Feedback of Ecopia EP422 plus?

For some reason, I got a set of brand new ES A/S installed last weekend.
Went out for a 600 miles road trip so I think I can share something with you guys.

Compared to Ecopia EP422 Plus:

• ES A/S is "noisier" by 3~4dB on all surfaces, it seemed to be a lot louder on rough surfaces.
• Ride comfort is "worse" than EP422 plus, I can feel almost every detail on the pavement, it feels like my suspension is not absorbing those imperfection at all, which is too much information IMO.
• Efficiency is about the same, best MPG so far is 58, but I have reached 60.8 on EP422 plus.
• Handling is about the same, did not test both tires in extreme condition.
• Breaking distance seems to be longer than EP422 plus but never got a chance to measure that.

To summarize my comparison:
(With both set if tires at 42/40 air pressure, mounted on same car, re-balanced)
Ride feels harder, especially when I went over pot holes or those bad road surfaces on ES A/S.
Not as comfort as EP422 plus, not as quite as EP422 plus.

Not sure if I want to keep this set of tire since I expected a lot more than this based on the reviews found on priuschat...However, it is just my personal feeling, YMMV.

If you are looking for a new tire, you might want to consider EP422 plus since it provides better ride comfort and less noise. (and cheaper than ES A/S with 70k warranty!!)

 

Well, I am on the First leg of my 2000 mile trip. With over 3000 miles on my 422 plus. Was driving in the rain for the first 400 miles and was getting 45 mpg. Then on the Second tank of gas and starting in the hills near ft lenoardwood mo. I started getting 50 miles per gallon. Thought it was because of the downhill coasting but then when I got into IL, I started getting 55 mpg. So I think it took 3000 miles to break in. On my Normal drive to work it is only 37 miles each way and I was only getting about 42 to 45 when it was not storming . I drove this same trip last year on the EP22 and did not get 40 overall. I was getting 55-60 in town on 422plus.

 

With all the variables, weather, road conditions, grade, I find the tire's feel as good as anything. How far you roll on when you lift off the gas. Seems like you're pleased with them, that's good. I've got limited LRR choices in 215/45R17, the EP422 sound good.

It's funny, Bridgestone's claims about rolling resistance are underwhelming to say the least: they say you'll go 20 miles further on 400 mile tank, comparing to Firestone FR710, which is not described as low rolling resistance.



TireRack's description, LRR description typically goes in circled zone:

 

Forgot to mention, with all the rain we have had lately that the 422plus handled wonderfully. Never strayed or had any issues with the rain

 

weird. i got a set of the EP422+ (not for my prius, for a different car) and the tread looks a bit different from the pictures i've seen.

this is from tirerack:


below is mine (195/60R15). notice less rubber and huge water channels. probably good for hydroplaning and snow, but not so good for dry traction and tread-life.

 

Yes. They deleted the centre track and just spread everyone else out. Kinda like when you get a burger that looks NOTHING like the ad.

There's a disclaimer on TireRack (somewhere) saying pattern varies with width. I wonder if there's a site which would show your specific width?

Found it: they use 225/50R16 for the pictures. Assuming it's available I guess.

 

Hmm: even Bridgestone site just shows one image, regardless of size.

 

you would think for smaller tires they would make the rubber blocks proportionally smaller rather than deleting the whole center block. now i feel a bit cheated with getting less rubber for the money. the only good news is i got them cheap, under $200 after rebates (but before mounting fees).

 

When you said your size was 195/60R15 was that a typo, did you mean 198/65R15? Bridgestone makes Ecopia EP20 in that size. It's an OEM choice by Toyota for the Prius, good LRR, and it ONLY comes in 195/65R15, so this is one choice where WYSIWYG.

You've uncovered something pretty frustrating: with all the 'net presence, tirerack, all the tire manufacturer's site, you're STILL in the dark as to what your specific tread pattern is going to look like.

Maybe an email to TireRack would get them interested: they're near indispensable now, would be great if they could make available pics of the various tire widths, how it affects tread.

 

not a typo, 195/60R15. they fit both toyota yaris and saturn ion my kids drive. intended for the yaris that has almost bald tires. i assume 195/65R15 will be similar, but don't know for sure.

this underscores why the tire reviews are all over the map on the same model: different sizes have different construction and different characteristics.

 

But they also deleted one whole channel. Is the percentage of air space versus rubber really so different, allowing for the very different scale of the two photos?

Making the tread blocks proportionately smaller without making them less deep would adversely affect handling, so they didn't.

 

Yes and no. Here's a screen grab of Tire Rack's picture of the Bridgestone Ecopia EP20 tread. This tire ONLY comes in 195/65R15. Unfortunately not 60 profile, but it illustrates a 195 width, with number of channels per the Tire Rack image of EP422 (in 225/50R16 size).

 

i did some quick measurements and calculations and the empty space constitutes 20% in 195/65R15 EP20, 21% in 225/50R16 EP422+, and 23% in 195/60R15 EP422+. the difference is not as big as i thought, but still noticeable. the tire just looks weird without that center block.

 

Got them installed at Costco.

I had the original EP20's which lasted 50k miles. I don't notice much of a difference except a little more road noise. The mpg did not drop. One tire has a lot of weight on it. Is this normal?

 

I emailed tire rack, about posting images of the various tread widths, and their response was basically "not gonna happen".

I still wonder if there's a database somewhere; cops would use it, they're like fingerprints. An actual tire print would be the most expedient method, just roll a sample of each tire thru an ink pad, back up, replace pad with paper, roll again.

Or roll over a heavy duty flatbed scanner.

 

Friendly, your EP422 look similar to Michelin Energy Saver (not A/S, the Grand Touring Summer version). Maybe bodes good for rolling resistance?

They just popped up for me on Costco Canada, when I entered 2010 Prius with 15" wheel size, for 195/65R15. Here's the TireRack link:

Michelin Energy Saver

TireRack pic:

 

All

I still debate which one to buy; EP422+ or Defend XT? Defend XT had 70 dollars off and 90K warranty. Any advise?

 

It depends on your driving habit and fuel cost in your neighborhood...
I searched for MPG on defender, ppl averaged around 48MPG if you play a little bit P&G
(Some reported lower, however, this number is similar to my previous set of non-LRR tires, so I will just use 48 for comparison)

On EP422+ I have reached 55 MPG without paying too much attention of P&G, so I think 55 will be fair.
I did a quick math base on that, note that your driving pattern and MPG may be different, I'm just using my data to show you some numbers between EP422+ or Defender.

EP422+ vs Defender
Tread life: 70K vs 90K
Average MPG: 55 MPG vs 48 MPG
Fuel needed for 70K miles: 1273G vs 1459G
Fuel cost @ $3.5/G: $4456 vs $5107
Difference @ 70K miles: $651
(The difference is good for another tire change, I spent only $380 for EP422+)

Defender lasts longer so you might save money on replacing tires, however, it might be a little bit difficult to maintain that MPG and if fuel price keeps going up, the difference will be bigger, vice versa.

Both tires are good IMO, just depends on what you really cares.

 

My gf has the Defenders XT and I just got the EP422+ installed. The road noise is about the same, the mpg on the XT is about 5-7mpg down. The XTs might be better in the winter, though.

If you do 15k miles a year or less, get the EP422+. Better mpg and everything else is about the same or close enough.

 

My size is 215/45R17, and EP422 Plus is my head-of-list contender. If it was 195/65R15 I was looking for, I'd stay with EP20. I've thought of getting Premier A/S (for 215/45R17), they're attractive for a lot of reasons, but think I'd be kicking myself due to likely mpg drop.