Feedback of Ecopia EP422 plus?

When I switched from stock ecopias to purecontacts I have not noticed traction improvement (dry or wet, snow would be different though). I have noticed drop in mpg. But twice shorter life of stock ecopias. Too tired to calculate $ difference.

 

Went into Costco yesterday. They had the US made ones in stock. Early next month there will be a sale on Bridgestones.

 

i got 2k miles on my 422plus which were made in Japan. very pleased with the ride and mpg of the tire so far.

 

I had a full set of 422s installed 3/3/14 and they are at the wear bars now. Non agressive driver. Southern terrain. I got 50k of tread life from them 3yrs later.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

that's not that bad, what are they rated for?

 

TireRack claims 5y/65k miles.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

interesting. i just got some michelins. they claim 60k, wonder if they'll hold up. the oem goodyears only made it 40k before a bad spot developed on one of them. tread was fine though.

 

I have 47K miles on my EP20s, and still have a bit to go before I get to the wear bars. I can get at least 50K out of them, no doubt more, but I'll replace them at the next oil change.

 

Is it the terrain so much as it is the routes taken? Turns in the city are much harder on a tire than say 60mph highway driving. Just a thought..

 

Just touching bases: there are three versions of the EP422 plus: made in USA, Mexico and Japan. The first two have different wear index, and distinctly different tread. Not sure about the Japan version. I won't consider this tire till there some clarification.

 

If this true, I'm going to get me a full set pronto. Hope this works as Im attaching a pdf file

 

kind of like the john deere tractor tires Commercial Mowing | TWEEL by MICHELIN | John Deere US

 

US and Mexican version from above post:

Japan version from above post:



Apparently all are 195/65R15. Is it my imagination, or is the Japan version per US, except the rows are wider, gaps narrower?

There's definitely something different going on with the siping.

 

My Japanese ones say Treadwear 600 Traction A.

 

TireRack's just showing MX and US in 195/68R15, but I don't doubt you. Maybe they only post what they have in stock, or can readily get.



And in 215/45R17 (my poison), there's JP and MX, and like yours the JP treadwear is 600:



Of the four above (what show on TireRack), only the 17" from JP say "Ecopia" for LRR. They don't make this easy; think I'll just revisit in another year, lol.

 

BTW these tires came on my car from the Toyota factory.

I would expect Toyota Japan could readily get the Japanese version.

 

To me, looking at the 3 pics I posted above, and assuming the OP's got the country of origin right, it looks like the Japanese version and American version, while they both have two intermediate rows, those rows vary in width. The Japanese version seems to have closed up the gaps, made the rows wider? And, there definitely is something different to the siping pattern.

All in all, Bridgestone is making buying choices difficult for consumers: the more you look into it, the more you see the variations.

 

Corporations like keeping people guessing. Remember Prius V vs. Prius v?

 

I'm back in Prius tire discussion. Well, it's nice to see my pics are getting used from my OP last year.

My 2015 Prius which came with EP20 had unrepairable flat after just 9 mo of driving at 12K, so I picked up two EP422Plus at local Walmart for $93/each (that was the only LRR tire they had in stock) leaving two OEM EP20 on the front. Walmart originally installed two different versions of EP422Plus shown on the pic above copied by Mendel, but I did have one exchanged to Mex version with 4 grooves later. After that, I kept EP20 in front without rotating. The rational was that I will wear out EP20 quicker that way so I can replace them with two new EP422plus when they are gone. While driving with EP20 front and EP422Plus rear for 1 yr, I was happy with the ride and mpg, and did not notice much difference from full set of EP20. However, even though for two winters I managed to drive my Prius without changing to snow tires, EP tires were never very good on snow or ice. Last Nov, when I had my car in the shop for the last free Toyota Care maintenance, I was told that EP20 on front are worn out to close to the limit, and they went ahead rotated tires by bringing newer EP422Plus on front to give better grip. Well, that rotation did not help much for smooth ride, and as soon as I drove out of dealer's parking lot, I noticed tire noise. At that time original EP20 had only 25k miles on them, but I knew I had to get new tires at least for those two EP20 before snow started to fall. I initially thought of getting additional two new EP422Plus which was still sold at Walmart at $93/each. Then I saw an ad for winter tire sale from a local tire shop with DEEP discount on Michelin Xice3 for only $38/each. Yes, that's right. They had Xice3 marked at $80/each, and they were giving $25/tire discount plus $70 rebate from Michelin for set of 4 tires. So, that's what I have on my Prius right now. The result was exceptionally good. Smooth comfortable ride and good grip on snow and ice all winter long with only marginal decrease in mpg compared to EP20/EP422 during same period of time last winter.

While driving comfortably on snow with Michelin Xice3, I kept looking for a deal to pick up two additional EP422Plus to replace worn out EP20, but I could not find anything lower than Walmart's $93. Tirerack has better price, but when you add shipping cost, it is no better than local Walmart's. Then, I came across Conti Trucontact for sale at Walmart for $80. With current promotion of $70 rebate for set of 4 tires, it comes out to be $62.5/each or $250 for set of 4 new tires, instead of $186 for two EP422Plus which may or may not be identical set with the two EP422Plus I already have. So, for a review of EP422Plus, various tread patterns makes it difficult to match. It maybe LRR tires for high mpg, but not very good on snow and ice. For winter driving, Xice3 was far better on driving experience without loosing much on mpg arena. I will compare them against Conti Trucontact next. Only thing is that I am not sure what to do with two used EP422Plus I have in my garage.

 

We use X-Ice (2) for about 4 months every winter, it's a very well mannered snow tire. Have them mounted on Corolla steel rims.

I think you're on the right track getting away from the EP422's, Bridgestone is flogging too many tread patterns and wear indexes under the same name.