LRR Tires- No Longer being hyped?

I'm kinda wondering what if any difference there is, between Defender and Defender T+H. Could be the same tire, just rebadged, and the warranty adjusted due to too many claims?

 

I have never known anyone to return a tire on a tread wear warranty. I found this Consumers Report article on the subject, basically it says "good luck".

Why Tread-Life Warranties are Next to Useless - Consumer Reports

I change tires by age more than wear because I don't drive my cars enough.

I spent hours looking at reviews for the best LRR tire and there was something wrong with each one of them and I didn't want to pay the price for a Michelin tire. I ended up buying the stock Toyo's that came on the car because I was happy with them.

 

I just follow the thread wear rating.

Currently running Bridgestone turanza Serenity that have a 620 thread wear rating. Have put 60 k miles on them and they still have 7-8 mm left on them.

Not sure if they are LRR or not, but I get over 50 mpg in our 2010 with 179 k miles on it.

Good luck with your purchase decision .

 

We had a set of Michelins, Harmony's I believe, that were tread-life warrantied for 120,000 kms. They got to the wear bars at 60,000 kms. I noted this at our tire place, they were the ones that had installed them, and had the odo records, so they contacted Michelin with the info, and we got the next set for half-price.

Nowadays though, for a variety of reasons, it'd be hard for me to take advantage of a treadwear warranty:

1. We're on snow tires 4~5 months of the year.
2. I tend to buy tires mounted on loose rims, whenever possible, so there's no odo record with the tire installer.
3. I don't relish running tires down to wear bars, prefer to change sooner.
4. Our mileage is so low, tires tend to age-out before the tread wears out.

 

not sure what you mean by hyped, put you can select LRR tires on tire rack, and they get plenty of mention here at prius chat.

 

If you got 40,000 miles out of stock, you should be happy, and if you got 85,000 miles from Michelin, then you should stick with it. Can't you order them on-line? My experience with OME tires aer dismal in terms of treadwear that is. Ecopia E20 that came OEM with my previous Gen3 Pri lasted only 20K. I am expecting about the same from my current OEM Dunlop on PRIME. That said, all the LRR tires I had on three different hybrid cars, none lasted more than 60K.

 

Forgive my ignorance here, but what's the big deal with LRR tires? I've read a few posts here and talked to many more at the dealership who have just put regular tires on their Prius' and take only a minimal hit on their MPG. For that matter,I helped put a regular set of tires on a Prius myself just last weekend while hanging out at the dealership... So I know it happens on a VERY regular basis.

I've seen the tire threads here on Prius Chat, but I'd like to see one that includes "regular" tires as well. There has got to be more than just a few people here rolling their Prius on regular tires.

It's an old article, but a comment is made in it that Prius owners seem to care the "Least" about LRR's. So is it just us "Prius Geeksters" who are worried about it?

Green car owners overlook low rolling resistance tires - Retail - Modern Tire Dealer

 

defenders all the way for me. just had a set put on my 2015 and had a set on my 2012.i believe that the ltx, m/s are for light trucks and the others are for cars. for me as owner of at least 5 prii in the past the defenders are awful tough to beat for all around handling, rain capabilities, long lastiing and no ding on mileage. yes i a m biased. my fave tire and the way i will continue to go.

 

Michelin Energy Saver A/S are really expensive through local Costco. In 195/65R15, some prices (in CDN dollars):

Bridgestone Ecopia EP20: $115 (Note: this is a great LRR tire, terrible in any amount of snow when worn though.)
Michelin Premier A/S: $130 (Mixed reports regarding rolling resistance, interesting tire though.)
Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus: $125 (Don't know about these, should maybe search 'em up.)
Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus: $115 (Same as above.)
Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus: $110 (I'd stick with EP20 in this side, maybe telling that the EP20 cost more.)
Michelin Defender T+H: $115 (Hopefully no negative "tweaks", comparing to the original. Good tread life. Good all-round choice?)
Michelin X-Tour A/S T+H: $109 (Pretty much the same as above? Name getting cumbersome.)
Michelin Energy Saver A/S: $178 (The LRR king, @bisco testifies they're very quiet and smooth. But that price!)

