Wider tires improve Prius handling and looks

If the difference is less than 1% you don't need to recalibrate. It is close enough.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nyprius @ May 24 2006, 08:00 AM) [snapback]260266[/snapback]</div>

Not sure how 1 extra cm of rubber is going to look much or handle much better. I bought my Prius cleaner transportation / mpg biased performance - most people that are concerned with "looks" or "handling" might opt for something less..

 

Just want to point out that the difference is 10 cm... not 1cm.

Dennis

 

Dennis,
195mm - 185mm = 10mm = 1cm

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LowCO2 @ May 24 2006, 10:29 AM) [snapback]260329[/snapback]</div>

They put larger wheels (16in) on the EUROPEAN Prius and it sure looks a lot better. I see no reason why a person can't be concerned with "looks" or "handling" and still want a Prius. My stock wheels and tires will be up for sale on E-Bay shortly after I take delivery.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ceric @ May 24 2006, 11:34 AM) [snapback]260331[/snapback]</div>

Thank you. My Celica that weighted 2,450 lbs had 195 mm wheels. I can tell the difference.


Dennis

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nyprius @ May 24 2006, 09:00 AM) [snapback]260266[/snapback]</div>

I have this size on my car 195/60R15 using the stock rims looks sporty..

It did seem to lower my mpgs on the screen though..

I would love to get a set of raised white letter tires for my prius!!!

 

It's possible that in non-US countries the larger tire is easier to find and cheaper. That's a simple explanation.

As for more revs per mile, that will make the speedometer error worse. With OEM tires, the speedo reads high. When it says 60 you're going about 59. So with a faster-revving tire, the speedo will be even farther off. If possible, you'd want to choose fewer revs per mile.

 

People's experience is that the speedometer reads a tad higher than actual.

 

The two standard Prius tyre types (185/65R15 and 195/55R16) have practically identical outer diameter, so I doubt the speedometer is calibrated differently for them.

In Japan (and possibly other Far East/Australasian countries), the Prius is offered with both wheel types, depending on the trim level.

195/55R16 tyres are actually rather expensive. It's a pet whinge of some on Yahoo Prius-UK. On blackcircles.com, they range from £60 to £92 (the standard Bridgestone ER30 = £71), compared to a range of £21-£93 for 185/65R15, most being £40-55.

That's because 185/65R15 is quite common for all sorts of standard cars, whereas 195/55R16 is rare, typically seen on performance versions of some cars, and some BMW-type things. No-one makes cheap tyres in that size, and you have a limited selection.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LowCO2 @ May 24 2006, 10:29 AM) [snapback]260329[/snapback]</div>

your looking at it wrong. sure it's only 1cm wider, but... there is more than 1cm that touches the ground due to that. and on four tires.

for example, let's say the tires touch the ground 185 and 195 wide, but both at 185 front-to-back. that's 342.25cm² for the 185, and 360.75cm² for the 195, each tire. total: 1369cm² vs. 1443cm²

now if i've done my math correctly, that's a difference of ~5.5% more tire tread touching the ground. that is a big enough size difference to cause a noticeable effect.

 

I doubt you would notice much handling improvement... the Michelin Hydroedge tires are actually narrower than other tires, yet they get high marks for handling.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kDB @ May 24 2006, 04:29 PM) [snapback]260593[/snapback]</div>

Why do you even introduce length of contact patch??? (195 / 185) - 1.0 = 5.41%. Multiplying each width by a constant does not change this. I'm pretty sure this concept is taught by the 6th grade these days.

Besides, area of contact patch is mainly a function of tire pressure and the weight it is supporting. All other things equal, the wider tire will have the same size contact patch as the narrower tire, but it will be wider and shorter (measured front to back). The wider, shorter contact patch usually contributes to better handling because force (pressure) is distributed more evenly across the contact patch during cornering compared to the narrower tire. Other contributing factors to subjective and objective improvements in handling are shorter, stiffer sidewalls and stickier tire compounds. And due to some physical interlocking between the tire and road, friction isn't completely independent of area and dependent only on normal force, as it is in the model of friction taught in high school.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ May 24 2006, 11:49 AM) [snapback]260387[/snapback]</div>

I had 295mm 19" wheels on my mercedes, and while they looked "cool" and handled "awesome", I'm now thinking cool and awesome are more about slowing down global warming, and leaving the quick handling in turns to those Mustang/Camaro NASCAR types, and there's always Viagra, if that troubles you..

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(B Rad @ May 24 2006, 10:38 AM) [snapback]260335[/snapback]</div>

Make sure those 16" wheels are chrome (for looks) - maybe we'll see your Prius on PIMP MY RIDE someday..

 

I sure wish they made raised white letter tires for my prius...... :angry: -_-

Then my wife could scuff those too :angry: :mellow: