Best all-season tires for the prius

Between the EP20 and the EP422 Plus I'd go for the EP20. They're abysmal in snow when worn, but that's not so much a factor if you have separate snows.

 

Thanks very much for your reply! Why do you prefer the EP20? As far as snow tires, I don't use them -- and there are very few drivers in the Chicago area who use them, especially in the city, as they keep the roads plowed and salted in the winter for the most part. Even out in the suburbs they will plow and salt the roads, although less frequently. I think it's only a concern in the rural areas. Perhaps someone here on the forum from the Chicago area can chime in.

 

I just put a set of Michelin Premier A/S on my 2017 Prius Three. They are quieter than the Toyos I had in there before. I have no complaints.

 

Primariy because they're a "known quantity". The come in one size (165/65R15) and as far as I know there's only one version. The EP422 plus has an American, Mexican AND Japanese version (the latter are typical what Toyota uses I think). All three versions have different tread pattern, wear indexes, and some other dimensional differences.

I've used EP20 2~3 times with other vehicles (have 17" tires on our prius), and found them very good for mpg. But shite in snow once worn.

Your call, I won't get into it, lol.

For me with 17" it was a toss-up between the Premier A/S and Primacy MXM4. I went with the latter, but I'd be interested to hear your impressions, when you've had them a bit. @The Critic did some reviewing of them, at BobIsTheOilGuy, fairly favourable.

 

Thanks again for providing this information! I'll ask around about snow tires. Do you have a specific recommendation as far as snow tires for the Prius?

 

I''ve got Michelin X-Ice. They're maybe not the bleeding edge in snow traction, but they are very quiet on bare pavement, feel pretty much like any all-season. And they're rated Green-X (Michelin's LRR badge) and seem to do quite good. Our "winters" are very mild, most of the time the roads are bare, and they work well for these condition. I've got them on these rims currently, cost me $70 (CDN) apiece through the dealership, when we bought the car in 2010:

Corolla 15" black steel rims p/n: 42611-02471
With lug nuts p/n: 90942-01007 (utilitarian, open-ended, galvanized)

To dress them up (slightly), I used black 2" ABS end caps as centre caps, pushed onto the rims with after first putting on a "rubber band" cut from old bicycle inner tubes, to act as a filler, make it a slight friction fit.

 

I'm still using Continentals for the fleet ... still love them. Bridgestone fine .. but more expensive. Picked up a set of Yokohama Iceguard for one of the Prius ..... could not pass them up for the price. All our cars are 17"

 

I have had good success with General Altimax Alpine tires (studdable snows). Relatively low cost, they go like crazy in the snow. I have a set on our Outback that has 24K miles on them over 9 winters and they are maybe 1/2 tread depth; a second set on a VW TDI with 21K (I left them on the car when I sold it back to VW).

Mount your snows on steelies and leave the all-seasons mounted on the OEM wheels.

Advantages:

1. Much improved traction in the winter. The tires are more flexible and cold-weather compliant than all season tires. Even if they plow the roads and salt them where you live, there is typically some snow and ice around and it's cold in winter.

2. For every mile you drive the snows, you don't drive the all-season tires. The snows don't end up being an additional cost as much as a tire extender (you are driving on two sets of tires, each of which has a decent life).

3. Even with FWD, adding snows improves your turning and stopping ability. Our AWD Outback is a total snow beast with snows on it.

 

I have had good luck with all the OEMs that came on the car for LRR..

Also:
Ecopia 20, 422's

Yokohama mamas

Pirelli

Great white north is a different category. Snow more than 2" has to be hard on a Prius.

When I lived up there in the military's I used plastic flat gripper chains for those special occasions to get to a drinking party by a fire place..

If I lived there permanently I would consider the largest Subaru or a hybrid RAV 4.

 

Why the largest? The ground clearance and AWD capability are similar on all the lifted models (Crosstrek, Forester, Outback, Ascent).

 

In our region of New England, the plowing takes care of most fresh deep snow of more than 5-6 inches, and I have not had much problem with 2" of snow on road either with Gen3 or PRIME which is close enough to Gen4 even without dedicated snow tires. Even with packed snow and ice after the plowing, I did fine with OEM tires for the first winter or two while the plenty of treads are left. Only when the OEM tires lost tread to less than 6/32, I felt unsafe to drive during snow season, thus put on dedicated snow tires.

 

Our little corner of the Great White North is not living up to it's namesake. We are just a stone's throw from Seattle.

 

I use hakkapeliitta r2. Amazing traction and quiet for a snow. Highly recommended. You will be very annoyed everyone is driving so slowly.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 - Winter tires / Nokian Tires

 

I have read good things about these. A bit harder to find, but Discount Tires carries them.

 

My local shop gets them cheaper than any of the mail order places. Give a small shop a shot, I cannot believe how much cheaper they are around here than the big tire shops or even mail order. I have tried a bunch of snow tires, I wont switch ever again. Used these on a bmw 525 wagon, 88 911, camry and 3d gen prius. Apart from the 525 wagon (needed to add more weight in the rear) they turned everything into a little snow tank. Unstoppable.

The 911 was good for 2" of snow. everything else was driven in 6+ with no issues. Turning off the traction control really pisses me off, its a hassle and impossible to drive up steep hills with it on.

 

Thanks. Good tip.