Best tires for Gen III Prius from Discount Tire?

If your dealer there has access to the Nokian line of tires, then I'd say take a close look at the WRG3.

These are 'all-weather' tires, or more precisely high performance winter tires that can be driven all year round. They are low rolling, very quiet and responsive and rated 500 AA So you get great mileage, great traction in all conditions, especially on ice and snow, save money as you don't have to put on winter tires.... I see 4.2 to 4.8 km/l with no troubles... more than 50mpg in terms of my mileage.

Getting an all season tire is a compromise.... they all are bad when temperatures drop and are at their worst in winter weather. Give them a good look see... excellent tire at high speeds too, specs are beyond OEM.

Roland

 

If you're not concerned about icy conditions or snow, just need an "all season", the Bridgestone Ecopia EP20 is a decent LRR option.

The Michelin Energy Saver A/S is a bit better for LRR, but seems to be in very short supply. Michelin's marketing strategy with this tire is a bit of a head scratcher.

 

My Toyota dealer recommend the Michelin Defender over the Michelin Energy Saver. The Defender has almost twice the tread life.

 

I picked up about 2 mpg after installing a set of Michelin ''Premiers'' and they ''broke in'' after a few thou miles, 'spect yours will too. I will almost surely install a set of ''Pure Contacts'' on G/Fs ''v'' around Christmas as we will give up a few mpg for the security those tires offer. Monsoon season starts in Ms in Jan. [ while folks up north are being buried in snow ] and the wet traction has my attention. I came within 1/2 inch of getting those myself.

 

I would strongly suggest using a dedicated winter tire for the snowy months. LLR tires, in particular, tend to get very hard below 40 degrees, and none of them come close to the snow and ice traction of a good, winter tire.

When you are comparing the difference in overall MPG, remember that the cost difference between 44 mpg per tank average, and 50 mpg is very small, even over the course of a year.

See attachment, or calculate yourself here: Save Money

If you must just run one tire year round, then I second Roland's recommendation of the Nokian WRG3 Nokian WRG3 - The new Nokian WR All-Weather tires offer a virtuoso combination of safety and carefree driving pleasure for every season. / Nokian Tires

 

We've had Nokian WRG2, on a previous vehicle. Actually purchased them on separate rims, used just through winter, as a snow tire. When I was snow tire hunting, everyone was sold out due to new legislation mandating snow tires in Quebec. The WRG2 was all I could find, and actually a good pick for our moderate west coast winters.

The WRG3 tread looks very similar. They are a trade-off between snow tire and all season, have the snowflake/mountain symbol. They did impact mpg, maybe 10%, comparing to our EP20 all seasons. To be fair they were used in the lousiest weather, more short trips.

Now I prefer LRR all-seasons and separate snows. And yeah, even on bare roads, once you're close to freezing temps the snows will stay pliant, be more grippy.

 

The WRG3's are head and shoulders far better than the EP20's that my Prius came with. The fuel mileage is as good or better.

The handling is vastly better.... between the WRG2 vs the newer WRG3's the Nokian people have greatly improved highway higher speed characteristics.

In terms of winter issues, I had Michelin X-Ice 2's.... those things were not the greatest on ice despite their name and fairly questionable in deeper slushy snow... they have released X-Ice 3's which my research showed better results, but I decided that and all weather tire was the best solution with rapidly changing weather conditions and temperatures becoming more common.

I am very confident that there is absolutely no compromise with having the WRG3's on all year, excellent tires.

In Michigan I believe I read of a dealer in the northern parts of the state that may have been called Marathon??... not sure from memory, but they were very positive.

Roland

 

According to our friends at Consumers Reports, the Nokian's rank right their with top tier dedicated winter tires, and rate right there with the best all seasons tires when tested in summer conditions.

If I lived in a part of the country with very heavy winter conditions all of the time, likely I'd go the distance and go all the way with the very best dedicated tire that I could get for winter, but I don't.

We gets lots of rain, cold days with early morning frost possible etc., snow might only happen once in the winter season.... the Nokian works better in the rain, ice and snow than any all season tire, and as well or better than many snow tires, which don't work at all well in the summer as they can add to stopping distances in heat and wear too fast to leave on all of the time.

The point is that these newer all weather tires are greatly improved and worth a look for most of the weather conditions experienced in North America now where all too many drivers buy all seasons in the false belief that they will take them through a typical winter.... they perform at their worst in winter in fact.

Roland

 

Just to let you know, you can haggle with the tire prices somewhat. DT has taken off $10 per tire for me in the past.

