Best LRR Tires (for So Cal)

Hi all, what would be some good LRR tires for use in Southern California (little rain, no snow)?

I'm driving a 2005 Gen II Prius btw.

 

Thanks.

How about Yokohama AVID Ascend? Very reasonably priced on tirerack.com.

Also, is there another good website to buy tires from? Amazon?

 

Can anyone weigh in with any wisdom about my last post?

 

How good are the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max?

 

Ok, I am going to ask one more time about the Yokohama AVID Ascends (T-Speed Rated), because from what I've read, they are a great value. In an effort to add value to the discussion, here is a summary of what I've gleaned thus far about these tires.

Pros:
1. On Tire Rack.com, they are slightly less expensive than the Ecopia 422's.
2. They are reputed to have amazing treadwear properties. Unlike the 422s, which some people have reported as wearing out at around 35k-40k miles. These Yokohamas have a 5 year/85,000 mile treadwear warranty.
3. Rated as having great noise properties.
4. Great handling and comfort properties.
5. Supposedly give very good to great MPG. As good as Michelin Energy Savers? Not enough data (especially from the trusted people on this board).
6. Supposedly are environmentally manufactured, and made in the USA. They use orange oil in the tires too, which is supposed to be very new technology and environmentally friendly too.
7. Here's a fairly glowing review of them on About.com:
Yokohama Avid Ascend Tire Review
8. On TireRack, they are the 2nd highest Customer rated LRR tire, behind the Defender (which I've also read isn't really great as an LRR tire. And is also around 50% more expensive than these Yokohamas).

Cons:
1. According to TireRack's test, they are an average performer in wet conditions. But subsequent user ratings refute this. (And I'm in SoCal where rain is not copious).
2. Less popular. There simply aren't as many ratings of these tires as the others; there are only 33 ratings on Tire Rack. This is the main reason why I hesitate to get them.

So, again... WHAT AM I MISSING? Why haven't more people tried these? Their reputed durability alone for an LRR tire puts them in a superior light.

Very interested to hear any insight anyone has on these tires!

 

Hi all, a chunk of rubber was recently gouged from the sidewall of one of my 2005 Gen 2's Michelin Energy Saver AS tires. Likely from a curb during parking. There is no puncture/leakage, but I can see the underlying cording, so I'm going to go ahead and assume a repair is unwise/impossible.

Two questions:
1. The Michelin set has 40,000 miles on them, installed mid-2014. Time for a new set of four? Or should I consider replacing just the damaged one? I estimate there's likely around 15-20k of tread life left on this set.

2. What are the latest LRR tires I should consider? I've been very happy with the Michelins, but I can't seem to find them for sale anymore. In the past I considered Bridgestone Ecopias and Yokohama Avid Ascends before going with the Michelins, but was wondering what people now would recommend.

 

Any word on the Michelin Defender T + H?

How about Continental TrueContacts?

 

I have it narrowed down, I think, to three LRR options:

1. Yokohama Avid Ascend (T-Speed Rated) - Highly rated, there is a $50 rebate now (as Srellim mentioned) that makes these very attractive and the least expensive option. Good Prius specific reviews.

2. Continental TrueContacts - Very highly rated, middle price option, but I've read a bunch of mixed Prius-specific reviews; mostly that they reduce MPG.

3. Michelin T+S - most expensive of these options; ~$140 more for the set than the Yokohamas above. Very highly rated, but no Prius specific feedback that I can find.

Any thoughts on these choices? Others to consider?