Michelin Primacy MXV4's - observations and guidance

I also run these tires (for about 3 months now). So far, so good!

I put the rear anti-sway bar on my Prius - love it. Corners pretty flat.

I work for a major car company, with some access to several technicial resourses and associates. They suggest that to stiffen much more than a sway-bar removes flex and ride comfert designed into the product. So, yes, you can get this car to corner like a go cart, however it will tend to start riding like one too.


Draw the comfort/corning line where you want to. That's what's great about mods anyway. To each their own...:rockon:

 

That is interesting that you have only lost 1 mpg where most of us installing the MXV4 have experienced a loss in the 4 mpg range.

What size tires are you running and what were your OEM tires? I have the 195/65R15 and the OEM were the Yokohama Avid S33D. I took an immediate hit of 4 mpg (48 average to 44 calculated) and after 1000 miles it is slowly improving to about 3 mpg.

The comfort, handling and quietness pretty much duplicates your experience. I was immediately able to lower my radio volume from 15 to 12 due to decreased tire noise.

 

FWIW, I put the v rated version of this tire on my wife's HyCam. She loves them because the handling improved so much. No more wallowing, quiet, good wet traction. The v version may be overkill. The sidewalls are stiff enough that you notice road surface issues a lot more on city streets. And now that you all mention it, I do think her mpg's took a definite dip.

 

I got the tires first. They helped handling right away. I lost @1.5-2.0 MPG. However, considering that these tires will most likely last 2 sets of low rolling resistance tires - I will come out ahead! Do the math. With tires, mounting and ballencing, road hazard, disposal fees and taxes I will save more than enough to cover the gas.

The rear Anti Sway bar made the car corner flater than before. It does not lean as much, which should help the wearing of front tire outside edges. Without the rear bar, the front tires try to hold body roll all alone, as the front has a anti sway bar from factory. This is hard on the outside edge of the front tires.

 

Some LRR tires are rated for 80,000-100,000 miles.

 

Here's a note on my install. I sanded and painted the outside pieces of the rear anti sway bar black prior to installing. (Outside of rubber bushings) I then sprayed the clamping brackets after install. Now, if behind the car, you notice nothing, no strange painted colors under there, etc. (Hey, a stealth install!)

 

I got only 28,000 miles on my factory LRR tires!

 

Put those Michelins on my 2010 last October and have lost 6 miles per gallon. Upped the pressures to 42, 40 but still losing 6 mpg. I realize I put them on as the weather was turning cold, and Prius mileage drops in cold weather, but I live on the Oregon Coast and it rarely gets below 35 degrees here. (Rains a bit, but it is a DRY rain.)
However, handling and noise were greatly improved. Still disappointed, and now considering buying a Lincoln MKZ Hybrid at 41 mpg and all that luxury. Sorta feels like when you are in a collision, body gets fixed, but car seems somehow "violated". You lose some of your "happy attitude" about the car. Maybe I'm too emotional. Wife loves the car and does not want me to trade it on a Lincoln. But we have been married 55 years and she has always "loved" the car she had at the moment. We'll see what develops.

 

Remember that if you change to a non-LRR tire on the Lincoln you will suffer from lost mpg just as you do in the Prius.

 

Hello,

I'm looking to buy those tires, they really have good reviews and good results in the tests. It's just too bad Tirerack didn't do the mpg result, but from what I read, it seems you guys don't see much mpg hit in comparison to let's say mich. ener saver.