the only quality US owned and built tires left. Many brands that used to be US owned have been bought up or the names have been sold. General tire, for instance is owned by Continental. BF Goodrich is owned by Michelin and on and on.

It seems the only things that are simple about tires is that they are round and black. Enjoy the puzzle, Dan

 

I was being sarcastic about the tire dealers comment. Although I had a trailer once with thirty year old tires and the tread rubber was almost hard as rock. Actually I think anyone who buys into the false notion that it is a world economy and not China dominated, is narrow minded, and quite naive. China is now the world's manufacturer. Those jobs are gone elsewhere. As for the Prius, even the Goodyear tires and Denso oil filter are Made in Japan. Not easily available elsewhere. I don't think a lot of the Prius is made with non Japanese parts, would be interesting to know. They protect their economy as much as possible, always have, like most countries do. So should the USA protect itself, and as a consumer I will choose to support the country I come from as much as I can.

 

Well, maybe not the Prius itself, but Toyota makes more cars in Canada than it sells here... not sure if that's true for GM or not, so I am buying from a domestic manufacturer. The ownership of multinationals isn't particularly pro any country as far as I can tell so I don't care to base the decision on that.

Although I suppose by promoting the use of high mileage cars I'm hurting our workers in the oil sands projects.

 

The USA is digging its own grave. These American companies are the one exporting all of our jobs elsewhere. Practically nothing is made in the USA these days.

 

Any news from the OP? Are you getting used to the new tires or are they still "squishy". I'm running Hankook's and no complaints here. (Mine are "hankook optimo k415" btw. You'd consider them a "summer tire", but it's always summer here).

 

The max is 44 psi on these tires. I wouldn't go above that.

I just got my girlfriend to get a set of 4 for here car. Its a older Saturn. The tire place that installed them put the pressure to 30. I could feel similar issues you are having. Her dad bumped them up to 35 this weekend and it does feel better; however, I think it would not hurt to bump it up some more.

I do run mine 44/42 (front/back) and am very satisfied with the traction. I have "experimented" in the rain, and I find its extremely difficult to cause traciton problems. Likewise, I feel as though the traction control works very acceptably with these tires, with the used integreties that were on it, it was scary.

I say bump the pressure up, allot of people are running higher pressures. Test it out for yourself and see if you notice any difference.

 

I haven't tried the Hanook tires. Search PC for members that have, and ask about their experience with the tire. I agree with donee, it could very well be wheel alignment.

 

Personally I haven't tried the Hankook's but my mother-in-law has a Saturn Aura with 48k on it with the original Hankook's and they are barely worn, almost like new. Can't say anything about handling... it is a barge compared to my Prius and our Camry Hybrid, but they are wearing great. I have aset ogf BF Goodrich Touring T/A Pro Series tires. Best treadwear and handling of any tire I have had so far. The OEM Goodyear Integrety"s had NO integrety, total junk. Toyota replaced them free @ 30k, edges were totally gone. really bad @ 23k, took me that long to argue with them, with thew help of Priuschat. The put Yokohama Avids on, they lasted 38k, were still in much better shape than the Goodyears were @ 30k. Even though my last name is Goodyear, I am ashamed to have my name associated with the Integrity tire. Good luck with your decision.

Frank