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

Fuelly and 15" versus 17" tires in Gen 4s.

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Fuel Economy' started by Go Ducks, Aug 13, 2016.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Go Ducks

    Go Ducks New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2016
    8
    8
    0
    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Trying to evaluate the differences in the potential MPG for different models of 2016 Gen 4s. A fair bit of discussion here and, yes, logically, it seems like the 17" tires may come at the cost of a few MPGs. But, looking at the Gen 4's that have been logged on Fuelly, there appears to be no rhyme or reason as to MPGs between models. The Threes and Fours, including the Touring models, all range from the low 50s to 60+. That is even true for the Two Eco's. In fact, one Eco is down at 39.9 MPG. Now, I do understand that a lot depends on the driving style of the individual driver, and also that some models have added weight, due to spare tires and/or moon roofs, but, it seems like there would be some consistency within models, and I do not find that to be the case on Fuelly. Do you folks, with the Real World experience in all of these models have any feel for exactly what is true, regarding the difference in MPGs between models?
     
    #1 Go Ducks, Aug 13, 2016
  2. benlovesgoddess

    benlovesgoddess Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2016
    135
    158
    0
    Location:
    Yorkshire
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I was hoping to switch from 17" to 15" when i first needed new tyres, but it seems it may be too tricky and expensive. To get my Prius, i had to take the one the dealer had, or wait 6 months (i'm too impatient!). This meant i lost my wheel choice, colour choice and trim choice. Happy with blizzard pearl, but missing leather seats and voice controls
     
    #2 benlovesgoddess, Aug 14, 2016
    RCO likes this.
  3. benlovesgoddess

    benlovesgoddess Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2016
    135
    158
    0
    Location:
    Yorkshire
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    PS - I'm on Fuelly, so all my MPG figures are there. If i haven't already, i'll state that I'm on 17" wheels - though they are visible in one of the pics.
     
    #3 benlovesgoddess, Aug 14, 2016
    RCO likes this.
  4. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2014
    1,243
    1,044
    1
    Location:
    Keystone State
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    This has been discussed extensively already with gen 3 owners with many weighing in on their own experiences.

    17" wheels vs. 15" | PriusChat
    15" or 17" Wheels | PriusChat
    http://priuschhttp://priuschat.com/posts/1877601/
    Handling 15" vs. 17" wheels | PriusChat
    15" Diameter Wheels/Tires verses 17" | PriusChat
    Snow tires and 15" vs 17" wheels | PriusChat
    17" safer more stable than 15" wheels? | PriusChat
    Handling differences between 15" and 17" wheels | PriusChat
    15" versus 17" wheels & mpg/gauges | PriusChat
     
    #4 KennyGS, Aug 14, 2016
  5. Go Ducks

    Go Ducks New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2016
    8
    8
    0
    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Thank you for those useful links, KennyGS. I learned a good bit following them, but, unfortunately, most of the discussions are 6+ years old and I saw none about Gen 4. Also, none really address why Fuelly shows every model in the 2016 Gen 4 as being scattered rather randomly from around 50 mpg to around 63 mpg, with outliers on both ends of that range for every iteration from the 2 Eco to the 4 Touring. Even Toyota says the17" tires should result in around a 2 mpg hit, but the Fuelly data do not seem to confirm that is the case. Which is why I was seeking comment from those who have experience with the 2016 Gen 4s.
     
    #5 Go Ducks, Aug 14, 2016
    Keithstef and RCO like this.
  6. 4rpr15

    4rpr15 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2015
    1,056
    375
    0
    Location:
    WI
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I switched the stock 15's on my Two over to custom 17" wheels and tires and I'm averaging 63mpg since then. Not bad at all! Looks 1000% better/sportier than stock as well.

    View attachment 115484
     
    #6 4rpr15, Aug 15, 2016
    RCO likes this.
  7. south460

    south460 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2009
    42
    9
    0
    Location:
    South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    HELP.Went to buy a Three with ATP yesterday(even though did not want moonroof) and ended up with Three Touring with the part of the ATP I wanted and no moonroof.I knew the tires were 17" but thought the efficiency would still be light years ahead of my 2007 Prius which averaged 45mpg.
    Today -first drive day-I averaged 27.9mpg!!!!!! CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON?I am in shock.
     
    #7 south460, Sep 1, 2016
    RCO likes this.
  8. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    2,592
    2,390
    0
    Location:
    Whittier, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Emergency brake?
     
