1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Coveted Michelin Energy Saver Tires Impression

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by Aerolite, Aug 16, 2013.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Aerolite

    Aerolite Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    55
    7
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Just got a set of 4 Michelin Energy Saver tires and will post my impressions here. For staters, these tires just LOVE to move... the EV portion of acceleration is significantly more viable. I'm going to do a quick 15 miles and post a screenshot of the 5 min. consumption.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    EDIT: HERE ARE MY LATEST FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES...

    Hypermile on Energy Savers:

    746 miles on a full tank traveled
    79.2 miles per gallon average
    0.05 cents per mile

    9.422 gallons consumed
    From ODO: 37,839 to 38,585.

    Mild conservative drive on Energy Savers:

    615 miles on full tank traveled
    65.3 mpg avg.
    0.06 cents per mile

    9.422 gallons of gas consumed. Both full tanks cost $35.79 ($ 3.7XX for reg. out here).
    From ODO: 39,100 to 38,585.

    My hypermile run was max regen brake, max speed while turning, max battery assistance on pulse & glides, FRWY speed of 55 set on cruise control, minamal AC use, windows/sunroof closed, etc...

    Only huge variable is the temperature. During the hyper mile run it was 69-75 degrees F daily.

    Over the conservative run, the avg. temp had gone up from 75-91 [here in SoCal].
     
    #1 Aerolite, Aug 16, 2013
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,132
    50,049
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    great choice! looking forward to updates.(y)
     
    #2 bisco, Aug 16, 2013
    Aerolite likes this.
  3. Aerolite

    Aerolite Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    55
    7
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    So I snapped a picture of the on-board consumption display.

    My morning commute (18 miles) with the Doral tires:
    [​IMG]

    Same commute with the Energy Saver tires:
    [​IMG]

    Mind you, these bad boys are not even broken in but all I can say is "WOW".

    Ride:
    Certainly not smooth as butter, but just as smooth as the Doral tires that came with my car from the dealership.

    Braking:
    Much more responsive! Before, I would have to get the regen gauge 2/3 filled before noticeable stopping power but now it feels instant.

    Handling:
    Far improved, talking high speed turns off the freeway seems like less of a death wish.

    Impact on economy:
    These tires transform the capabilities for the average hyper miler. Getting up to speed happens much quicker AND with less energy.

    It's a shame that Michelin is discontinuing these tires. From the representative I spoke with, he said the reason they push for people to get the defender is because of the longevity and how they want to downsize their product range.
     
    #3 Aerolite, Aug 17, 2013
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,132
    50,049
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i've been hearing this discontinuation theme for a few years now. hopefully, it's disinformation! very nice mileage, how is the road noise factor? i've never heard of dorals.
     
    #4 bisco, Aug 17, 2013
    Aerolite likes this.
  5. Aerolite

    Aerolite Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    55
    7
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV

    Considering how perfect the tire is, I sure hope so!

    [​IMG]

    This was a 6.2 mile ride to drop my girlfriend off at work and come back. What blew my mind is usually the last portion (a steep uphill) would hit the 25 mpg consumption mark but now it is WAY higher.

    These tires are not just static 3 mpg all over the graph... no, they are multipliers of all conditions (especially when hypermiling). Down low the car has a new character, since the EV propulsion connects with the road so smoothly and takes so little energy to move it feels as the car just glides. Needless to say, when pulse and gliding, both phases of the technique have improved! The pulse takes less RPM and arrives quicker while the glide move goes on with a dramatically lessened slow-down.

    No, road noise is not an issue... actually the ride is more quiet.

    These are hands down the ultimate compliment for any Prius.
     
    #5 Aerolite, Aug 17, 2013
  6. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2013
    1,740
    446
    4
    Location:
    New Mexico, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    Your picture is of a very different tire than I have. I suspect that what you got is the plain Energy Saver, as opposed to the Energy Saver A/S. Similar in terms of MPG, but not the same tire. Here's a crappy photo of mine, 215-50R17. I suppose the different size could be part of the difference. Also note than mine say "Energy Saver A/S" on the sidewall.

    20130817_141826.jpg
     
    #6 rdgrimes, Aug 17, 2013
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,132
    50,049
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    what does a/s mean? is that the one they are not discontinuing?
     
    #7 bisco, Aug 17, 2013
  8. Aerolite

    Aerolite Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    55
    7
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV

    A/S = All Season.

    From the rep. I had spoken with he had said that Michelin was aiming to discontinue the entire Energy Saver line (including all-season versions). I really don't know why though. If that does happen hopefully the new Yokohama BluEarth tires can carry the mantle of LLR champion (low rolling resistance).

    Note: I'm going to do my 16 mile track again now and see if the results are consistent with the morning.
     
