Upgrading Wheels to 17(?)

3-6 mpg drop and more expensive tires. Wheels arent cheap either unless you can find a used set. standard prius size is 215/45/17 . Should not effect speedo reading if you keep this size. Depending if you live near snow, these will probably do very poor in snow and ice. If you do, keep your 15" rims and get dedicated snow tires. I recommend Michelin X-Ice XI3

 

If you're only hoping for 47mpg, that won't be a problem. Maintaining 52+ will require a few driving techniques.

 

You can see my Fuelly data. I think that does have a lot to do with my terrain though.. Hilly!
I get about 44-46 without trying too hard.

On a trip down to LA, I was close to 50mpg.

From what I read, choose tires wisely as in that size, 17", it can affect it much more so than 15". I have the stock Toyo's.

 

that's what I say when I see all these 50+mpg'ers!

Accelerating slowly sometime don't equate to better MPG. Get up to speed quickly, not sprint, is best way I found.

 

Yes sir. With the wife, it was more like 50.5 though. Tires were inflated to 38/36, normal mode and no warming up here. We just go fairly briskly in the mornings to quickly warm up the engine. I know most here say to go easy on a cold engine but the car is garaged so I don't feel so bad lol. Knowing your local highways/roads and traffic also help as well. When I first had the Prius w/ 17's I was getting 47-49ish and felt ok about it considering the heavier wheels and stickier tires. Once I started accelerating fairly briskly from red lights, truly coasting in N (not EV or in regen mode) and anticipating traffic lights we started seeing 52+ consistently.

 

Noone has mentioned how much harsher the ride is on low profile tires, particularly in the city. I'll never have them again. - and yes, 3 to 6 mpg hit (seemed to be on the high end of that range for me, with a lot of city, short trip, stop and go driving).

 

I guess I have a tough butt. To be honest, this is nothing close to harsh in my book. If you ridden in cars with low profiles tires, this isn't any more so... in fact, of those, it's comfy! And I have Plus springs.

Everyone has their own tolerance though. But in my book, 17" wheels with Plus springs, still very comfy.

Or simply, perhaps my route isn't rough as your.

 

I must be getting old....for me, the 15 inch tires were one of the best things about getting the PIP!

 

Just takes time to adjust if you wanted to. Since you like your 15" it's not an issue..

 

I had 2010 V prior to PIP, so I had plenty of time not to adjust to 17 inch low profile tires on bad Houston streets!

 

lol.. I wish I could upgrade the shocks too! too soft! lol!

 

For me, I still avg 47mpg on my 17's.......& that's cruising at 75mph but that's all highway miles.

 

I don't see the same or maybe my Prius is still being broken in? I do notice my average mpg creeping without trying.

 

I just averaged 49 mpg on my most recent tank on 17" on combine driving with occasional AC use and a day or two of some spirited driving.

I upgraded both my current IV and former II to the oem 17", and I would be the first one to admit I do it for look. Of course I love the higher mpg of the 15", and I don't necessary try to make my IV/II looks like a V or try to look different than another Prius. I just flat out think the Prius looks much better with the oem 17". The reduced mpg I try to make up by doing other things, such as higher inflation, driving habbits, and tire choice. For me, it's a worthy trade-off/adjustment

 

I concur looks.. and handling improvements at the sacrifice of a few mpg's.

Ever seen a BMW's or Mercedes models with smaller factory wheels sizes? Just doesn't "look" right.

 

Advantages of 17`:
-better look
-better stability in curves....
Advantages of 15`:
-half price
-better mpg
- MUCH softer rides...
- more quieter....
-because is softer in riding, also your suspension parts will last longer...


I have 17 and recently i ordered the 15.....
Because the ride with 17 is not soft at all for me......

So.... choose between a beautiful girl with big tits that sucks your money faster on expensive clothes and high expectative places, or the more normal one that warms your place, keep the food warm, cleans and saves your money at home....

 

That's a bit extreme.. maybe you can say it's a like the same women in difference shoes.. but that's about it.

 

I upgraded from the stock 15s to the OEM 17s, with non-standard 205/50-17 lrr tires, and it rides just right. Fatter sidewalls make for a "softer" ride, compared to the 215/45-17 standard size. It's a bit stiffer than the 15s, but not by much, and the MPGs have been running 48-50 consistent. I think it's a good trade off, dropped 1-2 MPGs, but the car looks much better