Tires size possible deal breaker on 2023 Prius?

Assuming someone that is buying a Prius is going to want as narrow a tire as possible to minimize resistances, the 205/55R17 might be the better choice for the 17" wheel.

 

Yeah I hear you. Our stock tires are 215/45R17, and I switch to 195/65R15 snow tires every winter: mpg stays neck-and-neck.

it’s a combination of width, different tire and different inertial mass with the 15” steel rims I think.

 

I was seriously pretending they do not exist :-D that EU sticker looks fairly crappy for something that should roll with a Prius.
TBH, I haven't found them anywhere available and only a handful of shops even listed them ... yeah, you are right, they exist

 

...looking online for 20's that would fit
lol

 

Pity the UK isn't getting the car, as we have tyres. Lol.

195/60/17 Michelin Primacy 4

 

Are you getting the PHV?

 

unless one goes bad

 

Does it rot, or take up a life of crime?

 

It will be stupid for places like Costco to not provide the new sizes if the new Prius sells well.
I bet the new Prius won’t be available under MSRP for a long time, which is the real problem here.

 

Possibly, but more likely an accident or road hazard

 

It is a risk, but then many punctures can be repaired.
Negotiating an extra tire when buying isn't a bad idea for those concerned.

 

Dealers probably won’t even have any until long after cars are available, and I doubt they’ll be willing to negotiate anything

 

215/55 & 215/50 r17 are common as dirt now days.

That will be the lazy man’s cheap Tire option

BMW I3 tires will likely work as well even though they are a bit off in size.


Want a real head scratcher?
I have 2 cars that can only accept small 13” tires
155/65r13 and 125/80r13.
Literally can’t get them on this continent

 

For someone who isn’t able to wait until the second year of Gen 5s to be released, this tire situation is pretty depressing. I rely on reasonably priced all season tires. I live in CT but most of my driving is in RI which has horrible road conditions. I didn’t realize these 19” low profile tires will add challenges to winter driving. I also don’t have a car I can borrow while waiting a few weeks for an expensive tire to arrive.

Ok…I’m turning into perpetual waffler #2.

 

I think whatever was stated in the owner's manual about snow or winter driving with the 19in wheels is there for legal CYA.

What I'm finding on low-profile tires during the winter seem to be based upon generalities in regards to what tires and wheels are usually equipped. Typically, the larger wheel options a car has also include being wider. With wider tires, they may ride on top of the snow, instead of pushing it aside to stay on the road surface. Riding on the snow could lead to more sliding. After market wheels with low profile tires seem to be even wider than what the factory would put on.

Low profile wheels are popular as a performance upgrade in cornering. Which leads to performance tires being commonly installed. Which is just another term for summer or three season tire. As the name implies, they aren't meant for winter driving. The rubber is formulated for traction under moderate temperatures. It gets stiff, and starts losing traction ability before the temps hit freezing.

So low profile tires tended to be wide, summer tires, which aren't good for winter driving and weather. Wide, summer tires that aren't low-profile are equally bad for winter though.

The Prius doesn't have wide, summer tires on the 19in rim. They are reported to be all seasons, and are the same width as the tire on the 17in wheel. They might be narrower than the tires on the larger wheeled gen4.

 

I road to high school across town in the snow in a Model-A Ford with 2 5/8 inch wide tires. Narrow and certainly not studded or have any obvious snow traction tread that I remember. Not pushing much snow aside has its advantages. Ice would be another story.

 

Thank you for taking the time to share this info.

 

It'd be interesting to see if a 15" rim, say an old Corolla steelie, would clear everything.

 

I'm finding 11.1 in diameter for the front brake rotor. So the wheel needs to clear 5.55 inches, plus the caliper, with the width of the tire rim. The rotor on the gen4 was 10 inches. I wouldn't bet on a 15in wheel fitting the gen5.

 

Can confirm. I own a 2020 Miata with similar brake size specs. Best it can swing is a 16" rim.