Tire Upgrade

I don't think anyone here is going to scream "Don't jump!"

PriusChatters seem to recognize that the TTs are an excellent choice (beloved by a lot of PriusChatters, top rated by TireRack customers and Consumer Reports for passenger all season tires) among, and not to the exclusion of, other excellent choices.

BTW, to further refine the consensus, I think the consensus here favors the 195/60 size (as opposed to 195/65).

I say "Jump Now!" --- before you hydroplane yourself into an accident.

Good luck.

 

It's Time!

I'm still on the stock integreties with around 20K on them, they've always given me a poor ride - most notably was driving from Cali to TX in an ice storm and heavy rains - very, very frightening but we made it.

Being in Texas now I don't have need for snow rated tires, but do need ones that can handle lower temps (40s), rain and summer temps (100s + humidty).

What would be the recommendations based on the favs listed using stock wheels?

 

Toyo observe they are the best!

 

On my 2001 I used to use Dunlop SP Sport A2 tires in 195/65. On my 2006, as I've said, I'm using Continental 205/60s and I'm quite impressed with them. Still getting great mileage (remember, a Prius is a video game complete with a way to keep score ) and they don't stick out too much.

Now I'm looking into wheels though, and I am kinda peeved because I want bigger wheels (which means new tires even though my current tires have maybe 150 miles on them).

So if anyone's interested in a quartet of brand new 205/60R15s mounted on stock Prius wheels, let me know.

~ dan ~

 

Bought them...appreciate all of the input on this thread...

 

tire speed chart

Found a neat chart to help pick tire sizes. http://www.csgnetwork.com/speedocalibcalc.html

 

Yes. Also, here's the miata.net calculator that a lot of people use:

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Funny thing I noticed about tire size calculators is that if you plug the same numbers into different calculators, the resulting calculations will slightly differ. I would have thought that there would be uniformity in the assignment/allocation of values to the same tire size.

* * * * * * * *

Also, I don't remember whether it was previously mentioned in this thread, but I believe that international guidelines permit car manufacturers to calibrate speedometers/odometers to over-read by as much as 10%. So if your car has the OEM tires, when the speedometer shows 55 mph you may actually be traveling at 50 mph, and if the odometer shows 55 miles traveled you may actually have traveled 50 miles.

 

The calculators use a generic value for diameter and revs/mile (otherwise known as circumference) for each tire size. As you have observed, different calculators use different values for each tire size. The only way to get accurate fit for your particular application is to find the specification for diameter and revs/mile for the stock tires on your car and then look for tires that are as close as possible to the values for the stock tires. My personal decision criteria is not more than .1 inch in diameter and 3% in revs/mile off from the values for the stock tires.

Tirerack is a great resource for comparing tires since they maintain a database of manufacturer published specification data for each tire they sell.

 

I use a yard / meterstick and two rulers to read tire diameter (I <3 improvisation). Then, since a mile is quite a few multiples of tire circumference, I use a high-precision conversion to get the number of revs per mile, such as:

[ 63360 (inches / mile) ] / [ d * π (inches / revolution) ] = r (revolutions / mile)

If you have to approximate for π, remember you're looking at 500-1000 revolutions per mile, so if necessary approximate π to at least five decimal places (3.14159) to avoid rounding error.

~ dan ~

 

X

 

agreed!

Even More Agreed!!!!!

While my mileage did not change but I got supremely better handeling when I switched to the TT's, I now have 46,000 MI on the tires and am looking for something to replace them with. To me, that life is unacceptable for an 80,000 MI tire. However, I am thinking that it is not worth trying to get Goodyear to prorate the tires because I would then have to either get another set of TT's or ComforTreds (Which I hated on my other car).

I am just beginning my search so all insight is appreciated. What does everyone else think about the low tread life?

Nyprius, have you replaced your TT's yet? If so, what are you using? I am in Chicago so I need something that will perform on snow as well as during the summer months.

 

Well, it did not take me long to find a short list of possible replacements for my tires: (No particular order)

Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position
Bridgestone Potenza G 009
BFGoodrich Traction T/A T
Kumho Solus KR21
Yokohama AVID TRZ
Michelin HydroEdge

Based on ratings / price, I think that I will be purchasing the Kumho Solus KR21. That choice is based on price, reviews, and warranty. At $48 each on Tire Rack, even if they only last 40,000 miles, it is a steal. (They are rated for 85,000 MI)

Sears Auto is listed as a Kumho retailer and is located right behind my house so I will be calling to see if they can match the Tire Rack price. If not, I will order from Tire Rack but it looks like they are backordered.

Anyone have these tires? I found a couple of Corolla owners reviews but no Pirus'.

 

I had four new Michelin Primacy MXV4's put on my 08 basic yesterday. I went with the 195/60/HR15 size. I decided to replace the stock Goodyears even though my Prius has only 2000 miles on it. Huge improvement in both cornering and highway performance. The meter says that I picked up an extra 2 dBA in interior noise and I think I'm off maybe a mile or two per gallon, (from 40 to 39). I have the BT Plate on order and the journey continues...

 

I too did LOVE the TT's. Just dissapointed in the tread life vs. the cost. Once I get the new ones on, (haven't ordered yet) I will post as to what differences I notice.