I have never really noticed to many problems with stock tires in my cars.When i did replace them! it was with a lower cost brand because of cost linits.Maybe im just used to driving the cheaper ones!If i did get higher quality ones like others suggested here on pc! would i notice a big change?? .This winter i will get my first test of using a good snow tire (michelin x-ice) ill see what kind of difference that will make in my winter driving.I may replace my GoodYear Integrities in the near future if i can be convinced that it would be worth it.Have i been driving in the dark all these years :lol: or will better tires really make a differance in driving performance and comfort?
A quick search will show numerous posts addressing just this question. The stock tires are poor, and almost anything else is better. Like with you, the stock tires didn't seem that bad to me. I suppose it's from driving Jeep CJs, trucks, and other squirrelly vehicles. The place where the Integrities show their weakness is with rain or snow. It can be scary. Once you switch to better tires you will realize that they weren't all that good even for normal driving. I just switched to Michelin Energy MXV4 plus and they are quieter and much more sure-footed. Tom
Tom: What size Michelins did you go with and what did you pay for them in Michigan? Do you switch to snow and ice tires in the winter? Thanks, John
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lake Superior @ Nov 11 2006, 08:23 AM) [snapback]347399[/snapback]</div> I just switched to 195/60/15 MXV4's. Behavior in the rain is much improved. I'm still getting the problem of one of the rear wheels losing contact with the road when going over even mild bumps. But, since the new tires I'm not seeing VSC engaging at all. If you have one close, Costco has great deals in Michelin - around 400.00 for 4 tires before tax, including a 60.00 instant rebate.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(stanlwyjohn @ Nov 11 2006, 08:00 AM) [snapback]347392[/snapback]</div> Absolutely, there aren't many tires that won't be an upgrade to the Integritys. Tires are no place to skimp or save money. Think about it, the tires are the only place your car actually touches the roadway, they are the only thing keeping you on the road and out of a ditch. VSC is great, but it is no substitute for good quality tires.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lake Superior @ Nov 11 2006, 09:23 AM) [snapback]347399[/snapback]</div> I used the stock size: 185/65R15. I got them from Sam's Club and paid $106.38 per tire, mounting included. This is my first winter with them, and so far I intend to run them through the whole winter, but time will tell. We have had some snow, and the early results look promising - much better than the Integrities. Tom
I just switched to Hydroedges; see my other post about it. They seem less ... uh ... "bouncy" is the word I probably want... than the Integrities, and so far I think the tendency to kick OUT of regen over bumps is much less. But that could simply be because they're a slightly heavier tire and that weight is probably out where it counts, around the exterior tread ... more rubber in general, which should also better resist puncture by small objects. . _H*
Before commiting to the Touring Edition 2007, I checked out the 'stock' tires: Bridgestone Turanza 195/55R16 86V mounted on 16" alloy wheels. On the Firestone/Bridgestone web site I found that the warranty was 3-years 'Platinum' plus 70,000 miles tread wear, and the speed rating was 149 MPH [Now who could get a Prius to 149 MPH without loading it onto an aircraft?]. I had run the Integrities on my 2004 for 22K miles and they appeared to have another ~10K left in tread. I ran them at 40/38 PSI and tolerated the noisier ride in favor of MPGs. I have found on the Turanzas, that 2# above the Toyota-recommended pressures seems somewhat better than going to 40/38 as I had on the Integrities, so they're set at 37/35 and I like the feel and ride. It's too soon [200 miles] to evaluate MPGs, but the handling and ride are better than my 2004.
I, too, switched to the Michelin HydroEdge tires. I get better traction as well as longer tire life from these tires. If you want to upgrade, there are only 2 good tires that Prius owners recommend (in the original tire size): (1) Michelin HydoEdge and (2) Goodyear ComforTred tires. The Michelin tires are just over $100 while the Goodyear ComforTreds are about $85. Check on tirerack.com's site for a customer survey of all the tires out there!
! had put hydroedges on my saturn and became hooked! what a difference in handling! The first thing I noticed when I picked up the spaceship was the noise from the integrities! and the handling was poor. I guess they are OK out in the CA desert, but here in the NE with weather and the bumpy roads...... I could not wait to get rid of them! You should notice a BIG difference on all of those twisty CT roads! the hydroedges are Michelins highest rated tires!
I was thinking about going to the Goodyear Comfortreads, but I'm concerned about mileage change. Is that true?
I put Michelin X-Radials on mine (they're only available at club stores like Costco), and I'm very satisfied with them so far. I don't notice any mileage drop, and they were rated more highly than Hydroedges by Consumer Reports in their 11/05 issue.
Hi All, Like Barbaram, I found the Hydrogedges THE answer for the Saturn SL series car poor braking in wet traffic conditions. They are especially good on the gooey road conditions that occur with the first rain after a long dusty dry spell. In wet clean, well draining conditions, they can almost be driven as if in the dry. The first time I came down from 40 into a stop sign in rainy weather on the Hydroedges, I stopped 2 car lengths short of the line. I drove my Prius for the first 5000 miles on the Integrities. At about 4000 miles, I was behind an apparently inexperieced driver in wet weather in a line of traffic at about 35 mph. Due to conditions, there was a blind spot, to me, and around that blind spot there was an SUV that had slid into a drainage ditch in the oncoming lane of traffic, with its tail up partially in the lane. It was at about a 40 degree angle to the road. The SUV was trying to back out, but was hung up on the edge of the ditch. If it had been able to back out, it would have been head-on in the lane I was driving in. There was traffic in a left turn lane next to the lane the SUV was in. The inexperieced driver came around the blind spot and rather than slow down, slid sideways and almost clipped the left turn lane traffic. Seeing this, I lifted throttle, and when I saw the SUV I began braking as much as I could, but there was slipping. I was steering straight, but still slid. Then I had to lift brake to regain steer and avoid collision. I was only down to about 25 mph, making about a 75 degree turn between the SUV and left turn traffic. As I came through the gap, the SUV was gunning it in reverse making the gap very narrow. The Prius with the Integrities also slid in the turn. With having such a good experience with the Hydroedges, I decided to get those on the Prius. I have to say the Integrities are a world of improvement better that the Firestone tires on the Saturn SL series, but the Prius puts even greater demands on its tires due to the nature of the design. I think the Hydroedges are worth the money, although I did get a 50 dollar discount on a set of four when I bought them. With the 20 dollar per tire trade in on the Integrities, the out of pocket was around $75 per tire.
"GoodYear Integrities! Bad Tire?, Or others like me just used to driving on cheaper tires." I think that they are terrible and possibly the worst tires that I have ever owned. I am currently shopping for a set of Goodyear Eagle Responsedge.
I got rid of the Integrities yesterday and put on ComfortTred 195/60/15 - car seemed smoother on the ride home (1.5 miles) but won't know about mileage until I go to work Monday.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Gen2 @ Nov 24 2006, 10:00 PM) [snapback]353859[/snapback]</div> Those words echo my sentiments exactly. After I switched to TripleTreds all the annoying traction-related anomalies with TRAC, ABS, and the regenerative braking system disappeared.