Installed 15" MB Wheels "Viper" in an effort to maintain MPG

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by F8L, Oct 5, 2012.

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  1. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    I'm surprised at you F8L! You could have squeezed out better MPGs from those 17s!

    Seriously, I'm certain you would have been able to get better fuel economy than I get. For my first 60,000+, all on the stock Toyos, I did pretty well, even though I have a very short commute (good for low fuel use, bad for MPGs) and live in a tough climate for high FE. My last tank on the Toyos was 58.0 on the MFD and 55.0 calculated. I have been able to get a few 60+ tanks, but not many.

    Fuel economy clearly has dropped with the new Primacy MXM4s. I don't yet have 100 miles on them, so I don't know how bad the drop will become. I'm also facing colder weather and brand new tires, so it will be difficult to figure which one is contributing more to the drop. I suppose next Spring is when I'll really know.

    In the meantime, I like the look of your new wheels. Maybe not quite as much as the Lexus wheels, but pretty darn close.

    Question: I know my Prius V (Model 5 these days) had a different steering column and rack build, but do you know whether there are also changes in the suspension? It feels much different than other Gen IIIs when driving, but I don't know if that is attributable only to the wheel/tire/steering combo or something more.
     
    #21 a priori, Oct 12, 2012
  2. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    Yep! A very nice look. Maybe I do like them as much as the Lexus wheels . . .
     
    #22 a priori, Oct 12, 2012
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  3. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    If I chose to go pulsing and gliding I know I could have done better. Instead I chose to drive the 15s like I did the 17s. If that makes sense. I'm certain I could have pulled 60mpg tanks in the summer but it would have required the same effort I put in to get 68mpg tanks with the 15s. :(

    I really do like the Lexus wheels but I need to sell whatever will go the fastest. I have nowhere to store extra parts and my better half hates clutter! So at this point all of it is for sale and whatever combo I have left is what will end up on my car. LOL
     
    #23 F8L, Oct 12, 2012
  4. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I don't think there is a difference in suspension. The steering feel and chassis feel change pretty dramatically with the 17s. Everything feels tighter and dare I say heavier with the 17s.

    Unless you keep good winter fuel up data we may have to wait until ring or summer to see what these new tires will do for you. I really really want this info. It seems we cannot find tires that are as FE as the OE tires. Except maybe the EP422. If I get stuck with the Lexus wheels I am going to try them!
     
    #24 F8L, Oct 12, 2012
  5. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    The more I look back at things, the more I'm convinced my memory is correct: The V model has a different suspension and a different steering system.

    Much has been made of the different and tighter steering (2.8 turns, lock-to-lock, vs 3.7 turns for the other models), but I had forgotten there also is a brushless motor for the electronic power steering for the Model V (Five).

    When some people started checking up on the "rumors" of a different suspension for the Model V (supposedly started by a Car and Driver review), they found their local Toyota dealers' parts departments listed not only different shocks for the Model V, but also different springs. Here's a link to an older PriusChat thread on the topic.
    I keep pretty good fuel purchase and use records. I've always seen seasonal changes with my lowest FE in the winter, next lowest in summer, and spring and fall sharing the best FE honors. (Cold temps, slushy roads, heater and heated seats are much tougher on FE than A/C!)

    No doubt I'm going to take a hit on fuel economy, but I feel much safer on these tires. I pushed them a bit today during a wild thunderstorm (complete with tornado warnings). The rain was coming down so hard it was difficult to see, and there was plenty of water on the road surface, but the new tires made it feel like I was driving on dry surfaces in the middle of the summer. WOW!
     
    #25 a priori, Oct 14, 2012
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  6. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Since you actually get real weather in your neck of the woods I wouldn't have recommended an inferior tire. ;)
     
    #26 F8L, Oct 14, 2012
  7. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    You couldn't have been a better friend to me the way you've helped me thing through the purchase and consider what I was looking for in a tire. I want great FE (I have a PRIUS!!), but I'm looking for a better overall driving experience than I was getting with the Toyos, as well as a safer all-weather drive. I think you led me to the right choice. Thank you!!
     
    #27 a priori, Oct 14, 2012
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  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    FE is great but I would feel pretty terrible if you had a bad accident because you couldn't stop quickly or flew off the road during a storm. :(
     
    #28 F8L, Oct 15, 2012
  9. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    Have you push the pressure back to the 40s yet?
     
    #29 Jonny Zero, Oct 15, 2012
  10. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    Yes. For the past couple of days (and many miles), I've run at 43/41. I may bump it up just for grins for a while, but I'll be out of town for much of this coming week, so that will have to wait. Also, I've tended not to run at higher pressures during the winter, and if the cold arives early, I'll likely hold back on testing higher psi until later.
     
    #30 a priori, Oct 15, 2012
  11. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    In the interest of science, err Prius knowledge base anyway, I think I'll order the 205/50/17 Ecopia EP422 tomorrow. I won't be able to get any real solid numbers with winter coming but come spring I should be able to compare them to the Primacy MXM4. I'll also find out if the ride harshness of the PureContact was a specific tire trait or and side effect or the XL rating.

    So help me sell my 15s and the 2 sets of Energy Savers please. :)
     
    #31 F8L, Oct 15, 2012
  12. eco-icon

    eco-icon Junior Member

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    if you decide to sell the 15"s let me know

    Nexus 7 ? 2
     
    #32 eco-icon, Oct 15, 2012
  13. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    #33 F8L, Oct 15, 2012
  14. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    Dang F8L, I wanna be your wheel and tire dealer!:p
     
    #34 Jonny Zero, Oct 15, 2012
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  15. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    As much wheelin and dealin I try to do I'm sure they are ready to ban me from the store (America's Tire in Woodland). They are a great bunch of guys though. The manager, Austin, is super helpful.

    That being said I am done for awhile. I've wasted too much money in taxes and TPMS rebuild kits! I need to sell the tires I'm hiding from my girlfriend too. She never goes in the attic. :)
     
    #35 F8L, Oct 15, 2012
  16. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Hey Mike (The Critic). Didn't you get banned from a store for similar reasons? LOL
     
    #36 F8L, Oct 15, 2012
  17. eco-icon

    eco-icon Junior Member

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    where are you from again?

    Nexus 7 ? 2
     
    #37 eco-icon, Oct 15, 2012
  18. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    Be careful, the ceiling sheetrock might come tumbling down. :D
     
    #38 Jonny Zero, Oct 15, 2012
  19. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    That's all I need! Did I ever tell you about the time I was installing a ceiling fan from the attic and sawed through orange PVC I thought was conduit? Yeah, the fire department had a good laugh. All 8 of the firemen/firewomen had a good laugh alright.
     
    #39 F8L, Oct 15, 2012
  20. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    #40 bedrock8x, Oct 15, 2012
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