 

I have my brother's older 2012 Prius C when he bought his new 2014 Prius liftback. He did some research and decided on the X-Ice 3 for his Prius C and was impress with it. He will not buy anything else besides the X-Ice 3 for his 2014 liftback.

 

Just replaced my stock tires off of a 2010 prius III with 15 inch rims with Michelin Defender XT at 39,000 miles, so far in dry they handle better, and sound quieter too than the stocks. Can't wait for rain and snow to see how they handle but they do have more thread than other tires, 10/32's. But the key for me was buying them at my local Costco for $488 installed after instant $70 rebate and with road hazard and free rotations. This was about $200 cheaper than the local NTB. If you have a Costco nearby, its worth joining just for them. I hope to remember to post updates here as i hit the great weather coming.

 

I just got Michelin defenders and love them! Much more traction compared to ecopia 422

 

dRfoster, check your air pressure, most tire stores put in the factory recommended air pressure, I run 44 front/41 rear.

 

Yup, I read that the X-Ice 3's improved in all the areas that gave me pause with the X-Ice 2's for mine. They were quiet for snows, and didn't crush the fuel economy very much... it is more a matter of temperatures most of the time, but the X 2's didn't help me enough to park with the touchy traction control, and they would be pretty bad on ice for starting and stopping despite their name. Granted, things are bad where I live when there is ice around, as temperatures hover close to the freezing point usually. This is far more problematic than places where it gets colder, it is really easier to drive on ice in colder temperatures.
I couldn't really justify selling my X 2's and buy X 3's only to put them one for half of the year here thinking there might be winter or might not... we do get average temperatures below 40 deg F, which is when you should run winter service rated tires to maintain grip, but I get this with the Nokian WRG3's, which are all year high performance winter tires designed to be great in rain and high summer temperatures as well.
So you are ready for anything, and don't have to pay for extra wheels or changing remounting etc.
If I drove tons more than I do over average people, it could make sense to have all seasons and a set of winters, but it really doesn't make sense for me or lots of others, where the Nokian WRG3's perform give fuel economy and last long enough to get 5 to 6 years before wearing out and needing replacement.

You should not really use tires after 6 years because they can get very dangerous after they get too old, doesn't matter how much tread is left on them, they can actually fall apart for lack of a better description right now.

But yes, I know the X-Ice 3's have upped the game and I'm sure your brother has not made a poor decision.

Roland

 

I drive very close to 20,000kms per year, the km threadlife is rated at 100,000kms

If I get slightly less than that I'd still buy these tires again.

I just got a screen indicated 4.0-4.2 km per litre consumption on a highway drive at temps around 28 or above 80 deg F with a/c on of course, that is above 58 miles per gallon afaik.

Stuff like that makes me happy to see. But it is the overall package where I believe the god sense comes through. Handling, all weather safety and enjoyment with low noise, at least from tires, no need for the extra winter tires... anyhow I've already said it.

As far as reviews, try this UK site read about the WRA3.... it is what most resembles the G3 we get.

Nokian WR A3 | the Nokian WR A3 reviewed and rated - TyreReviews

Over there, Europe, they tend to drive with summer tires, or winter tires... not all seasons as we have here. I like their new tire rating system better than ours, and it is interesting to see how many manufacturers beat Michelin in terms of LRR ratings. don't misunderstand me, I'd have to say I am a Michelin guy based on the number of tires I've owned on various vehicles throughout my life that were made by them.

Years ago, a friend told me that Nokia was the best make of winter tires. Living at the time in a big city that better managed winter cleanup at the time I never tried them. Now, known as Nokian, with this newer all weather category tire of theirs that makes such good sense and is now in a more mature version, I bought after research... and as you know, I've typed more than a few comments to share my not so humble opinion as to how good an investment they can be for many of us Prius drivers.

On page 2 of that UK tire (tyre) review link, read the one from a user called Mike... I think this guy wins.

Roland

 

Can anyone direct me to the thread that speaks to the mpg drops w/ the Defender? I'm attempting to choose between this tire and the Nokian Wrg3. Assuming the tires function similarly, it seems the argument is between cost paid in mpg and the cost paid in replacing the Nokian sooner than replacing the Defenders. If I understand things correctly, the Nokian performs much better in inclement weather than the Defender. But given the higher cost of the tire, is it worth it?

 

If the Nokian WRG3 are ANYTHING like the WRG2 (which I've had), I think you'll be disappointed for rolling resistance. These are fledging snow tires, lol.