    #8 Aerolite, Aug 17, 2013
  9. Aerolite

    Aerolite Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    55
    7
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV

    Correct, my ones are rated (warranty-wise) for 50,000 miles where as the A/S are rated at 65,000. Out here this is all I could get my hands on so that's good enough for me. Hopefully with the proper care I can get them to last even longer ;)
     
    #9 Aerolite, Aug 17, 2013
  10. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2013
    1,740
    446
    4
    Location:
    New Mexico, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    Its pretty obvious from the tread that you will see 2 main differences from the A/S. 1st is noise, you'll have more. Second is tread life, you'll have less and the warranty bears that one out. The rest is up to you, but with the absence of substantial siping in the tread you shouldn't expect any tread life miracles.
     
    #10 rdgrimes, Aug 17, 2013
    Aerolite likes this.
  11. Aerolite

    Aerolite Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    55
    7
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Indeed; that being said, one miracle I can count on is the fuel savings. This snap is from the very same 16.2 mile commute -- no crazy pulse and gliding, just smart coasting and cruise control set to 55 mph when on the freeway (70% of the trip):
    [​IMG]
     
    #11 Aerolite, Aug 17, 2013
  12. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,340
    3,596
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Someone said maybe a sale coming up but for the A/S for 2006 I see no sale on Tirerack.com.
    TireRack.com supply is low but more expected 9/27 they say.
     
    #12 wjtracy, Aug 18, 2013
  13. Feri

    Feri Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2011
    761
    144
    0
    Location:
    Maldon Victoria Australia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III

    I may be wrong but I think the OP's tyre tread is a later design. It is similar to what we have here the XM2 Energy. The more open tread is better for water dispersion. Your tread is similar to what we buy here as the Primacy LC which is discontinued for 15".
     
    #13 Feri, Aug 18, 2013
  14. terry brecheen

    terry brecheen Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2013
    139
    30
    0
    Location:
    houston, texas
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I just bought a set of energy savers saturday. Let me tell you the mpg jump is incredible over my old new tires. The ride has more cushion to it and they are quiet riding tires. Mine come with a 65, 000 mile warranty. The way I feel about them if they wore out in 30, 000 miles and I had no mileage warranty I would buy another set. They seem to roll forever. We get snow here in Houston once every 25 years or so, so that is not a concern. The best.
     
    #14 terry brecheen, Aug 20, 2013
  15. Aerolite

    Aerolite Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    55
    7
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV

    My thoughts exactly! They really do roll forever. Wait until you get a feel for the EV propulsion on the tire. If you hyper mile while no one is around reaching the 100+ mpg mark is much easier. Below is a on-board chart of my commute from point A to B, then the next one is back from B to A:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    #15 Aerolite, Aug 21, 2013
  16. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Those are the Energy Saver summer tires. They are quite different from the coveted Energy Saver A/S. They offer better traction but rolling resistance is higher than the A/S and they wear faster. They are very similar to a version of the Energy Saver offered in Europe. Europe doesn't have the equivalent to the Energy Saver A/S offered here in North America although they do have more efficient tires overall (Ecopia EP001s).

    The Energy Saver A/S is offered as OE equipment for Ford CMAX and a few other cars. I don't see them being discontinued anytime soon. However, supply is often limited. I can see them discontinuing the Energy Saver because it is a summer tire which doesn't generally sell well in North America. That is why Bridgestone discontinued most of the Ecopia EP100 line of tires as reported via personal communication with the product line manager.
     
    #16 F8L, Aug 22, 2013
    wjtracy likes this.
  17. JuRuKi

    JuRuKi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2013
    61
    13
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Wouldnt the mpg increase be mostly related to the bigger tire size of the new tire? I dont see how a new tire could make that big of a difference
     
    #17 JuRuKi, Aug 23, 2013
  18. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Nope. Especially considering that the new larger diameter tire would report less miles traveled thus making your mpg look worse. Fuel efficient tires are quite real. :)

    Start here: Fuel Efficient Low Rolling Resistant Tires
     
    #18 F8L, Aug 23, 2013
  19. Aerolite

    Aerolite Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    55
    7
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Ah yes, it appears you are correct... pardon my ignorance. Well, I suppose that offers me something to look forward to in 60,000 miles :)


    These tires are the exact same size as the tires that came with my Prius from the dealer. Since it was a certified used car, it came equipped with Doral tires (not the OE tire). To be honest, I never thought tires alone could make such a difference... but I promise you that I am in no way exaggerating. (y)
     
    #19 Aerolite, Aug 23, 2013
  20. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2013
    1,740
    446
    4
    Location:
    New Mexico, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    Same for me, replacing brand new OEM Toyo tires, the difference was immediate and unmistakable. 4-5 MPG boost instantly. Same size, same pressure.
     
    #20 rdgrimes, Aug 23, 2013
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 3