Michelin Defender

Those values are 23, 25 & 24 greater, respectively. Maybe some slippage factor? Or an adjustment due to reducing diameter as the tire wears? Anyway.

 

The values I gave are supplied by the manufacturers and are pretty standard for the industry. They likely include circumference changes due to deformation of the tire during use.

Go to TireRack.com and look up the EP422 then click on the specs tab. You'll find revs/mile listed there. Most manufacturers list the specs on their website as well.

 

Here are 6 pages of all season tires for the Prius III, 15" wheels, including 6 tires from Michelin (2 of the Michelins are LRR).

Tire Search Results

 

That may be a sign they are under inflated.

 

This happened to me yesterday and I ended up walking out with a set of Michelin Defender's. I'm thinking I should have got the energy saver's instead because Fuel Economy is my biggest concern. What did you end up with?

 

If the Defenders last as long as Michelin says they will then they are an efficient tire in terms of cost/mile so while your mpg will be lower, they will last long. Still, the Energy Saver is most efficient overall.

See how the tires feel. If after a week you don't like them just ask Costco to swap them for the Energy Saver A/S. Michelin has their 30 day satisfaction guarantee and Costco is great about stuff like that.

Remmeber, you will almost always take a hit on MPG with a brand new tires. Some much worse than others.

 

I bought them from Discount Tire, would Costco still exchange them? Also, I'm not a Costco member.

 

Oops, I thought I read Costco. I was responding to someone in PMs at the same time. He was going to Costco.

Discount Tire will do it as well. They have their own 30 day satisfaction guarantee.

 

I currently have a 2005 Prius with almost 100,000 miles. So having a tire that lasts another 90,000 miles isn't as much of a concern to me as the short term benefit of fuel economy. What would you do?

 

I prefer the high fuel economy and shorter life because I hate when tires get old and start cracking. This is especially important if you don't drive many mile per year. No one should be driving on 6yr old tires. lol

The lower cost/mile of the Energy Saver A/S will help cover the cost of tax and install when it comes time for new tires.

I'm not sure there is a correct answer here. You are the on who has to live with the tires. If higher mpg numbers will make you happy then trade them in.

 

Ohh, Discount Tire is not running the $70 Michelin rebate right now. I would see if they will match Costcos price since Costco is running the rebate. Maybe they won't know you're not a member.

 

Discount Does offer this 30.00 prepaid visa card... I could check and see.

 

Hey I'm back! Long story why I've been gone for 2 months, but anyway.

I think this point of age having an effect on tires as much as miles is illustrated nicely by what 2fasfu has done with his v. He has 145k on those original tires. Unbelievable.

 

Well, I wouldn't disagree. After all they're in business to make money. OTOH whether they can make a meaningful difference kind of depends on your definition of "meaningful". OTTH most folks aren't obssessed with their gas mileage -- even prius drivers believe it or not. the worst tankful I ever had beat the hell out of any other car I've ever owned.

 

I had to chime in on this thread. I have a TCH, not a prius, BUT I put defenders on about 10 days ago. I am seeing a drop of 5-9 mpg overall. This is over about 1100 miles so far. Just something to think about if you are comparing these to the Energy Saver A/S. Inflation is 39 cold, car is aligned.

 

I understand there is a break in period so you should see a rebound

 

I put the defenders on about 500 miles ago. The 1st tank I saw a 4 MPG decrease. The 2nd one was 2 MPG decrease. But the ride is MUCH better and LOT quieter. Well worth the lower MPG.

 

I bought a 2010 Prius IV new and have 45,000 miles currently. The tires had to be repalced at 25,000 due to excessive wear. At 35,000 2 tires were repalced for the same issue. The car has been aligned 5 times since these problems began. Toyota and the dealer have stepped up to this point and picked up the cost. At this service we again have tire wear issues and the tires are being repalced with Michelin Defenders this weekend. The dealer is hoping that the upgraded tire will solve this issue.

 

I have a 2012 Prius and I traded the OEM tires in for the defenders. I saw my mileage drop a little bit with defenders and wasn't pleased. Was at 49 with the defenders and using the 30 day exchange I ordered the energy savers. Still on the first tank of gas with the new tires (about 300 miles) and the mileage went up to 58. The weather has been about the same. I really stressed about changing from the 90000 mile tire to a 65000 mile tire, but the gas mileage has been great and they seem to handle very well. Just my two cents worth.

 

Just got 580 miles on a extent trip since switching from the Defenders to the Energy Savers. Have been at 64 mpg for the last 800 miles.