Low Rolling Resistance replacement tires: Current List

Sean, thank you very much for this update!

Now that I am running with two nail repairs within 7 inches... I may not have as much time as I hoped. As we seem to be averaging about 2,700 miles per month.

I think I should be okay for another month or so... but don't really want to push them much past that.

Hopefully either the "Blue Earth 1" or the Defender will pop by then.

 

This is most relevant for Aussie and Asia, I have just replaced my Primacy LCs 195/65/15s after 80,000 kms with michelin xm2s. When I drove away from Bob Jane they felt a little spongy in the corners but they had only put 34 psi in them. They are as quiet as the LCs and grip just as well now that I have pumped them up to 40/40. Just completed my first 4000KMs. They still feel good on the road but economy seems to have declined by .2 l/100kms. This is entirely subjective and I haven't been driving my normal routes.

I'll update in a few more thousand Kms

 

I happen to manage a wheel and tire repair shop as well. As long as the puncture was not too close to the shoulder of the tire, I don't think I would have had a problem making that repair. I think many tire places err way too far on the side of having no liability when it comes to making patch/plug repairs, but taking on that liability is a very personal choice for tire stores. Some will, some won't. I don't think you'll have any kind of immediate problem.

-Sean

 

just installed these new Michelin LRR tires...
I absolutely love them to death!!! I highly recommend these tires for the Prius.



MICHELIN PRIMACY MXM4 LRR TIRES 215/45R17
100% Thumbs Up on these Tires...

 

I bought 4 LRRs from tire rack and my mileage went down, So I went up to 46PSI and it did not help. I am back at 38PSI and I get the same MPG and maybe even better??????????????? These are very stiff tires and I wish I had bought OEMs. Never again.

195/55R16 Michelin Energy Saver IN STOCK 4 $142.00 $568.00

 

Keep in mind your MPGs WILL decrease with new tires until they are broken in. How many miles do you have on them?

 

when I bought Michelen Energy Saver tires, 195x65x15, I noticed
a 2-3 mpg increase over the Toyota equipped Yokohama Avid
tires I replaced them with, even though the Avid tires had
over 10,000 miles and were well broken in.

I keep all my tires inflated to max sidewall pressure, Energy
tires are 44 psi, and the Yokos were at the same 44 psi.

We have over 57,000 miles on the Energy tires now
and I would expect at least another 10,000 miles of
tread life left.

If I can't find Energy Tires when I need new tires
the Nokian Entyre is my next choice....

 

Besides the possibility of improvement after break in (I have never seen good data on that), there is a major factor that causes a drop in APPARENT MPG when tire are replaced. You old tires were worn down which reduced their radius by up to 1/4 of an inch. This changed the calibration of your odometer by about 2*0.25/24 or about 2% (a change in revolutions per mile) which increased the apparent MPG until you put on the new tires when the 2% disappeared.

Of course, different manufacturer/model tires have different revolutions/mile (even at the same "size") so you need to take that into account as well when comparing your MPG with different tires.

JeffD

 

195/55R16 tires are too short with a diameter of 24.4". The proper size should be 205/55R16 which have a diameter of 24.9" vs 25" for the stock 195/65R15 tires. Your mileage will be artificially high since the tire is too small.

 

I have two Prius's 2009 Touring and a 2011 IV.


OEM tires are=

Treadwear: 260
Traction: A
Temperature: A260 A A
1168 lbs.
51 psi
9/32"
19 lbs. 5.5-7"
6"
7.9"
7.4"
24.4"
854
Country of Origin "JP" = JAPANJP

The tires I bought are out of stock.

http://michelinman.com/tire-selector/size/EMetric/195/55/16/OE/BNW/energy-saver/tire-details

 

Where is the evidence of that statement.

 

PriusBoom,
What mpg difference have you seen if any? What tires were you running before? NICE wheels, what are they?

 

I know a lot of people here add more air than Toyota recommends. Keep in mind that LRR tires have worse wet traction (according to Consumer Reports) that non-LRR tires. So, when you put additional air in the tires, you further reduce traction (but improve cornering), so keep that in mind.

 

But it is available in a 205/50R17 which is a better choice then the 215/45R17 anyway. The one thing that jumps out at me is how heavy those tires are.

 

Hey Dmanpizza,

They're MOMO Next rims.