Looking for a tire replacement recommendation

[lbergman]

Hi all,

I have a 2006 Prius and need to find some decent replacement tires for it. The OEM Goodyear Integritys lasted 64k before I got to the wear indicators (running at the recommended pressure of 35/32PSI), so I was happy with them in that regard, but I'd like something with a bit better traction in winter.

This last week I replaced them with Bridgestone Insignias, but after driving 300+ miles on them, I'm not happy with them at all. It feels like I'm driving on mush (hard to control) and my gas mileage has dropped 10-15%.

So I thought I'd turn to here to see if anyone has any better recommendations.

What I would like to get are tires:
1) that get at least as good gas mileage as the Integritys
2) that have traction at least as good as the Integritys (particularly in winter)

If I can't find such a tire, I think I'll just go back to the Integritys.

LLR tires sound interesting, but I've been told that they aren't a good choice in colder weather (32 to -20F). Essentially, they are made with a harder rubber to achieve the lower resistance, so in cold temps they get very hard and don't grip the road very well. So I'm not sure I should go with any of those types.

Anyone have a recommendation?

[firepa63]

Do a search here on PC for tire replacement and you will find numerous recommendations.

[northwichita]

It feels like I'm driving on mush (hard to control) and my gas mileage has dropped 10-15%.

My mileage increased for new tires as the tread wears off. You can't compare used tires to brand new ones with lots of tread.

.

What I would like to get are tires:
1) that get at least as good gas mileage as the Integritys
2) that have traction at least as good as the Integritys (particularly in winter)

I believe the word for this is mutually exclusive; that is improving both.
I go for safety over mileage, for my mail route driving I'm using the basic all season goodyear's.
I did a quick web search, to remind myself of the name of the tires I'm using , and am reminded of a third component, technology, which does allow an improvement in both.
I may be shopping for tires this weekend to take advantage of the rebate Goodyear has. Thanks

Goodyear Tires | Car And Minivan Tires | Assurance Fuel Max

[lbergman]

Yep, I realize it's hard to improve both aspects, but I did a search on tires and since most people don't like the Integritys, that suggests there must be plenty of better options. Apparently, the Bridgestone Insignias aren't one of them however.

What alarmed me with the Insignias what driving over grooved concrete and my car was going all over the place. The Integritys never did that (even when new). The rubber on the Insignias does feel very soft (which is probably why they are high traction). But I'm unwilling to settle for any drop in gas mileage.

I was thinking about the BF Goodrich Traction TA's, which are 80,000 mile tires (Insignias are 65k), which suggests they may be harder rubber and have less rolling resistance than the Insignias. Or...it could just mean more tread, which would further reduce gas mileage. The next set I get will have to be the set I live with (I'm allowed one returned set), so I need to make the correct choice this time around.

Originally Posted by northwichita

It feels like I'm driving on mush (hard to control) and my gas mileage has dropped 10-15%.

My mileage increased for new tires as the tread wears off. You can't compare used tires to brand new ones with lots of tread.

.

What I would like to get are tires:
1) that get at least as good gas mileage as the Integritys
2) that have traction at least as good as the Integritys (particularly in winter)

I believe the word for this is mutually exclusive; that is improving both.
I go for safety over mileage, for my mail route driving I'm using the basic all season goodyear's.
I did a quick web search, to remind myself of the name of the tires I'm using , and am reminded of a third component, technology, which does allow an improvement in both.
I may be shopping for tires this weekend to take advantage of the rebate Goodyear has. Thanks

[icarus]

Nokian wr2's hands down. Great all season,, with a pretty good winter tread,,,. We put a set on ours an then drove 9000 miles across country. We too perhaps a ~1/2 mpg hit,, but they handle way better than the OEM integreties,, they wear like iron.

Great tire,, recommended elsewhere on PC.

Icarus

The newest generation of WRs are an asymetrical tread,,

[Aaron]

I'm getting a set of these in November:

Nokian WR G2

Nokian WR G2

[icarus]

Why wait?

Icarus

[dorf]

Why don't you increase the tire pressures a little and see if that makes an improvement??

Verify the the gage you are using is correct

My daughter had a similar problem on a domestic car with Goodyear's. More air fixed the problem.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by lbergman

The next set I get will have to be the set I live with (I'm allowed one returned set), so I need to make the correct choice this time around.

Whatever you do, don't get another set of Integrities.

In your initial post you sounded satisfied with the Integrities and said that you wanted tires that were at least as good in snow and rolling resistance.

Generally, the Integrity is viewed by most as a mediocre tire. It's snow traction is actually mediocre, but its rolling resistance is good.

If you want a tire in the Integrity's price range, with at least equal snow traction as the Integrity but better in most other respects, including rolling resistance, I would consider getting the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max.

If you're willing to go above the Integrity's price range, then for tires with at least equal rolling resistance and that outperform the Integrities in snow traction and all other respects, I would consider getting the Michelin X-Radial (which is a club tire that's only available at clubs like Costco) or one of the Nokian all season tires like the WR or WR G2.

[lbergman]

Thanks all for the suggestions! I was seriously considering the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires, but the guy at Tires Plus basically said don't get it. The problem is in a colder climate like I live in, the tires (LLR tires) lose traction, which backs up what someone else told me. In fact, the guy claimed even the tire company representives are saying to steer people in cold climates away from them.

The Nokians seem to be warranting a serious look here, but I am limited to what Tires Plus can get and LLR tires are unfortunately out for me.