Do I really need "special" tires

jimjacobsen · 04-24-2009, 10:26 PM

I took my 2007 Prius in (for the second time this week) for a warning light problem and a service guy told me I also need new front tires--and also informed me that Priuses eat tires like crazy--now they tell me. He also strongly suggested that I have them replace the tires, since they use "special" tires from Goodyear that get better mileage, etc. Is there any truth to this? Can I get these "special" tires for less than the $132/ea. it will cost me from Toyota?

Busaholic · 04-24-2009, 10:43 PM

www dot tirerack dot com

Any tire will work

Patrick Wong · 04-24-2009, 10:43 PM

Your profile indicates that you have a Touring. If true, then it does not use Goodyear tires.

If you have a non-Touring Prius, then the Goodyear tires that are original equipment are not special except to the extent that they are especially mediocre. Should you wish to buy more of the same, you can buy them from Tire Rack for $71 each plus shipping and installation.
Compare Tire Search Results

Or you can buy them from America's Tire for $80 plus sales tax and installation.
Tire Products By Vehicle - Discount Tire

edthefox5 · 04-24-2009, 10:53 PM

2009Prius · 04-24-2009, 11:53 PM

There may also be local tire places offering free life time balance, rotation and puncture repair that seem worth looking into. Good luck!

**TonyPSchaefer** · 04-25-2009, 07:53 AM

Hi Jim and

welcome to Priuschat!.

I did a quick search for the word "tires" using the search function on the blue bar up at the top of the window. I got 20 pages of hits. The topic of tires comes up all the time. But it's not a question of what are "special" tires but rather more detailed and technical discussions based around which of the seemingly hundreds of applicable tires are the best for this person in this situation desiring this performance.

JimN · 04-25-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimjacobsen

I took my 2007 Prius in (for the second time this week) for a warning light problem and a service guy told me I also need new front tires--and also informed me that Priuses eat tires like crazy--now they tell me. He also strongly suggested that I have them replace the tires, since they use "special" tires from Goodyear that get better mileage, etc. Is there any truth to this? Can I get these "special" tires for less than the $132/ea. it will cost me from Toyota?

"Priuses" do not eat tires like crazy. Do anyone check the alignment? Sounds like he is trying to upsell you. Get the warning light problem fixed at the dealer and inflate your tires.

timberwolf · 04-26-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimN

"Priuses" do not eat tires like crazy. Do anyone check the alignment? Sounds like he is trying to upsell you. Get the warning light problem fixed at the dealer and inflate your tires.

I think it would if you kept feeding your Prius with same type of tire that it was originally fitted with from the factory...

zonie911 · 04-26-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimjacobsen

I took my 2007 Prius in (for the second time this week) for a warning light problem and a service guy told me I also need new front tires--and also informed me that Priuses eat tires like crazy--now they tell me. He also strongly suggested that I have them replace the tires, since they use "special" tires from Goodyear that get better mileage, etc. Is there any truth to this? Can I get these "special" tires for less than the $132/ea. it will cost me from Toyota?

It sounds like this service guy was trying to tell you something about the tires and didn't have enough knowledge on the subject.

He was pushing the OEM tires because they are lrr tires, "low rolling resistance". Whatever tires you buy, you will want to aim for this type of tire as this will greatly affect your mpg. You don't want a high traction tire, as this will accomplish the opposite.
Key in tires and questions about tires in the searches in this forum and you will get a great deal of good info on pros and cons of many types of tires, before you buy anything.

Rest · 04-28-2009, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zonie911

He was pushing the OEM tires because they are lrr tires, "low rolling resistance".

The Prius does not use LRR tires. That was the first generation Honda Insight that used them.

04-24-2009, 10:26 PM	#1
jimjacobsen Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #1 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Do I really need "special" tires I took my 2007 Prius in (for the second time this week) for a warning light problem and a service guy told me I also need new front tires--and also informed me that Priuses eat tires like crazy--now they tell me. He also strongly suggested that I have them replace the tires, since they use "special" tires from Goodyear that get better mileage, etc. Is there any truth to this? Can I get these "special" tires for less than the $132/ea. it will cost me from Toyota?

04-24-2009, 10:43 PM	#2
Busaholic Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 18 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Friends: 0	Re: Do I really need "special" tires www dot tirerack dot com Any tire will work

04-24-2009, 10:43 PM	#3
Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Green Valley, AZ Posts: 4,978 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: N/A Package: #3 Thanks: 59 Thanked 522 Times in 419 Posts Friends: 46	Re: Do I really need "special" tires Your profile indicates that you have a Touring. If true, then it does not use Goodyear tires. If you have a non-Touring Prius, then the Goodyear tires that are original equipment are not special except to the extent that they are especially mediocre. Should you wish to buy more of the same, you can buy them from Tire Rack for $71 each plus shipping and installation. Compare Tire Search Results Or you can buy them from America's Tire for $80 plus sales tax and installation. Tire Products By Vehicle - Discount Tire

04-24-2009, 10:53 PM	#4
edthefox5 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 656 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 1 Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Do I really need "special" tires n

04-24-2009, 11:53 PM	#5
2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA Posts: 621 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: N/A Package: #2 Thanks: 292 Thanked 58 Times in 51 Posts Friends: 19	Re: Do I really need "special" tires There may also be local tire places offering free life time balance, rotation and puncture repair that seem worth looking into. Good luck!

04-25-2009, 07:53 AM	#6
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 11,220 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 58 Thanked 315 Times in 197 Posts Friends: 27	Re: Do I really need "special" tires Hi Jim and welcome to Priuschat!. I did a quick search for the word "tires" using the search function on the blue bar up at the top of the window. I got 20 pages of hits. The topic of tires comes up all the time. But it's not a question of what are "special" tires but rather more detailed and technical discussions based around which of the seemingly hundreds of applicable tires are the best for this person in this situation desiring this performance.

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