Low Rolling Resistance replacement tires: Current List

You are right 3.3 miles is a short distance, but it was all i can do in a rush before the avid installs. 82 mpg was at 60 mph and no electric. My all time average with the Avid (original equipment) was about 56 mpg including winter numbers. Here is a shot displaying summer numbers. Still had 1 pip of fuel, good for another 50 miles or so. Cannot find my best tank mpg photo but it was around 62mpg.

 

Anyone have any opinion on the Nokian eNTYRE for my 2008 Prius? I have spent hours now perusing posts, tire sites, etc...it's hard to make a decision! I notice lots of thumbs up for Michelins...I've had bad luck with Michelin tires, specifically the Hydro Edge on my 1986 VW Vanagon...the tread started to split so I am wary of that brand, but willing to reconsider. Looking for excellent MPG and environmentally sound manufacturing practices. Seems like a lot of warnings about the Bridgestones...

 

I purchased the Bridgestone 422's at Costco as well. After a month I returned them and got 4 Michelin Energy Saver AS tires for only about $50.00 more. 3-4 mpg instant gain over the 422's. You can not beat the Energy Saver AS tires. If someone knows a more fuel efficient tire that is available in the U.S. please let us all know....

 

Alfon, the only one I'm considering over the Energy Savers are the new (4/1/14) Michelin Premier A/S. They're also rated as a 10 for fuel efficiency and are touted as the best in wet weather (I live in the PNW). Since they're not new ( and not yet on instant rebate with Costco) I'm waiting a bit for more reviews and sales to come out. They're advertised as a touring tire and apparently Costco has them only a couple of bucks more than the ES's so I will likely go with them next month.

 

Whats a good set of Low Res tires for Prius V with the stock 17 rims?

 

^ I'm in same boat, with Canadian Touring, and have a few contenders:

Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 (likely best for RR)
Michelin Primacy MXM4 (not far behind)
Michelin Premier (newcomer, not sure how it compares to above)

 

Nokian eNTRyE will be rated well I would think as Nokian pioneered lrr tires. I have WR2g on my 2006 and I find the fe as good as most. H

 

I just inflated my tires on my Bridgestone Ecopia 422. The tires now have around 8,000 miles and they are excellent. i was running 34/32psi, then i increased it to 38/36 with no increase in gas mileage. I now inflated the tires to 42psi all around with nitrogen and i am getting 58mpg. I just drove with a light foot from Victorville, CA to Santa Monica and i got 63mpg doing around 60-65mph.

Driving from LA to Victorvile and climbing the Cajon Pass i averaged 53 mpg, which is around 10mpg more than usual. I did slow my speed going up the hill which helped to the low 50 mph, but i would routinely get 43-46mpg when doing a big hill climb. It tends to scrub off the mpg.

The tires handle very well when inflated near the maximum tire pressure, the rider is firmer, more road feel and a little harsher of an overall ride. However, the Pulse and Glide works better and the car seems content in rolling longer (LRR) which turns off the engine sooner, longer and the car will kick and stay into EV mode at 40mph. Not sure if i was seeing incorrectly since this is the first day at 42psi.

It sounds like you didn't sufficiently break in the E422 and you were running 32-35psi. just a hunch. The Michellin Energy Savers A/S are getting long in the tooth and there is better technology out there these days.

I am planning on rotating every 5,000 miles to hopefully getter better tire life.

 

Anyone have experience with the Michelin Defenders? America's tire rep was selling them as teh best tires, but when I went to look for the energy saver a/s, they were special order so the only way to get them was to wait. I just bough the defenders since i have a 30 day return policy on them from michellin.

 

Has any tried Toyo Versado Eco tires? Looks like they are specifically made for Hybrids.

Versado Eco | Toyo Tires

Treaddepot.com has 215-45R17 (my size) for $130. What a steal!

 

Michelin describes them as entry level tires when discussing their overall lineup. They are good tires but not the best Michelin makes.

 

....maybe I will give them another look based on your comments. The Conti Pro Contacts w/ Eco-Plus seem to be showing "close-out" over at TireRack, so I guess this is next version.

