I knew it may make a difference, but I'm surprised how big a difference it actually makes. I'd still rather have the improved fuel economy of the smaller 15" wheels and narrow tires of my Prius 4, but the Prius 5 definitely has far better handling and is safer in emergency lane change situations. Start about 4:03 in the video for the slalom.
Not understanding japanese.... I don't understand what they are talking about. They looked the same to me. It's a PRIUS, not a Formula 1 car. Fuel economy is it's main function. 15 inch tires cost less than the larger ones, and ride smoother, and yes, better mpg. My 2010 handles great! And it is due for shocks and struts. So when I replace them, I'm sure it will handle even better. I would really like to see someone do a REAL world test, on streets and highways where other drivers are racing and trying to make a it a demolition derby! Then I'd be impressed!
We test drove a 2010 CDN "Tech" level (15", comparable to US IV), then a "Touring" (17", comparable to US V, but less tech). With the latter I felt much more at ease. We bought it. Maybe as of 2012 the 15" level steering was revised to 17" type? FWIW, we run 15" tires through winter, and the steering feel doesn't change.
After 2 weeks of R & R in Japan, back in the early 50's, the only thing spoken that I recognized was, "Hi". The meaning of that is lost somewhere in my aging memory banks. No doubt one of our Japanese friends could help?
All hybrids - regular type & plugins - continue to get more & more efficient, more & more powerful - more & more comfortable as well as better & better handling. Same with safety Stars & epa cleanliness . Can anyone think of even one car that doesn't follow this trend? If the manufacturers left one car out, it would be a laughingstock. .
There's some herd-mentality at play too. For example: everyone's got these sculpted fake air intake "ports" at the fog light locations. More often than not even the fog lights are missing. And if they're not, they might as well be; they're about as useful as night lights.
Nicely found video, the side by side comparison shows shorter sidewalls and wider tires of the 17" giving the car more grip, crispier turn in, and less sidewall rolls during slalom, is safer in emergency situations. Of course average persons who drive and thrive for fuel economy wouldn't care less, but to those who wants that +1 +2 handling upgrade definitely make a difference.
The difference between Priuses with 15" wheels and 17" wheels isn't just the tires. As Car & Driver reported in their initial review of the 3rd gen: For 2010, these changes in steering ratio and damper tuning would have applied only to the V, the only trim with 17" wheels. I'm not sure if they were also implemented on the later Persona package which also came with 17" wheels.
That's my sense too, at least for 2010-2011. Not sure from 2012 onwards: @Tideland Prius might know. For sure stats show diff turn rad for 17" (larger) models, and I think there's more to it? I can never make it perpendicular into a parallel parking space with our touring, but other'n that I like it.
I'm not sure either. I didn't ask about the Persona series so we'll have to rely on Persona owners to tell us if the steering ratio is quicker. From what I remember, I think the electric power steering motor is also different between the 15" and 17" cars for 2010/2011. Also, if you look up a Motortrend article on the 2010 Prius, the 17" models run 0-60 slower than the 15" models. (Motortrend tested the 2010 V and I think Car and Driver had the 15" and if you look at the 0-60 times, they are different).
I would imagine the turning radius would remain the same between models as it is unrelated to the steering ratio (14.6:1 or 17.6:1)
I'm pretty sure there is a significant difference (increase) in turning radius, models with 17" rims vs 15". It's something like 18 feet vs 16 feet. A little frustrating, at the moment I can't find the documentation, but I have seen it. Our Canadian Touring came with 17" wheels and the different steering setup. It's a bit of a boat in tight quarters, maneuvering into parallel parking spaces. And again, not sure about Persona, would guess it's the improved steering feel, larger rad? Or Toyota's lawyers would be upset?
FWIW, the current Prius has a different turning diameter for 15" vs 17" wheels--33.5 ft for the former and 35.4 ft the latter. Edit: I remembered I had the 2013 and 2014 product brochures on my computer. Turning circle diameter for 15" wheels was 34.2 ft and for 17" 36.0 ft.
CDN brochure I had only showed one radius: But I think they've omitted the Touring (sim to US V) stat. Again, ours really feels like a boat... A very pleasant boat though... US 2010 brochure showed increase for just the V: full pdf of above available from: Auto-Brochures.com|Toyota Car PDF Sales Brochure/Catalog/Flyer/Info 4Runner 86 Avalon Camry Celica, CH-R, Corolla Corona Echo FJ Cruiser Highlander Land Cruiser Mark II Matrix Mirai MR2 Prius RAV4 Sequoia Sienna Solara Supra Tacoma Tundra Venza Yaris And downloaded again from above, the 2013 model year says: Which I think would be level 5 and Persona?
