Question About Wheels and Tires

Our new Prius needs some new feet. These Integritys gotta go. I was thinking I'd like to put a little bit wider tire on the Prius - this is a dumb female type question, I know - but can I put different size tires on the car without having to replace wheels or rims or anything else?

I hear good things about the Hydroedge and Comfortreds - any recommendations as to what tire would give the best combination of better handling, better feeling of control, along with a smoother feeling ride? They don't have to be guaranteed to last forever, just to serve well - we generally put fewer than 10,000 miles on a car in a year. I've read so many tire comparisons here that my head's spinning! There's also another Michelin I've seen a lot about -

I think the Prius tends to "wander" a little bit on the highway, more so in a crosswind of course, and I'm hoping to find a tire that will both help that as well as cut down on some of the rough road feel that bothers me a little bit.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Sep 5 2006, 12:51 AM) [snapback]314397[/snapback]</div>

Thanks - I would willing to take a hit of a couple of mpg if it would get me increased stability, and a slight percentage deviation in readings, if a slightly different sized tire would help accomplish what I want. I'm trying to figure out if I am limited to the size tire that came on the car - would it help to go to 195/60 or even 195/55, even still in a 15"?

I hope I'm making sense. Tires aren't exactly my strong suit, obviously.
I just know what seems wrong, and that I'd like to use a change of tires to try to make "the baby" drive like I think it ought to. Since I don't want to do this but once anytime soon, I'd like to get it right the first time.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tumbleweed @ Sep 7 2006, 02:11 PM) [snapback]315824[/snapback]</div>

I wanted an alignment done anyway, to see if it would improve handling. Is there anything in particular that I should look for to see if it needs a quick alignment even with these tires? It does tend to wander, that's no lie.

Would the 205/60-15 put the most rubber on the road? I've always liked Michelin tires. Should I get Toyota to put on the new tires, or where I buy them from?

Thanks for the help.

 

I just looked around the Michelin site at the Pilot Exaltos - they don't mention them in a 205/60 15, unless my eyes are in worse shape than I think they are . . . I can't find it if it's there. Closest thing I see is a
205/55 15.

???

Um - maybe I just found some in a different place. The 205/60s would be better, right? They revs are closer to the Integritys, I think.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hybrid_Mutant @ Sep 8 2006, 12:14 AM) [snapback]316181[/snapback]</div>

We don't really need the longest wearing tire on the market - we only put about 10,000 miles a year on a car. The Pilots sound perfect to me!
Thanks.

 

I've been looking at the Michelin Hydroedge vs. the Pilot Exalto - the Hydroedge is rated at 90,000 and the Pilot at 45,000 - that doesn't by any stretch mean that the Hydroedge is twice as good a tire, does it?

I like what I've read about the handling with the Pilot Exalto - Michelin's site recommends Hydroedge, Harmony, and Agility Touring, and didn't mention the Pilot Exalto. Any idea why this would be?

Is it all right to have a tire dealer install tires on the Prius, or does it need to be done by Toyota? I'm not sure because of the sensors. If I go to Toyota after getting the new tires on and witch about the alignment, aren't they going to tell me it's off because I put new tires on the car?
Should I go to Toyota and witch about the handling, then tell them I'm putting new tires on it and that I want a free alignment after I do it?
I don't want them to be able to blame the new tires, is what I'm getting at, I think.

The Pilot has a 400 treadwear rating, the Hydroedge is 800. Can anybody explain that to me, in so far as how it should affect my decision as to which tire to get?

Anybody else have an opinion of which of these two tires would fulfill the needs I have - better control and handling, as well as a smoother, quieter ride? Thanks. So far, there's one vote for the Pilots!

 

Thanks, tumbleweed.

Uh - am I right to think that first I should have the car aligned, and then have new tires put on and balanced? I need to get busy getting that alignment done, if that's the way it works, because I'm surely getting somewhere past ready to get some better tires on this car!

I drove it 30 miles today, and finally figured out what I'm feeling in it that I don't like, and I don't know whether alignment or tires will help - I'm one of those drivers who has always made as few steering corrections while driving as possible. I've had cars that required very little guidance, I guess. I realized today that to drive the Prius I am constantly, unceasingly, making small adjustments, creating constant tension and strain in the arm(s) while driving, and the wrist(s). It's all over the road without doing that to try to keep it going in a straight line. To keep the car going straight, anyone watching me drive would say I was "over-correcting" the steering. I'm not. I know the difference.

I don't know if this is the result of the "wander" that so many of us have complained about. I do know I'd hate to try to drive the car on a long trip right now, just because I think it would be exhausting.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tumbleweed @ Sep 8 2006, 07:02 PM) [snapback]316656[/snapback]</div>

Tumbleweed - looks like I need to do some research on the problems you've had! Thanks for the input.
I'd really, really like to be able to say that my car would go straight down the road like that!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dancekat59 @ Sep 23 2006, 05:35 PM) [snapback]324029[/snapback]</div>

I swapped out the Integrity tires for Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S tires two days ago - the improvement in handling is incredible, and I just flat out feel safer. Since the alignment and the tire switch, my Prius no longer drives like a small car - it drives like the car I expected to get for this amount of money.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(theorist @ Sep 24 2006, 09:30 PM) [snapback]324468[/snapback]</div>

I got 205/60/15 . . . brought them home with 35 lbs in each, going to go to 36 rear, 38 front, tomorrow, and see how that feels.