I wiil soon be needing new tires for my III. Which ones offer the softest ride? I'm not a MPG fanatic, anywhere in the high 40's is OK. Not a performance purist either. I just want as soft a ride as possible in this small car. Thanks.
I just replaced my 16" wheels with 17" and bought the Michlin MXV4 LRR GreenX tires...fantastic tire, highly rated and smooooooth.
This is a really subjective trait I a tire and co founded by the problem of fuel efficiency. Most of the really comfy tires will either have a low tread wear or high rolling resistance or both! You may consider something n between and run a tire like the Ecopia EP100 or Energy Saver A/S. The Energy Saver A/S will provide the best mpg, great tread wear and good comfort. The MXV4 is an excellent tire but you'll take a 3+mpg hit with those vs. the Energy Saver A/S. You may want to read my tire threads and see if they help you narrow down your search. http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...esistance-replacement-tires-current-list.html http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-fuel-economy/98592-new-tire-tests-tirerack-com.html
I believe that the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity(Grand Touring All-Season) is well known for its excellent ride. These are sold by Firestone dealers and you can get a firm quote on line, so the dealer cannot throw in a lot of extra charges at the point of sale after giving you a telephone quotation. You will have to make sure that any dealer jacks the Prius up correctly when replacing tires.
I have the 15" MXV4's that F8L discusses above. This size is not GreenX but just outside of the LRR classification. I have lost about the 3 mpg average that he indicates above. But, if you are looking for a smooth, comfortable ride I would highly recommend these tires. The ride, handling, grip and low noise of these tires make them an excellent tire for someone that does not mind the loss of a few mpg's as you indicate.
