Winter tires?

Hubcentric is good, might even be Toyota behind the scenes. Try to cobble some sort of centre cap, and/or coat the hubs with some rust preventative; they get groddy pretty fast with road salt.

 

Are these rims able to be acquired with the $150 coupon currently available to Costco members?

 

Switched to 17" wheels and winter tires (Michelin XIce). These will be my wheels going forward. Will sell the 19" OEM wheels.

 

Looks good but why not keep the OEM for summer and not pay to swap out tires every season?

 

Personal preference. Primarily road noise and comfort. Storage is a bit of an issue. Plus it's easier to fit four unmounted tires in the back with seats folded down rather than four mounted tires so I won't have to make multiple trips to the tire shop just switch out from winter to summer. Not that much more in cost to mount/remount tires over switch over of wheels. If I had the storage, I would most likely have another set of 17" wheels.

 

You should be able to fit four mounted tires.

 

Yeah, the point of a second set of mounted tires is to avoid having to go to a tire shop at all for the swap. A basic hydraulic jack that works for a Prius is not a large expense.

It's different if a place to do basic maintenance isn't available.

 

Yeah, best:
Two sets of rims, DIY swap
So-so:
Two sets of rims, pros do the swap
Don't go there:
Pros swapping loose tires on one set of rims, twice yearly

 

I never said I couldn't. Personal preference.

Been doing this on every vehicle I've owned for the last 20+ years. Never an issue with the local Les Schwab tire store I take my vehicles to. If they mess it up, I'm confident they will make it right.

 

One of my reasons for separate rims and at-home swaps is that I can do it on my own schedule. If going to Les Schwab or any other tire shop, it must be done pre-season, before the forecast hints of any need for winter tires. The moment anything shows in the forecasts, the shops have all-day waiting lines.

I was at dad's place for various farm tasks a couple years ago when his car (for his chauffeurs, he couldn't drive anymore) needed the winter tire swap. Due to the weather forecast, the local Les Schwab was already filled up the first day. We got his car in before cut-off the next day, but still didn't get the car back until a couple hours after usual closing time. At least that shop kept working until all the cars they took in were done. But the front desk had to cut off the queue many hours earlier.

 

Yes when making the swap, timing is everything. 8 am when they open seems to be the best time for an appointment.

 

... if one doesn't have to already be somewhere else by then.

I found that it takes less time to swap them myself at home than to schedule an appointment and adjust other necessary activities around that appointment.

 

And/or you would like to:

1. ensure the lug nuts are torqued properly, in sequence
2. take the time to put a little anti-seize on the hubs
3. eyeball the brakes

 

Glad i checked in with my tire shop. they mentioned my 205/60/16s were here and waiting for me.

They should have the 205/65/16s here by tomorrow instead.

 

So as of 10/31/2023, my Prius Prime has its winter footwear.

205/65/16 Michelin Xice, on 16" C wheels. Not a lot of clearance to the calipers, but enough.

Probably would've had tpms if the Toyota parts had been available, but wasn't going to take a chance on aftermarket.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this thread and helped with this decision.

 

So you find road noise noticeably less with the 17"? Have you been able to notice any other difference in handling or the way it drives? What I am wondering, are the 19" tires purely a cosmetic advantage (if you like them) and all disadvantages when it comes to function?

 

Why did I expect it to look like your avatar?

 

Ah. Well, this is the 'after' (the apocalypse) pic.

 

It's mostly cosmetic. There are some performance advantages in things like cornering, but likely not a difference to come up on public roads.

I think tread pattern is big influence to noise.