My sweetie has a 2007 model, and we've replaced the suspension on the thing, but it still rides like an Olde Tyme buckboard on a cow trail. Our streets and roads around here are terrible, and sweetie is getting tired of the rough, jarring ride. I dropped tire pressure to 32-lbs all around, and that has helped some. I may drop it a couple of pounds more, to 30, and see how that goes. However, we'll soon need new rubber, and I'd like some suggestions. As the subject states, we wand quiet, soft riding tires. Mileage is of no concern. Rain and snow handling are not important. I put a set of Cooper Evolution Tours on my Camry, and they are quiet and comfortable. Anyone know how they might be on the Prius? Any other suggestions? Cost is not an issue.
I've been very pleased with General Altimax RT43, if they are not too inexpensive for your tastes. What suspension work was done?
I second the General altimax RT43 recommendation. They really quieted down our other subcompact car and I plan to hang a set on our Prius once we wear out the factory rubber.
I went with Pirelli (non energy saving) tires from Sam’s club. Mileage went down an mpg or 2 but smooth as butter now. The mpg penalty doesn’t bother me, especially when I compare it to what I get in my 5.7 Tundra lol.
Where are you located? What kind of roads do you generally drive on? Trying to get a sense of what your roads are like compared to those in our area of California. Are the tires quiet? Compared to what other tires you've had on the Prius? Which Pirelli tires did you get? Tks!
I have Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus tires. Yes they’re very quiet. I live in Springfield,MO and drive in a mix of city and highway roads. It’s been a while, but I remember the roads out in CA seem to have a different surface. I had Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires before and they would only stay quiet for the first 10,000 miles or so. Then they would get loud. I’ve only had these tires for 5,000 miles or so. I noticed a huge difference when I got the Pirelli’s. Very nice to drive on trips now. Btw, The guys at Sams mentioned that they get a lot of complaints on the Goodyear tires in general.
Michelin Defender works fine, has long life and gets great mileage. Costco has a deal on them every couple of months including free rotations and balancing and five year road hazard warranty.
That's a big deal. I live near Philadelphia but I own a business in Los Angeles, so I'm out there fairly often. I doubt I would enjoy driving our c on the segmented concrete of I-5 or even the 170. I rent cars to get around out there and usually smile when they give me something with a long wheelbase like an Avalon.
I just got a set of those coopers on my newish Kia today. Really nice tire quiet and nice ride. Second set of Coopers for me great tires. $123 each.
I had Michelin Harmonies on my Gen 1 at one time, but when those were discontinued I bought a set of Defenders, and those were louder.
Reading the article.... Here in Rural NE Texas, they do a road surface called "Chip Seal" - where they spray down a layer of hot asphalt/tar, and spread rock chips on it. Depending on how big the chips are, the road can be loud to deafening - especially with higher tire pressures. Running 35-36 PSI - I don't know if any tire is gonna be quiet on these roads. Our current tires (NEXEN NPriz) that came new on the car - are super-quiet on smooth roads. Not so much on this rough chip seal. Like every other tire I've driven on, they "sing" on textured concrete road surfaces. Is any tire gonna be quiet on a loud road surface?
Always put Kumho Solus tires on my G2. Fantastic tire for about 15-20000 miles than there just awful lol loud as can be. But very inexpensive tire. Florida is tough on tires.