    #8 krmcg, Sep 1, 2016
    kithmo likes this.
  9. south460

    south460 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2009
    42
    9
    0
    Location:
    South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Just checked-it was not engaged.Thanks for the idea though!
     
    #9 south460, Sep 1, 2016
    krmcg likes this.
  10. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    2,592
    2,390
    0
    Location:
    Whittier, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Wow - that is a puzzler. I cannot get under 30 MPG even if I tried to do all of the wrong things all at the same time. I would get the car checked out by the dealer.
     
    #10 krmcg, Sep 1, 2016
    ETP and RCO like this.
  11. south460

    south460 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2009
    42
    9
    0
    Location:
    South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thanks.I hope I don't have the lemon of all lemons.It rides like a dream,but as a veteran Prius driver I really did expect a huge jump in mpg.
     
    #11 south460, Sep 1, 2016
    RCO likes this.
  12. south460

    south460 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2009
    42
    9
    0
    Location:
    South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Did you immed'ly get 66mpg on your four?
     
    #12 south460, Sep 1, 2016
  13. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    2,592
    2,390
    0
    Location:
    Whittier, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    First tank calculated MPG of 63.7
    upload_2016-9-1_14-12-33.png
     
    #13 krmcg, Sep 1, 2016
    Keithstef, Rangerdavid and RCO like this.
  14. south460

    south460 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2009
    42
    9
    0
    Location:
    South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    WOW.Something is definitely wrong.
     
    #14 south460, Sep 1, 2016
    RCO likes this.
  15. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    2,592
    2,390
    0
    Location:
    Whittier, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I also came over from a Gen 2 Prius. 123,000 miles at a lifetime 50 MPG
     
    #15 krmcg, Sep 1, 2016
  16. ATHiker

    ATHiker Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2010
    644
    560
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    How many miles?

    Data from a single short trip or series of short trips is meaningless.

    My guess is that you will be fine.

    Take some pictures of this screen to keep a record of your individual trips for a while-- but toggle the odometer button so that "After Start" appears at the top -- before you turn the car off.

    My bet is that you find some trip's MPG sucks (especially the very short ones) and on others it is great. Of course, the daily MPG is stored automatically.

    image.jpg
     
    #16 ATHiker, Sep 1, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2016
    kithmo and RCO like this.
  17. benlovesgoddess

    benlovesgoddess Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2016
    135
    158
    0
    Location:
    Yorkshire
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Hmmm....how many miles did you cover to get 26 us mpg? If i charge up the hilĺ from the house the 3 mile incline leaves about 35 uk mpg on the computer.
    If i then roll down the next 3 miles i can have 70 indicated.
    My worst ever tank (when i misunderstood pulse and glide to mean accelerating hard to 80 mph, rolling down
    to 50 and repeating). Filling the red bar every time i used the throttle, still 58 uk mpg was the worst i got.
     
    #17 benlovesgoddess, Sep 1, 2016
    RCO likes this.
  18. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2014
    1,787
    945
    0
    Location:
    Pa.
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    I'm guessing you did a short trip on a cold engine to manage those terrible numbers... Reset your meters and go out on a longer drive in the countryside and report back.

    I have been getting in the 70's the last couple weeks on my 18-20 or so mile commute to work even as high as mid 80's a couple times, mind you I have been driving 55 mph on all highway stretches and kinda trying.



    FYI: Back when I was test driving the different models I drove a 3T back to back with a Three and managed 2 mpg better on the 20 mile test drive with the 3T... For reference. Both number were in the 60's...
     
    #18 Blizzard_Persona, Sep 1, 2016
    kithmo and RCO like this.
  19. benlovesgoddess

    benlovesgoddess Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2016
    135
    158
    0
    Location:
    Yorkshire
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I think i'll stick with the 17" wheels then, its a lot of hassle and expense - and will annoy the missus, so not really worth it.
     
    #19 benlovesgoddess, Sep 8, 2016
    Mendel Leisk, kithmo and RCO like this.
  20. hb1148

    hb1148 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2016
    46
    56
    1
    Location:
    Jacksonville, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Well, I have the non-touring Four and over the first couple of days of ownership, the console MPG indicated in the high 30s for me and has continued to increase the past couple of months of ownership. Currently indicates 63.7 although that's actually a bit optimistic as it turns out. Check the daily log and see if it's the same. Also consider tracking your fuel usage at the pump (although this takes a little more time).
     
    #20 hb1148, Sep 9, 2016
    south460 and RCO like this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2