 

Does buying premium tires justify the cost?

 

I like dem EP20 .

You really want to have separate snow tires though, further north.

 

I use to go with the least expensive tires at the nearest local tire shop, but that was before internet era. I had no way to do comparison shop then. Now with use of internet and online shops, if you do your homeworks and shop around, you can get premium tires at about the same or even sometimes lower than no-name tires. I just bought a set of Michelin Xice3 for $57.50/each mounted and balanced on new wheels free. Oh, shipping is free too.

 

To me, it was never that LRR tires were "hyped".
They are what they are.
I think LRR tires on a Prius and/or any vehicle will help eek out a little better MPG, because of the Low Rolling Resistance. And really that it all there is to it.
With all tires you investigate there are trade offs in performance depending on what you want to pay, and what you buy.
I just kind of look at LRR tires as another option on the table. I think it's perfectly OK, to either choose a tire, with a primary design function of being fuel efficient, such as a LRR tire, OR...decide to that benefit isn't worth it, and get a "regular" tire that may offer longer tread life, better noise reduction, etc, etc,....

My philosophical thinking with The Prius, is that I bought it as a Hybrid, to be as efficient as possible. Therefore NOT choosing a tire designed for fuel efficiency seemed like going 9 yards, but not getting the 1st down. It quite possibly could be a minimal difference, but I kind of wanted to support the best fuel efficiency possible, for me it WAS a priority.

But there are trade offs with LRR tires, and I fully understand people who just want to look at a wider pallet of choices, and perhaps prioritize other benefits possible outside of the LRR choice.

PS.
I have original OEM tires on my Honda Fit, that probably will need to be replaced in a year or so, even though the Fit is not a hybrid, I'll probably take a closer look at tires that reportedly return better gas mileage. It's STILL a priority with me.

 

there are plenty of posts from people who have put non LRR tires on and taken an mpg hit.
it is up to each individual to determine what is 'major'.

it is interesting that people used to buy prius more for environmental and other philosophical reasons, and wanted to eek out the most mpg's regardless of cost.

todays prius driver seems more interested in the bottom line.

 

That’s why I bought 9 years ago.

So far, no regrets .

 

Bottom line for me, too. I seem to do fine for wear and mpg on my Yokohama Avids. But on I-75 going through GA, much of it was just deafening with that rough, worn out asphalt. I'm thinking of prioritizing quiet with mpg being the next most important factor if the Yokos ever wear out.

 

I'm tired of buying those expensive Michelin tires (my Premiers were $130?) and then being disappointed in the tread life, noise, etc. I've been doing lots of online research for less expensive, but still good quality tires. The General Altimax RT43 keeps popping up. $79 at Walmart. Same price at Tire Rack. Good reviews. It's #4 best rated tire in the all-season category on Tire Rack. (I think the Michelin Defender is #1).

I'm no longer concerned about gas mileage, actually never was, not while driving a Prius. I want my tires to be QUIET! And soft-riding. And at least 50K of tread life. I think the only Priuschat member that mentioned having Altimax tires, was the woman cyberprius.

 

I bought Bridgestone turanza serenities at 120 k miles and with 186 k miles on our 2010, they still have about 6/32 nds left.

They are also quiet which is a side benefit.

And we bought them at Costco when they were $90 a tire mounted, balanced and installed.

I call that a good deal.

 

I hear you. I think my most disappointed after market tires I purchased so far were BS Ecopia 422 Plus. I paid $91/tire plus installation for the tires, and they were probably one of more expensive ones I've purchased in the past. Problem is that average driver never have enough chance to test out all the different tires. For the life of car, I may have chance to ride 4 different sets of tires. How many different tire companies and models are out there?