Goodyear TripleTred or Michelin HydroEdge

I chose TripleTreds over Hydroedges, mostly for the better snow performance. They are indeed excellent tires. I haven't noticed much of a difference in mileage over the stock Integrities, but the handling is so much better in all conditions that I'd rate the OEMs as dangerous. I don't know why manufacturers go to so much trouble with research and design, only to cheap out on the most important part of the whole car.

 

My wife has the TripleTreads, I have a new set of HydroEdges. One absolute certainty is that the TripleTreads murder fuel economy while the HydroEdges just beat on it a little. Both are excellent in the rain. The TripleTreads contribute to a nice, stable ride since they have to be had in a 195 treadwith (vs. the stock 185 which is available in the Michelin.) On the other hand the Michelins are much quieter (though they do sing a bit) and they still handle the corners very well. I haven't had the Hydroedges long enough to have run them in the snow but we ran the TripleTreads through a good storm in RI last year and they were excellent.

If you need snow handling I think the TT is the proven option. If you don't need to use them in the snow then I would go with the Hydroedge. And I wouldn't bother with the 205 width because you will be getting a much better tire and you won't need extra width to get better handling.

 

I'm happy with TripleTreds. I've put them on three cars now. They're also less expensive than HydroEdges and other premium passenger all season tires.

I can't compare the fuel economy of the TripleTreds against my OEM Integrities (or your Touring's OEM Turanzas) because I got rid of the Integrities after 1000 miles and I also bumped up treadwidth from the OEM 185mm Integrities to the 195mm TripleTreds.

I also can't compare firsthand the TripleTreds against the HydroEdges because I've never had the HydroEdges.

However, I know of two independent, third party, apples-to-apples road tests between the TripleTreds and the HydroEdges -- the one done by Consumer Reports in 2005 and the one done by TireRack.com.

Both tests rated the TripleTreds higher than the HydroEdges. And note that Consumer Reports rated the rolling resistance of the two tires the same.

Here's the Consumer Reports' ratings chart:

Consumer Reports Ratings Passenger All Season Tires.doc

And here's a link to the TireRack.com tests:

Comparing Our Top-Rated Passenger All-Season Tires

I understand that you're opting for 205/55R16 tires in part out of necessity, as there are very few non-runflat tires in the Touring's OEM 195/55R16 size.

Good luck.

 

If price isn't a huge factor, I'd recommend checking out the Yokohama Super dB e-spec tires. Just put there on my GenIII prius and not only are they enviro friendly (made with orange oil) but they have better LRR than either of the other tires mentioned here. So far my mileage appears to be the same as the OEM tires and they aren't even broken in yet. Good luck with your decision!

 

I have the tripletreds and have not noticed a big drop in mpg. I care more about safety and the OEM tires (integrity) are the most horrible tire on the market. I too consider them dangerous. I like the hydroedge too but they are more expensive, noisier (from reports I have read), snow performance better on TT. If you're looking to save money, there is a tire on tirerack that looks just like the tripletred and the consumer rating is very, very high. It is called General Tire altimax I think. Have a look. The price is great. I MAY try those next time I need tires.

 

The GREAT Nokian WRg2 is available in 195/55R16 in both run flat (Do't, lower MPG as in all run flats) and regular (great MPG - LRR). Sorry to add another option. These will not only give you better MPG, but will give great traction in all weather conditions.

JeffD

 

Re: Goodyear TripleTred or Michelin HydroEdge -- Tire Review @ TireRack

I haven't noticed it referenced elsewhere, so I wanted to note that TireRack.com has an August 2009 summary of road test results of several different tires -- all on a fleet of Prius's. The tires were 15", not the 16" touring tires, but the results are interesting just the same.