 

I live in the PNW too & I've not had any issues with the Energy Saver A/S in the wet weather. They drive just fine & brake in the rain just fine.

 

I bought the Premiers from Costco last weekend. So far decidedly NOT impressed with that mpg hit I'm taking. Considering trading in for Energy Savers. Anyone else able to comment on the MPGs with the Premiers?

 

I can reply to the Defenders. I've lost about 2mpgs from the Avids that I had. Ride comfort and quietness has gone up.

I got a little bored, and decided to due a simple compare contrast with the Defenders and Energy Saver A/S two tires to see in the long run, which will be cheaper.


So where I live, the Michelin Defenders are $6.00 more than the Energy Saver A/S per tire.

Defenders = $118 / each
Energy Saver = $112 / each

The difference is $24 + tax for 25,000 mile more warranty. (90k for Defenders vs. 65k for the Energy Saver

If my test drive today of 59mpgs with the Defenders and 61mpgs with the Avids. The energy saver would get 2.1 mpgs more than the Avids based off the reviews I was reading. So Energy Saver would get 63mpgs.

Defender = 59mpgs
Avids = 61mpgs
Energy Saver = 63mpgs

I drive about 20k miles a year. Assuming gas is at $4/gallon (it is that in California).

Defender = miles per year / miles per gallon => 20000/59 = 338.98 year / gallon X $4.00 / gallon = $1355.93
Avids = 20000/61 = 327.86 X $4.00 = $1,311.47
Energy Saver = 20000/63 = 317.46 X $4.00 = $1,269.84
-----------------
Comparing both the Defenders and the Energy Saver with the warranty of 65k

Defender: 65,000 / 59 = 1,1101.69 gallons = $4,406.77
Energy Saver: 65,000 / 63 = 1,031.74 gallons = $4,126.98

The difference is $276.79 of gas saving. However, One will have to buy new Energy Saver tires by then since the ES would be bald, while the Defenders will still have thread, or at least warranty on them left.

$112 x 4 = $586 Out the door price with balancing, mounting, and environmental fees. $586 x .38 (25k to match the 90k from defender/65k warranty) = $225.38 spent to get another $25k of life on the next set of new tires..

So:
TIRES ONLY
If you were to drive the Defenders up to 90k .
Defenders: 4 tires with balancing, mounting etc = $612.58
Energy Savers: 4 tires with balancing, mounting, etc = $586 + $225.38 (second set) = $811.38

GASOLINE ONLY
Assuming the Defenders and the Energy Saver lasts their respective warranty from Michelin, this is how much you will have to pay in gas if you get the rated mpgs
90,000 miles / 59 milespergallon = $1,525/gallon x $4.00 = $6,101
90,000 miles / 63 milespergallon = $1,428/gallon x $4.00 = $5714

Sum up both TIRES AND GASOLINE TOTAL for 90k miles usage
Defender: $612.58 + $6,101 = $6713
Energy Saver: ($586 + 225.38) + $5714 = $6525

Difference of $188 between the two sets tires. Sounds like to me the energy savers are still the winner despite Defenders being the newer tires that Michelin is trying to push at the stores.

This just might tip me over and go back to the Energy Savers, but the Defenders ride was so good today driving down the freeway. Got many compliments by my carmates that said it was very quiet

 

For me, the defenders are okay, but there are better options.. I got 52mpgs the last fill up and averaged about 54 before.

it's basically go with the Energy Saver A/S (tried and true) or try the Premier A/S (and be the lab rat). About to call Americas Tire today to have them exchange the Defenders for something more fuel efficient.

 

What did you go with? I'm really vacillating about whether or not I should return the Premier and go with the Energy Savers. My MPG hits are about 5-10 MPG below what I was getting with my OEM Goodyear tires. I have yet to hit over 60 MPG on my commute home from work (26.2 miles), which I used to do regularly with regular driving in warm weather. Not sure if the Energy Savers will actually matter that much either. I have until the 11th to purchase the Energy Savers from Costco and still get the $70 discount. Torn! Advice anyone?