Tire Upgrade

[spf]

Originally Posted by Backwoodsprius

I am about to get fourth set of tires. I will get 195/60 R15s.

Here's the link to tirerack's survey results for the 195/60's:

Consumer Survey Results By Category

[Miss_Taz]

Ok. Time to bite the bullet. Got 36k on the stock tires, and they're sticking less and less (yes that is possible) to the road... I've read this whole entire thread at least 3 times, and my head is still spinning!

I've decided on 195/60/15, and I think I have narrowed it to:

Falken Ziex Ze 912
Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S
Continental ContiProContact (HR)
Kumho Solus KR21

I'm having trouble selecting amongst these 4, which I'm sure are all GREAT tires.
The most important things to me, in order are:

little or no change to MPG (LRR)
minimal speedo/odo difference
better wet handling
better snow handling

I'm not too worried about things like tread life or noise, as I'm sure I will trade my Prius on another one long before any of these wear out, and I'm not very sensitive to the noise issue.

In reading all this data, it seems I only have SOME of the info for each of the tires, and it makes it very hard to come to a conclusion!

Can someone give any last minute advice about which of these 4 would be best, given my specific requirements?

-Vikki

[spf]

You might consider going to tirerack.com and check out the customer survey results for each tire. That was a major factor in me choosing the Kumho kr-21's.

[Boo]

So can one find out the rolling resistance of each tire? How?

[Miss_Taz]

Exactly... I have been on tirerack.com for hours. They simply don't provide enough information for me to answer which of those 4 meets my criteria best. Specifically, the RR and the RPM's (or at least I could not find that info).

-Vikki

[dwreed3rd]

I appologize if I missed the post. I see alot of posts re: the low quality of the OEM 15" tires. We are waiting on a Touring model which comes with P195/55R16 tires. Somewhere I believe that I heard that the OEM 16" tires were a little better than the 15". I can't seem to find any re: the 16" OEM tires. Any comments or opinions Re: quality and/or recommended tire pressures?

Thank you in advance?

[Boo]

Originally Posted by dwreed3rd

I appologize if I missed the post. I see alot of posts re: the low quality of the OEM 15" tires. We are waiting on a Touring model which comes with P195/55R16 tires. Somewhere I believe that I heard that the OEM 16" tires were a little better than the 15". I can't seem to find any re: the 16" OEM tires. Any comments or opinions Re: quality and/or recommended tire pressures?

Thank you in advance?

The Touring's OEM 16" tires certainly cost more than the Standard's OEM 15" tires. I haven't heard as many complaints about the Touring's OEM tires. But then again, there are a lot fewer Touring Priuses than Standard Priuses. I believe that the Touring represents only 5% of the 2007 and 2008 Priuses produced.

I have heard Touring owners say that the Touring's OEM tires wear kind of fast --- 20,000 to 25,000 miles.

I would think that the same things said about tire pressures for the Standard Prius apply also to the Touring Prius.

If and when you have to look for replacement tires for the Touring, you'll find that there are very few made in the OEM 195/55/16 size, other than those run-flats.

From what I've read, if I had to get replacement tires for the Touring in the OEM size, I would first try the Falken Ziex ze-912. They're cheap ($75), been well reviewed in the few customer reviews I've seen, and their predecessor or cousin, the ze-512, was one of the best reviewed and highest rated tires of its kind.

Also do a search on Prius Chat of thread titles with the word "Touring" in it. There are several threads about the Touring and its tires.

[dwreed3rd]

Thanks Tom! I'll check the max psi when I pick it up and go from there. It's interesting that they would wear fast. I would think Toyota would use a low resistance tire and I've always thought of a low resistance tire as being harder and therefore wearing a little slower. Maybe they compromised with a little better handling with the Touring. I've heard you can expect 2-3 mpg less with the Touring.

Thank again.

[Boo]

Yes, in Consumer Reports' test of the Touring, they got exactly 2 fewer MPGs than the Standard.

I'm pretty sure that's due to the wider and bigger wheels and tires, rather than differences in rolling resistance.

On the subject of rolling resistance, I for one would consider it as a factor if I could get rolling resistance info on all the tires I was interested in. But even then, it wouldn't be high on my list of factors. I'm probably more interested in handling/safety than all the other factors combined.

Lucky you, getting a Touring!

[dwreed3rd]

Thanks Boo! Lucky if we ever get the call. On the list since May. Ditto on handling/safety. On our third set of Michlein MX's on our 2000 Avalon XLS w/107k, Original+2. Avg about 40K per set. I really believe tire pressure and regular rotation really helps, although bigger factor is driving habits. In my younger and much less wiser days, I'd be lucky to get 7K on my '67 Cougar XR7 with the Holly 4-barrell carb and wide ovals. It was automatic and would lay a strip of rubber on the start and in both shifts 2nd & 3rd. On of the best habits to lenghen tire lif is to never scrape you tires. My dad taught me that back in the 50 years go. Alot of tire wear can occur under 10 mph.
1. Check you tire pressure regularly and rotate!
2. Try not to turn your steering wheel without tire rotation. When parking or leaving a parking spot, you will see people turnig their wheels before the car is moving. You can see the rubber they leave on the pavement. This can wear as much rubber off as many miles on an interstate. This really scrapes the rubber off. If you let the tire move ever so sightly, the rubber will give as you turn the wheel thus avoiding the scraping. Try it with the palm of your hand on concrete if you want to feel the difference.
3. Left or right turns from a stop or under 10mph. You're probably already saving rubber here since your avoiding jack-rabbit starts. Let the car increase speed slowly and flow smoothly though the turn until you staighten out the wheels, Then if you want to step on it, it's just gas mileage you're sacrificing not your tires. I truely believe that unless you're sliding it through every corner, a good portion of tire wear happens under 10mph. And I don't mean burning rubber. This is why people who drive mostly on freeways, expressways and interstates tend to get more mileage on a set of tires, even at high speeds, than those who do most of there driving around town in traffic.

Anyway, Thanks again. Sorry for the diatribe but maybe it will help someone get a few extra miles on their set of tires.