Tires and wheels?

Are you aking "why not use the 17" rims on all levels?". If so:

1. The bigger rims tend to be heavier, more expensive.
2. The tires that go on them are invariably more expensive.
3. MPG suffers, with the heavier/wider wheels and tires.

On the plus side, handling improves, marginally, but it's sorta cargo cult, with a Prius.

Full disclosure: our 3rd gen Prius came with the 17", Canadian Touring Package. I believe there's actually some steering differences, not just different wheels/tires. It did feel more "sure footed", compared to a 15" model we drove. Also, I couldn't stand the wheel covers on the 15".

 

Agree with above, the 17" will cost considerably more and will ride a little worse, but you do get marginally better curve handling at speed. By speed, I mean much faster than the speed limit.

 

Oh yeah, that. I'm running our 17's at 36 PSI, and feel like a bobble head going over speed bumps, slowly. The worst are diagonal speed bumps: you get left-to-right whiplash as well, lol.

 

Went the other direction....purchased OEM takeoff 16" wheel/tires from a "v"3 series and replaced our 17" originals that came on our "v"5 series.....looking for a somewhat softer ride...can't say I feel a big difference..
have had them on for about 36K.....
If doing it over I would have stuck with the 17"ers...they look better....

 

The summer wheels/shoes on my 2009 Gen II (touring) are the OEM 16" alloys, and in the winter I swap them for 15" steelies shod with Blizzak WS-80s. There is a difference in the "feel", but nothing which I'm concerned about. In the summer I've had them up to 85+ mph and they've been rock-steady, and in the winter, well it's totally different driving, which is why I have snow tyres!

...and, oh, BTW they're set to 40F/38R in the summer, and 38F/36R in winter.

 

I guess they wanted to lower the price point for the lower models.

I do believe that the turning radius on those with the 17" option from Toyota is slightly wider than those without it....