The tires reviewed were:
Bridgestone Ecopia EP100
Goodyear Assurance ComforTred
Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max
Goodyear Integrity
Michelin Energy Saver A/S
Michelin HydroEdge with Green X
Yokohama dB Super E-Spec

The article is at:
When Round and Black Becomes Lean and Green


My extended family has just put new tires on three different vehicles. A small SUV got Kuhmo's -- highly rated for that use. On a minivan and also on a sedan we put Goodyear Assurance TripleTred -- results so far are that these are great tires -- not just in comparison to the worn tires taken off, but based on other drivers' opinions vs their own cars with newer tires. Were I looking for new tires now, I'd make them one that I'd consider, even though they're not engineered primarily for low rolling resistance.

 

I had the triple treads on my Deville - I loved them. Much better than the michelins I had been buying for years.

 

Re: Goodyear TripleTred or Michelin HydroEdge -- Tire Review @ TireRack

Yes, great new TireRack article and test -- testing tires that a lot of PriusChatters get or are considering, and testing them on a Gen II Prius! Doesn't get much more relevant than that.

Note that there's a new lower rolling resistance formulation for the old Michelin HydroEdge called the Michelin HydroEdge with Green X.

FYI, someone else started a thread today on this new TireRack article:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ity-against-energy-saver-ecopia-fuel-max.html

Below is a summary of the MPG results from the test and article (but one should read the article for, among other things, braking and handling results):

"Tire LineTest MPG*% vs. O.E.

Michelin Energy Saver A/S: 53.8 MPG +4.74%

Bridgestone Ecopia EP100: 53.5 MPG +4.12%

Yokohama dB Super E-Spec: 52.8 MPG +2.81%

Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max: 51.6 MPG +0.37%

Goodyear Integrity (O.E.): 51.4 MPG --

Michelin HydroEdge with Green X: 51.1 MPG -0.59%

Goodyear Assurance ComforTred: 50.0 MPG -2.64%

*Calculated based on GPS distances and ScanGage II recorded consumption (offset 6% for Prius Summer E10 regular grade fuel)."

 

I have had both on my car and I recommend the TripleTreds. The michelins wore out at 65k and made ungodly noise on the highway along with shaking in the steering wheel as the miles racked up on them. Yes, I did rotate them. I have had the TripleTreds for 56k now and they are wearing much better than the Hydroedge. I have noticed a much improved ride with either tire over the Integrity garbage tire, at least initially with the Michelin....Good Luck!

 

I've been getting 57 MPG or so all summer long on my Triple treds. When I still had the Integrities last summer I was getting 60 MPG all summer, but this year we had al lot more rain.

Triple Treds are also made in the USA if that is of any concern to you.

 

I have been unable to find any tire dealer that would put "T" speed rated tires, like the Hydo Edge, on my Prius with it "V" rated OEM Bridgestone Teranza tires. The lowest they will go is with a "H" rated tire like the Goodyear ComforTred.

 

You could buy tires from TireRack.com (or other online vendor) and have them drop-shipped to one of their approved local tire installers. The local tire installers are not going to care what tire it is -- at that point, they're only interested in installing what you shipped or gave to them and collecting their $15-25 per tire installation fee.

 

Even thought this is an "old" thread, I am making the same decision between these two tires so after reading all the reviews and test results I decided to CALL Tire Rack and ask a salesman for his advice. After I asked him about the two tires he then asked me where I live and I replied Florida. He said that made a big difference because the TripleTred was a better snow and ice tire, although it is a bit noisier than the HydroEdge, and the HydroEdge was a better "Florida" tire because it's slightly better traction on wet roads and a bit quieter on dry.

 

he nailed it. I'll agree with that statement. My HydroEedge did better in the rain, but TripleTred excelled in the snow.

 

I can help with that: because there's no financial advantage to them.

 

I would rather have them cut a few dollars out of the tires than out of something that's harder to replace.

 

I know it's not one that was being compared, but I can't say enough good things about the Hankook Optimo H727's. I've never found a tire like them and they cost a good chunk less than the Assurance and Hydroedge.

They really have it all: smooth, quiet ride, long life, excellent winter traction. They also haven't affected mileage from the Integrities, which really surprised me considering they're wider and much grippier. I was amazed with the reviews and now I'm even more amazed with them on the car.

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