2011 tire pressure question

I would say don't go lower than the pressure listed on the door post or owner's manual and not higher than the pressure listed on the tire's sidewall. What you were running in your '05 would be fine. I have tried several pressures and am currently running 40 psi front and rear, seems a good compromise between mileage and ride.

 

I run mine 40/38... over that just seems really hard to me.

 

42/40 is still a good tire pressure combo for a Gen III. Some go higher with no wear problems. I consider 42/40 my minimum.

10k oil change is reasonable for synthetic oil, which the 0W-20 is. I think 5k tire rotations are more than needed, but will do no harm and may help a little bit. If the rotations weren't free I would go for 10k miles.

 

Bumped my 2010 Prius II To 42F/40R. Increased mpg about 2 clicks and improved freeway stability. I still change synthetic oil and filter a 5,000 miles.

 

Looks like the dealers are beginning to wise up. Just had my last free (25k) service and they inflated my tires to 40-40. They had refused to go 42-40 on my first service, said they had to stick what was called for on the door. I never bothered to mention it after that, just took it home and inflated to 42-40.

 

You're going to have to make up your mind.
Insight or Prius?


OK......so the sarcasm font still isn't working. Poor joke, I know.
Some thoughts for you.
(current market value < $0.02)

I'd stick with something close to 40 on the tires. When I first got the car I tinkered with it some, and I really didn't see what you would call a really big difference...MPG wise.
I used to do some of the zany hypermiler stuff (I'm not stupid enough to draft, and the blocking seemed over the top too---YMMV!)
Here's my results over the last year:
If I dedicate my life to saving gas, I can get about 60-MPG.
If I drive it like I stole it, I can get about 45.
If I drive it like a car, I get 50+.
I drive mine like a car that I don't own (which I don't---it's a company car) and that I don't have to buy gas for (ditto).

My mileages are about 52/49 summer versus winter.
I could probably leg that out to 57/54, but I like WOT launches every now and then, and I don't hypermile.

You decide.

The G3 is a little more tail heavy than other 5-seat front drive, econoboxes so you'll probably get by with tire rotations at 10K. I do my own, so 5K is how I roll. My company thinks that it does all of the maintenance on "my" car, but I really do not like cupped rear tires, so I swap them when they're not looking.
You're good with 10K on the oil, but my company changes it every 5K. If my G3 were MY G3, I'd do the same if for nothing else than to get the ash and other fod out of the crankcase.
I used to eschew over inflating my tires, but with the Xbox-360 electric steering in this car, I now roll about 40-psi. Seems to be a good fit for me. Again.....YMMV.

If you're not a DIY mechanic, just stick with the factory maintenance schedule (sans tire pressures) and you'll be juuuuuust fine. Don't let them talk you into goofy crap that isn't on the maintenance schedule (fuel system flush, nitrogenated tires, A/C system freshening, etc....)

Good Luck!!!
The G3 looks good in red.

 

Interesting, my dealer in Auburn, CA also inflated mine to 40-40 without my asking on my last visit about a month ago. I wonder if they have Toyota's blessing to do that now if the customer brings in a car with "overinflated " tires.

 

Just for my education, can any shops reset the tire pressure sensor or do I need to go to the dealer?

 

I don't know why you would need to reset it as the pre-determined limits are accurate from the factory. But if you did, there is a button by the OBDII connector. TPMS registration will require Toyota Techstream.

 

If you want to set the pressure it alarms at see the owner's manual page 443, it will alarm somewhere around 7 or 8 lbs below the pressure you set it at. As Critic said the dealer would need to enter different sensor numbers if the sensors in the tires are changed.

 

^ Step 5 in that instruction is a bit confusing:

Wait for a few minutes with the ON mode, and then turn​

“POWER” switch OFF.

I did this reset once, then hung around for about 10 minutes before shutting it down, guess it took...

 

Just to clarify - if I am going to up my inflation from the per-manual 30-something to 42-40, I should re-calibrate the tire pressure sensor system so it will alarm correctly?

 

Yes, although I have to admit I haven't done it yet.

Once I settle on a final wir pressure, I think I will fille the tires a couple of psi above that, set the alarm pressure, then reduce them to the pressure I want. That will cause the low pressure alarm to go off a little sooner.

 

Personal choice, I think I would normally notice a low tire before the sensor went off anyway. I usually check my tires once a week with a good quality gauge.

I've set it twice, once when the car was new to see if it worked and after I got new tires about 3K miles ago. I think the pressures were about 35 or 36 lbs last time I set it. I have been playing around with different pressures with the new tires so no point setting it yet.

 

Which begs the next question - reccomendations for tire gauge?

 

I am using this one, I prefer analog gauges.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B00062YVPW?tag=priuschatcom-20's not to expensive and it is consistent and fairly accurate. If you order it don't order the rubber cover listed under "Frequently Bought Together" because it doesn't fit the gauge. But consider the tread depth gauge, it works fine.

 

I keep 42/38. 38 rear helps with crosswinds.

per Toyota you need to change oil at 5K, then at 10K and every 10K if synthetic is used. After 10K oil is in good shape good luck