Low Rolling Resistance replacement tires: Current List

Thank you, Sir!

 

The EP422 doesn't rank that well on tirerack survey results

Consumer Survey Results By Category

I'd be avoiding it if I lived anywhere that snow is a possibility just based on the survey results.

 

F8L correctly noted that fuel economy is my main criteria. If the handling and traction exceed that of my bicycle tires then I am good to go, rollin' slow!

 

and according to the survey results there are better tires for snow that are A/S tires, check the link I provided.

The problem with tirerack test you linked to is they pick 4 tires out of dozens to test and they don't necessarily test the best, just 4 they picked.

Why would you choose from only those 4 when there are dozens to choose from?

 

In the KS flatlands, we get snow, but it just blows away in our usual 30+mph winds.

What tire would you recommend for me, dhanson865?

 

You have a Gen III (2010) with 15" rims? If so I'd say the top choice for fuel efficiency is likely the 195/65/15 Michelin Energy Saver A/S. Price be darned and deal with the hassle. They last a while, it isn't like you have to change tires every 3 months.

Tire names can be very similar for very different tires, I would not recommend the Continental "ProContact with EcoPlus" but I would instead recommend "PureContact with EcoPlus". The difference in traction, tread pattern, etcetera is dramatic with only a slight change in name.

You'll get better MPG with the Energy Saver A/S but you'll get better traction with the "PureContact with EcoPlus". It's a pain to even wright about some brands of tires because the naming conventions are so intentionally confusing.

Tire Test Results : Testing Grand Touring All-Season Tires with a Sporty Edge shows test results for that tire but note it's compared to sportier tires. It'd take a lot of work to figure out how much MPG you'll lose going for these and even more to figure out how much you'd lose if you just got what walmart wanted to sell you.

Don't let the local shops foist a tire onto your car that has one or two letters difference in name. Look it up on tirerack and pour over the specs and survey results to be sure it is the tire that is right.

Even if it is a hassle to get Energy Saver A/S in the size you need it's less than the hassle of doing proper research in to dozens if not hundreds of tire choices and then having to buy one even after you realize you don't have enough information to make a fully informed decision.

 

For me its simple: If it doesn't say Michelin on the side I don't consider it.

 

Found a discount tire store and requested a quote on-line with a note asking availability on the Michelin Energy Saver A/S. I may order these ahead of time and store them for a bit. Depending how this goes, I will check out the PureContact w/ Eco Plus.

 

All the tests and surveies

 

oops It won't let me edit after I mis-clicked sent.

What I meant to say was.... All the tests and surveys on tirerack only serves as a starting point. The test uses different tire sizes, vehicles, and driving conditions. Dry, wet, and snow are very broad descriptions; Rain/thunderstorm, snow/blizzard are very different things. Having a sprinkler on a close track is not the same as rain on a real road.
If you look at the individual surveys, every customer drives a different vehicle and are from different parts of the country.
I believe everyone should use the information on tirerack, or PriusChat wisely, and make up your own mind according to your driving style and road conditions. I personally chose to listen to F8L and other on Prius Chat because they drive the same vehicle and have similiar driving/weather condition as me

 

Wow, the Pure Contact with Eco Plus is a 51 psi tire whose ratings ALL exceed those of the ES A/S. Are the ratings relatively reliable, or were these graded on different scales?

I would think the 51 psi alone is worth a mpg or so.

I requested a quote on these from the same store as the Michelins.

 

Are you referring to the standard ProContact or

ProContact with Ecoplus? Is your tire wear information based upon personal experience or other sources?

 

Thank you so much! I had been reading the various reviews but I had been so busy reading content that I missed the ProContact vs. PureContact being 2 different tires. And then I had it stuck in my head that the Pure Contact didn't have the EcoPlus. I have some more reading to do get the differences between the 2 straight in my head!!!

 

for the most part there is no thing as a free lunch, if it ranks higher on every rating required to be shown on the tire it will rank lower in something else not rated there. At the least I'd expect worse MPG with the continental tire vs the Energy Saver A/S even if you use the higher PSI.

Snapshot: effect of tire pressure on rolling resistance - MetroMPG.com will show that you aren't going to get the same boost in MPG going from 45 to 50 psi that you get going from 40 to 45 psi. It will save you some gas but not much and the savings may be within the margin of error of your testing method or just obscured by the margin of error.

 

I'm shopping for new tires right now, i have these continental tires on right now and they lasted me 45k miles. They are at the wear bars. They were great tires when new and got around surprisingly well in snow. But did not last. I'll be going with the 442's, assurance fuel max, or the energy savers. just have to figure out which will do best in snow