Low Rolling Resistance replacement tires: Current List

All I can say, is that for an OEM set of tires, (Goodyear Fuel Max Assurance Tires were what came on mine) I'm going on 2+ years and they are holding up and wearing well.

And due to past experience with other vehicles my expectations for OEM tires are low. I've been pleasantly surprised.

That being said? Michelins have an excellent reputation and get great reviews so don't tell Goodyear, but when it comes time to get new tires I'll probably "upgrade" to the Michelin Energy Savers.

However, if I "accidentally" bought Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires? I wouldn't feel it was a bad purchase. About my only criticism of them is that they are not very good on snow or ice, however they aren't designed to be so, so the criticism is probably unfair.

 

The only fly in the rice is that those might not be MIJ tires like the OEMs. But who knows, you might get even better MPG.

 

Update, seems I am getting best MPG ever. However I think it is not the new tires but the gas. It is as though the gas suddenly lost all that ethanol crap or something.

I can say Walmart online and Tirerack.com have been spot on for tires so far. I was able to get MIJ with no problems. Might try a set of those Michelins on the back only that everyone is raving about. 6 of 8 replaced so far.

 

Tell me ETP, what does MIJ tell us. For the life of me I cannot find the meaning. Hal

 

I'm getting good at this:

MIJ = Made In Japan (methinks)

Pretty soon it'll all be unintelligible, laugh out loud.

ETP, this is with Ecopia EP20 you're getting good mpg? Good to hear. I found EP20 to be a tire that rolled easy, right from the start, no "break in" period, which I suspect is (at least in part) tire shop speak for "get lost".

 

Thanks Mendel. H

 

USA

MIC= made in China Mic ///////////// key //////////// mouse

MIJ= made in Japan/still a quality country /although a lot of parts get out sourced just like USA

??? MIG= made in Germany/LOL

MIM

MIP

MIH

MIA

MIB

MIV

MIT

MOM=MOM

 

I'll keep mum.

 

OK, thanks I'm up on my abrievations. I knew it would be simple, but I just had to find out. Hal

 

Has anyone tried a set of Yokohama Ascend tires? They are available in a 195/60R16 that I was debating trying instead of a 205/55R16 hoping that the narrower size would result in similar mpg to the 195/65R15. They have a 25.2" diameter vs 25.0" for the 195/65R15. Any input from others that may have tried these tires?

 

I' m sure it would help over the wider tread as long as that is a LRR tire. Thinner is better! I would run the original as long as safe before the change though. H

 

I think it would be nice to create a spreadsheet that lists the tires, inflation used and the MPGs obtained -- not unlike the spreadsheet that is there for the MPG bragging.

That said, fishing for the MPGs stories on Defenders (compared to ES A/S, and EP422).. Anybody with recommended inflation, +5%, +10% and max inflation have data on these tires. On my Civic I would inflate 10% more than the recommendation, thinking I will do the same here. I don't care much about max MPG, but would like to get at least 50-52+ MPG

 

Thin my friend. Go with a LRR tire with proven MPG.

 

I would not go over the max cold pressure posted on the side wall. I try to stay 2 PSI below that number cold.

42 is the number for me.

 

Here are pictures of the Pirelli P7 A/S+ P205/50R17 on my 2010 Prius V. The sidewalls are wider than the tread. I'm up to about 46 MPG.

 

I am on Mobil and can't find a search option. Is there a update on continental trueContact Eco plus tires. I think tire rack gives these i high rating but not sure.


iPhone ?

 

Did you notice an improvement in rolling resistance then, compared to stock 17" size? I guess kinda hard to tell, assuming the OEM tires were different.

Do those have a rim guard? Regular or XL (extra load)?

Any resistance at the tire shop, going to alternate size?

Ride's any softer?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm toying with a similar move.

 

I would also like to here more details. I'm about due to replace my OEM's and I'm going to jump up to a 17" rim. Can you provide some more information on handling & noise?

 

OK decided to post a follow up. my wife is on a trip abroad and i jumped on the opportunity to commute in the prius again. I was surprised the MPG came back to what i used to get in the city (60mpg+). also in the last several weeks my wife was getting 48mpg on hwy as opposed to 45mpg before. now the tires have 20,000 miles on them. so, i'm backpedaling some of my criticism of these tires. they are still noisy like they were from the day one. no change here.

 

Colm01 said: ↑
Here are pictures of the Pirelli P7 A/S+ P205/50R17 on my 2010 Prius V. The sidewalls are wider than the tread. I'm up to about 46 MPG. View attachment 78563 View attachment 78562 View attachment 78563 View attachment 78562 View attachment 78563
Mendel Leisk said: ↑
Did you notice an improvement in rolling resistance then, compared to stock 17" size? I guess kinda hard to tell, assuming the OEM tires were different.

Do those have a rim guard? Regular or XL (extra load)?

Any resistance at the tire shop, going to alternate size?

Ride's any softer?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm toying with a similar move.
Click to expand...
I would also like to here more details. I'm about due to replace my OEM's and I'm going to jump up to a 17" rim. Can you provide some more information on handling & noise?
Hi guys and sorry for the late reply. Mendel Leisk, I can not honestly say that there was any improvement since I just bought the car. The MPG is exactly the same now as when my 15" snows were on. My previous Prius G3 II would get 46MPG with the 15"snows and 56MPG with the 15" Michelin E/S AS. I get 46MPG with the P205/50R17 P7 A/S+. with my Prius G3 V. Be prepared to take a big hit from the 15" to the 17". These are Extra Load and the tire shop had no problems putting the tires on the rims nor was there any resistance. There appears to be a small rim guard as you can see in the attached photos. The ride is nice and quiet, similar to the 15" tires with the P7 A/S+. The handling is absolutely awesome compared to the 15" tires and I have no suspension improvements.