I posted about this earlier but the thread "disappeared" so I'm trying again. Need new tires for 2013 Prius. Current tires 195 65 R15 Looking for fuel efficiency/low rolling resistance, good in snow, ice, slush, and rain, and dry. Up north (urban) area. Not particularly concerned about cost since tires are expensive, but accidents are more expensive. Definitely trying to stay as fuel efficient as possible. Looking at Vredestein Quatrac, but I've read conflicting things about snow and rolling resistance, and can't find a weight for them. Also looking at Michelin Energy Saver All-Season Radial Tires. I've read conflicting things about how they perform in snow, but the Michelins (different model) I have now have been very good, even when pretty much worn out. Anyone have any experience with these tires? Any other recommendations? I also understand there could be availability issues. Thank you, in advance.
If you can still get the Energy Saver A/S (They arent available anywhere around me, so please let me know where you found them), do that hands down. I couldn't find them so I just bought Ecopia EP20's for $76 each over on walmart.com. They get delivered to a store, and I have a mechanic friend with tire mounting equipment
Micheline energy safer is the best for this car. Michelin defender last long but too heavy and drop the MPG. For snowy area, Crossclimate2 is the best. Last long and handle well, not as good as summer tires but closest.
Was bummed I cannot find Energy Savers ANYwhere in Michigan, was told they were discontinued. I put those on my last Prius in 2020... wow, what nice tires. I also heard the Ecopia EP20's were discontinued BUT Walmart.com let me order them the other day. Today I got notified by walmart that they were delayed, so I called the Walmart 800 number asking if they are delayed and will not be fulfilled, or for other reasons. The representative told me they have the tires for sure, but are just running behind. However, I wasn't confident in his confidence. He seemed to be script reading at times Hoping they have them but really wishing I could find the Energy Savers. My car came with new Blizzaks and I want to take them off as soon as the snow season is over here in Michigan.
Yeah TireRack has indicated EP20 as "clearance" something like that. Kinda sad, it was a very good LRR tire in my experience. It's fairly cheap, and it is a "bargain" tire, in that it (again in my experience) gets noisy when the tread's half-worn, and also by that time it's a menace in snow. But for three-season, great choice.
Update: On 4-February, I ordered 4 Bridgestone Ecopia EP20's from Walmart.com, it instantly said the order was "delayed", and I considered the thought that they had mistakenly sold me a discontinued/out of stock tire. I went to login to the walmart site just now to cancel my order and go spend my money on some other tire, only to find that the order has been delivered to my local store and is ready for pickup! Good because the new Blizzak's my most recent Gen3 came with are murdering my mpg's. Smooth and quiet tire otherwise though. But very sticky tire. I'll remove them as soon as the snow season ends here in MI., and put on the new EP20's
Update: 30k miles later and the Ecopias are trash Not only is the tread worn down to replacement level, but there is a disconcerting amount of cracking (dry rot?) on the sidewalls near the rim edge. I only discovered this as my driver front went flat the other day, and when I aired it back up and was inspecting for a nail/screw, I spotted it. Suffice to say, I am pretty disappointed. They also have been extremely noisy for the past 4-6 months or so, I chalked it up to our Michigan roads. But now that I think about it....... Good news is Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales saved me... just ordered online, and having installed tomorrow, a set of Michelin Defenders. I'll take the mileage hit. I have Defenders on 4 cars in my driver ed fleet and their service has been excellent.
They have a warranty. Take them back and get a prorated portion of what you paid toward new tires. Mine didn't last as long as I thought either...
I prefer to get higher UTQG number tires. All seasons tire M+S not 3PKSM are the best and last long. I avoid low rolling resistance tires because often they are just trimmed depth tread.
