I am hoping to buy a Prius C soon. I have two questions : What is the difference between the 15" and 16" wheels? (other than one inch?!) Why is the 16" considered an upgrade? AND The absolute red color looks different in so many of the pics ( including in the brochure) and I will probably not get to see one in person before ordering. Some pics show it as more of an orangy-red (these are not pics of the habenero color) and some show it a bit darker without any orange tint, closer to a cherry color, though not wuite that dark. If anyone has seen this color...or bought it...would you please let me know your thoughts on this. Thanks!
The 15" wheel will likely result in slightly better mpg and there are more choices for LRR tires in the 15" size. The 16" wheels may offer. Enter handling and a more sporty feel at the expense of a little comfort. I can't help you on color. Seeing. The car at a dealership and in different types of lighting is really the only method to determine if you like it.
note that the 16" wheels also include a new steering box that changes the turning radius of the car. it takes the turning circle diameter from 31 ft to 37 ft which is not trivial. I've seen the red. Absolutely red is the same on the yaris too if you can find one of them on a lot somewhere. I'd say its definitely a cherry like red, nice and deep and rich too. not anywhere near the orangey habanero. the red is a solid color, no flecks or metallic or anything like that in it.
absolute red.. is pretty much what it is... absolute. it's a bright red color that stands out.. no orange-ish color whatsoever.. no metallic.. just a bright sports car like red.
The absolutely red is one of the prettier reds I've ever seen. It is pure red with no orange or blue undertones. I do notice in online pics the Habenero can often be mistaken for red so that could have been what you were looking at. Habenero is very very orange but in certain pics looks almost reddish.
From what I've read, it's the 4 level trim package that installs the limited steering gearbox, not the 16" wheel option. If you bought a 4 level and kept the 15" alloy wheels it normally comes with, the turning radius would still be the wider 37 feet.
I stand corrected. From the online Toyota Prius c spec sheet for the level 4. Turning circle diameter, curb to curb (ft.) 31.4/37.4* *When equipped with optional 16-in. 8-spoke alloy wheels with P195/50R16 83V tires
yes. as i said in the other thread, the track of the 16" wheels is actually less than the 15" wheels. this means the 16's have more positive offset and so most of the gained wheel width is inside. this obviously necessitated the increase in turning radius. perhaps its an aero issue that they didnt want the wheels poking out any more than the 15's???
Thanks so much for all the responses. Very helpful! So, I am seeing almost no upside to the 16" wheels. As I understand it (which is questionable, as I am quite the automotive techno-neophyte), the 15" gives a much better turning radius, higher MPG and a smoother ride. The 16' gives better handling (not exactly sure what that means in this case). Why is the 16" considered an upgrade? And the red...does anyone know how it compares to the Honda Fit red?
The 16" will use a lower profile tire which reduces sidewall deformation and makes the car feel less mushy when navigating corners or making quick steering adjustments. The shorter sidewall tire and larger wheel also look nicer and a bit more sporty. This is why most people consider it an upgrade. Most vehicles offer a wheel upgrade/upsize nowadays.
Purchased an absolutely red Prius c about 2 1/2 weeks ago. It is red! No orange to me although not as deep red as a stop sign. No idea about the Honda Fit red. The Prius c red is the same as the Absolutely red on the Yaris liftback (my son-in-law has one). The color even has the same name. Might be able to locate one of those just so you can see the color.
With the 16" wheels, how badly is the MPG affected? Anyone out there with the 16" wheels, what kind of MPG are you getting? Thanks.
The 16" wheels are the standard sports car upgrade. The goal is to create a "sporty hybrid" with better handling (steering, braking, and cornering), but it does sacrifice mpg, turning circle, and ride. F8L says similar things above. I agree that compromising a pure hybrid with sporty pretensions is utterly silly.
You can't make accurate comparisons that way. People try to do that with the 15" and 17" wheels equipped GenIII. The fact is, every car, owner and commute will generate different numbers so you cannot compare what one person is getting for mpg to what another person is getting and blame the difference on a feature or modification. The only way to determine if there is a difference is by swapping wheels on the same car and driving it in the same manner in the same condition the control wheels were driven. Those people who have done this with the GenII and GenIII observe a sizeable drop in mpg with the larger and heavier wheels. The 16" are not such a large jump so the mpg is expected to be less but with only 99HP and less torque, the c may actually take a larger hit.
This is so true. On our 07 Prius Touring, the only change I made was to switch from the stock 195/55-16 tires to stickier 205/50-16 tires and average mpg was reduced by 10%. My point is that you really need to examine what you're doing first before making any modifications that might affect what you have now. Wheel- weight, offset, width, diameter, tire- compound, aspect ratio, and even construction all play a part in how your change to a different wheel/tire combo will have a direct affect on handling and mpg. Having learned valuable lessons from my 07 touring, I am approaching the wheel/tire mod on the c from a very honest evaluation of what I want to end up with first, then assembling the parts that will result in successfully achieving that goal.
