Tires

kenfl2001 · 11-07-2005, 09:31 AM

I have an '05 and live in Florida. I've heard various reports on the OEM tires. Rain and high temps are more of an issue here. Just how dangerous are the OEMs and should I replace them now and not be penny-wise and dollar foolish (they have about 8K miles on them now).

What are the recommended tires for Florida drivers?

Maytrix · 11-07-2005, 09:38 AM

I'm quite a ways from Florida, but I have driven in the heat and in the rain. I did have the tires spin once while accelerating from a dead stop.

Personally, I'd keep the tires. I've purchased snow tires for winter use, but will go back to the OEM's once the winter is over.

So, while you could get better performing tires, you also should do just fine with the OEM's - replace them once they wear out if you find you are unhappy with them. I'd also ask - How have you found the tires over those 8k miles? You should really be able to answer the question yourself, since 8k miles is a significant trial period

Schmika · 11-07-2005, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kenfl2001@Nov 7 2005, 10:31 AM
I have an '05 and live in Florida. I've heard various reports on the OEM tires. Rain and high temps are more of an issue here. Just how dangerous are the OEMs and should I replace them now and not be penny-wise and dollar foolish (they have about 8K miles on them now).

What are the recommended tires for Florida drivers?

[snapback]151892[/snapback]

Dangerous???? Any news stories out there about crashes due to the tires, a la the Firestone fiasco?

Dangerous????? Methinks you are either reading bad info or not reading ALL the info. The OEM's are fine tires, some people just want better (there are always better things out there)

**efusco** · 11-07-2005, 09:57 AM

The Integrities are a popular tire available on many car models. They're not "dangerous" if you drive in a half-way reasonable manner. They're just not a 'great' tire.

I think it's probably dollar wise to drive the OEMs for 20-30k miles and as soon as you think they look a little too worn or notice handling/slippage issues change to something better.

That said, some have been able to get their dealers to give them reasonable exchange prices for the OEMs right up front. If your dealer will do that then go for it. Also, if you have a tire dealer you usually use you might ask them the same thing...how much to trade in brand new Integrities for some Comfortreads (or whatever).

tumbleweed · 11-07-2005, 12:08 PM

I think the OEM tires are not nearly so bad as some posts might lead you to believe. Of course it may depend on how old you are, when I learned to drive I was lucky if 1 or 2 tires out of the 4 had tread on them, and there were no radial tires except Michelins which most people couldn't afford.

I find the Prius equiped with VSC (I've never driven one without VSC) is a very hard car to get in trouble with. The springs are to soft and there is to much understeer to do well in an autocross, although I wish someone would give it a try. But for more or less normal street driving it's just fine, even with OEM Goodyears. It's very dependable and it won't surprise you, if you totally blow it and go off the road I think it will, at least, do it the same way each time.

I plan on putting 30 or 40K on the OEM tires, when I replace them I will put on a set of all season performance tires such as RE092s or RE950s. I should add that if we get very much snow this winter I'll drive my 4WD pickup.

Charles Suitt · 11-07-2005, 01:02 PM

<_< I plan to drive the OEM's as long as I can safely. At 13,000+ miles they show minimal wear and I have had no traction issues. I do run them at 40/38 psi for the slightly better fuel mileage.

Other thoughts: I keep a 12v compressor and high quality analog tire gauge aboard to check and maintain tire pressures regularly (about every 2-3 weeks when I hand wash), and I rotate every 5,000 miles per the Owner's Manual.

kenfl2001 · 11-08-2005, 09:19 AM

Thank you all for your responses. My wife drives the Prius mostly and she's a cautious driver to begin with. I must admit that we (me) are more vigilant than usual because my wife is pregnant and we are not taking any unnecessary chances with anything we can control.

I will wait until there is reasonable wear and then replace them. Any recommendations for Florida driving?

Maytrix · 11-08-2005, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kenfl2001@Nov 8 2005, 09:19 AM
I will wait until there is reasonable wear and then replace them. Any recommendations for Florida driving?

[snapback]152446[/snapback]

The only thing that's going to hurt your fuel efficiency in FL is the heat. As I'm finding, now that I'm not using heat or AC, my fuel efficiency has been getting above 50. Last fillup was MFD 54 and calculated 51. Currently my MFD is still 54. So going by what I saw before and now, I'm seeing a 2-4mpg difference between AC and no AC.

