Best replacement tires

Bridgestone Ecopia EP20 or Michelin Energy Saver A/S, both readily available from Costco. Or the Michelin Defender: will maybe last longer, but mpg will likely be lower. I'd probably pick the EP20.

 

There's a member,F8L, very knowledgable on the various tire brands and sizes available..
try a PM directly to him....

 

Tires should be replaced every 5 or 6 years, sooner if the car sits in the sun all day. So in your case buying a 80,000 mile tire does not make sense if you are only driving 6 to 7 thousand miles a year.

 

Most people who drive in the city do not get anywhere near the advertised mileage. The Michelin Defender/Defender XT will likely give him the lowest cost per mile, as well as the easiest availability in the event that he needs a new tire. The Energy Saver A/S has the best fuel efficiency, but is difficult to find in the event that replacement is needed, and traction is so-so.


iPhone ?

 

csk47, what was your tp? The new tires will wear just as fast if you continue to run the same pressure. Since you want to maximize tire life then inflate the tires to max sidewall. Do it now on your original tires to get a bit more out of them. If you don't want to go to 44psi or 51psi then go to at least 40psi. They are your tires, you will have to find a pressure that works best for you.

You've discovered one of the reasons the recommended tp is so low.

 

Energy Saver A/S is my advice. The Critic has a point about replacement availability, however. The Defender and Ecopia EP422 are readily available almost anywhere. The EP422 and Energy Saver A/S will offer the best mpg and lowest cost/mile. The Defender may last a lot longer but provides lower mpg so it's a tradeoff.

Make sure you wait until your tire choice is on sale. Costco and other retailers regularly offer a $70 rebate on 4 Michelin or Bridgestone tires. Costco alternates them every month.

 

^ A point about Costco discounts:

With a lot of retailers they'll just hand you a coupon, or you download it online, fill it out, get envelope, stamp and mail it in, wait 'till you've completely forgotten about it. And often consumers just never go through the process, procrastinate, never follow through.

But at Costco the discount comes off at the time of purchase, and before sales tax is calculated.

For 17" rims (like mine) I guess the Ecopia EP422 is the readily available choice, if mileage is paramount, Michelin Energy Saver is not available in 215/45R17 (or 205/50R17, the close alternative).

But in 195/65R15, besides Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 there's also the EP20. Currently at Costco (Canada at least) the 20 is available, the 422 is not. EP20 tread pattern is a dead-ringer for the old Insignia SE200, fwiw. I got the EP20 as replacement on an older car which came the SE200 OEM, and found the EP20 didn't miss a beat in rolling resistance.

 

My car came with the EP20's got 33,000miles on them now hope they make it to 40,000 I keep my tire preasure at about 40psi average 55 mpg summer 48 winter best tank 59.6 mpg 520 miles calculated not the estimated by the car.

 

Just got a set of Michelin Energy Saver A/S installed on mine earlier today. Had the original Yoko Avid's and drove it for about 31k miles. First thing I noticed with Michelin was the noticeable smoothness and less interior sound! Amazing difference. Not sure if the Yoko's were just average tires or just too worn, or both, or that the Michelin's are just that much better. Either way, I really like these tires. On my current tank after driving about 300 miles, I was at about 59 MPG with old tires, and on my way home, approximately 30 miles, I had no problem maintaining that MPG. If you drive enough, you can tell if it requires more effort during your normal commute, and I noticed none, just smoother and quieter ride! Best wishes to you.

 

Being 300 miles into a tank (and I assume a trip meter reset) it would take a terrible tire to budge the mileage in 30 miles, driving conditions being equal. That said you've got the LRR leader, sounds good. Only wish they came in 215/45R17 ;(

 

GPS says I have a 31 mile commute. Even at the bottom of a tank I can lose or will pick up at least a tenth or two on a trip. With enough miles under the seat I believe the driver can tell. The Dude's got a good feeling. I'm sure he'll maintain and may improve his average. It didn't take me long for my bad feeling to become reality. I'm figuring I'll end up with a 10% hit when the numbers normalize.

Yeah, almost makes me want to put 15" wheels on the car. Almost.

 

My point I was trying to make was that resistance to my particular driving habits did not feel much different and I would have been able to maintain my usual MPG figures. Glad I got some good ones!

 

I just changed out my stock 15" Yoko's and put on 17" MXM4's. Quality of ride improved and eliminated most all of the road noise!

 

I have a 2010 and 2011 and I replaced them both with Michelin defenders. I get about 2 MPG less. I like the way they drive and feel that 2 MPG is OK.

 

+2 on the Bridgestone Ecopias

 

Does anyone have any reviews for either the Michelin Energy Saver A/S or the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires? My 2010 Prius II needs new shoes.

 

F8L did a THOROUGH review on the energy savers. Let me see if I can find his thread!

 

Thanks, swich2mac. Appreciate it.

 

Thank you! Someone who understands exactly what I "feel" when I'm driving the Prius. I absolutely agree, I can always gain or lose a tenth or two and it always has to do with my feel, gotta keep that feel a certain way.