200Volts · 11-09-2005, 02:26 PM

Ken,
Keep your tire pressures up to reduce hydroplanning, replace your foglight bulbs with the same wattage-but higher color temperature(bluer) and use RainX on your windsheild.

tochatihu · 11-09-2005, 05:08 PM

[attachmentid=788]

...and don't drive through deep water!

11-07-2005, 09:38 AM	#2
Maytrix Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Marlborough, Mass Posts: 734 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	I'm quite a ways from Florida, but I have driven in the heat and in the rain. I did have the tires spin once while accelerating from a dead stop. Personally, I'd keep the tires. I've purchased snow tires for winter use, but will go back to the OEM's once the winter is over. So, while you could get better performing tires, you also should do just fine with the OEM's - replace them once they wear out if you find you are unhappy with them. I'd also ask - How have you found the tires over those 8k miles? You should really be able to answer the question yourself, since 8k miles is a significant trial period __________________ __________________________________________________ 2005 Salsa Red Pkg #6. Acquired Sept 1st 2005. 31404 miles as of 9-13-06

11-07-2005, 09:57 AM	#4
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,231 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 49 Thanked 249 Times in 148 Posts Friends: 37	The Integrities are a popular tire available on many car models. They're not "dangerous" if you drive in a half-way reasonable manner. They're just not a 'great' tire. I think it's probably dollar wise to drive the OEMs for 20-30k miles and as soon as you think they look a little too worn or notice handling/slippage issues change to something better. That said, some have been able to get their dealers to give them reasonable exchange prices for the OEMs right up front. If your dealer will do that then go for it. Also, if you have a tire dealer you usually use you might ask them the same thing...how much to trade in brand new Integrities for some Comfortreads (or whatever). __________________ Evan E. Fusco, MD "It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word." -Andrew Jackson

11-07-2005, 12:08 PM	#5
tumbleweed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 1,692 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 33 Thanked 104 Times in 84 Posts Friends: 0	I think the OEM tires are not nearly so bad as some posts might lead you to believe. Of course it may depend on how old you are, when I learned to drive I was lucky if 1 or 2 tires out of the 4 had tread on them, and there were no radial tires except Michelins which most people couldn't afford. I find the Prius equiped with VSC (I've never driven one without VSC) is a very hard car to get in trouble with. The springs are to soft and there is to much understeer to do well in an autocross, although I wish someone would give it a try. But for more or less normal street driving it's just fine, even with OEM Goodyears. It's very dependable and it won't surprise you, if you totally blow it and go off the road I think it will, at least, do it the same way each time. I plan on putting 30 or 40K on the OEM tires, when I replace them I will put on a set of all season performance tires such as RE092s or RE950s. I should add that if we get very much snow this winter I'll drive my 4WD pickup. __________________ Tom

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11-07-2005, 09:31 AM	#1
kenfl2001 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I have an '05 and live in Florida. I've heard various reports on the OEM tires. Rain and high temps are more of an issue here. Just how dangerous are the OEMs and should I replace them now and not be penny-wise and dollar foolish (they have about 8K miles on them now). What are the recommended tires for Florida drivers?

11-07-2005, 01:02 PM	#6
Charles Suitt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,624 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	<_< I plan to drive the OEM's as long as I can safely. At 13,000+ miles they show minimal wear and I have had no traction issues. I do run them at 40/38 psi for the slightly better fuel mileage. Other thoughts: I keep a 12v compressor and high quality analog tire gauge aboard to check and maintain tire pressures regularly (about every 2-3 weeks when I hand wash), and I rotate every 5,000 miles per the Owner's Manual.

11-08-2005, 09:19 AM	#7
kenfl2001 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Thank you all for your responses. My wife drives the Prius mostly and she's a cautious driver to begin with. I must admit that we (me) are more vigilant than usual because my wife is pregnant and we are not taking any unnecessary chances with anything we can control. I will wait until there is reasonable wear and then replace them. Any recommendations for Florida driving?

11-09-2005, 02:26 PM	#9
200Volts Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Northern CA Posts: 362 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Ken, Keep your tire pressures up to reduce hydroplanning, replace your foglight bulbs with the same wattage-but higher color temperature(bluer) and use RainX on your windsheild.

11-09-2005, 05:08 PM	#10
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 2,408 My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: Pioneer #1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 38 Times in 38 Posts Friends: 14	[attachmentid=788] ...and don't drive through deep water!