Question About Wheels and Tires

Claudia · 09-05-2006, 12:41 AM

Our new Prius needs some new feet. These Integritys gotta go. I was thinking I'd like to put a little bit wider tire on the Prius - this is a dumb female type question, I know - but can I put different size tires on the car without having to replace wheels or rims or anything else?

I hear good things about the Hydroedge and Comfortreds - any recommendations as to what tire would give the best combination of better handling, better feeling of control, along with a smoother feeling ride? They don't have to be guaranteed to last forever, just to serve well - we generally put fewer than 10,000 miles on a car in a year. I've read so many tire comparisons here that my head's spinning! There's also another Michelin I've seen a lot about -

I think the Prius tends to "wander" a little bit on the highway, more so in a crosswind of course, and I'm hoping to find a tire that will both help that as well as cut down on some of the rough road feel that bothers me a little bit.

Bill Merchant · 09-05-2006, 12:51 AM

You can get the HydroEdge and ComforTred tires in the same size as the OEM Integrity tire. This means your MFD will be accurate for miles driven and MPGs. A wider tire will mean more rolling resistance and lower MPGs. I think you'll be very satisfied with either tire without having to change size. I got ComforTred tires with less than 300 miles on the Integrity tires. No wander, good road grip, MUCH quieter.

Claudia · 09-05-2006, 01:04 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Sep 5 2006, 12:51 AM) [snapback]314397[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

You can get the HydroEdge and ComforTred tires in the same size as the OEM Integrity tire. This means your MFD will be accurate for miles driven and MPGs. A wider tire will mean more rolling resistance and lower MPGs. I think you'll be very satisfied with either tire without having to change size. I got ComforTred tires with less than 300 miles on the Integrity tires. No wander, good road grip, MUCH quieter.
[/b]

Thanks - I would willing to take a hit of a couple of mpg if it would get me increased stability, and a slight percentage deviation in readings, if a slightly different sized tire would help accomplish what I want. I'm trying to figure out if I am limited to the size tire that came on the car - would it help to go to 195/60 or even 195/55, even still in a 15"?

I hope I'm making sense. Tires aren't exactly my strong suit, obviously.
I just know what seems wrong, and that I'd like to use a change of tires to try to make "the baby" drive like I think it ought to.

Since I don't want to do this but once anytime soon, I'd like to get it right the first time.

GreenSpeed · 09-05-2006, 03:53 AM

Ack, i personally couldn't stand the 'thin tire look' upgrade the rims if that's an option. My tires are wider than what you're looking for but in my experience I've received a huge addition to handling.

EDIT: In my enthusiasm... i forgot to mention the 3mpg hit on my fuel economy...

apadyk · 09-06-2006, 11:53 PM

I swapped out the oem Integrity tires at 205 miles for Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S size 205/60/15. The Pilots handle great on the mountain roads I drive, are extemely quiet and comfortable too. I run them inflated to 40/38 and have averaged 46 mpg in mixed mountain driving with the ac on (only 1300 total miles on the car). They are very close in circumference to the oem tires at 850 revs per mile vs 855 for the Goodyears. I now have 1100 miles on them and they seem to get better everyday.

tumbleweed · 09-07-2006, 02:11 PM

I agree 205/60-15 is a good size if you want to keep the original rims. You will take a small mileage hit, more in city than highway driving. As Mutant said the original Integritys are 855 revs per mile, the tires I use are 847. The speedometer with the original tires was about 2 MPH fast at 70 MPH, with the 205/60-15 tires it is a bit less than 1 MPH fast. So they actually corrected the speedometer error a little. The rim width of the original rims (6JJ) is just right for the 205 size tires also.

Make sure you have a 4 wheel alignment done. Toyota should do it for free during the first 12 months/12K miles, just tell them it wanders when it goes down the road. The Prius seems (to me anyway) to be very sensitive to alignment. The alignment will also help to make sure your new tires wear properly.

Claudia · 09-07-2006, 08:36 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tumbleweed @ Sep 7 2006, 02:11 PM) [snapback]315824[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I agree 205/60-15 is a good size if you want to keep the original rims. You will take a small mileage hit, more in city than highway driving. As Mutant said the original Integritys are 855 revs per mile, the tires I use are 847. The speedometer with the original tires was about 2 MPH fast at 70 MPH, with the 205/60-15 tires it is a bit less than 1 MPH fast. So they actually corrected the speedometer error a little. The rim width of the original rims (6JJ) is just right for the 205 size tires also.

Make sure you have a 4 wheel alignment done. Toyota should do it for free during the first 12 months/12K miles, just tell them it wanders when it goes down the road. The Prius seems (to me anyway) to be very sensitive to alignment. The alignment will also help to make sure your new tires wear properly.
[/b]

I wanted an alignment done anyway, to see if it would improve handling. Is there anything in particular that I should look for to see if it needs a quick alignment even with these tires? It does tend to wander, that's no lie.

Would the 205/60-15 put the most rubber on the road? I've always liked Michelin tires. Should I get Toyota to put on the new tires, or where I buy them from?

Thanks for the help.

Claudia · 09-07-2006, 09:02 PM

I just looked around the Michelin site at the Pilot Exaltos - they don't mention them in a 205/60 15, unless my eyes are in worse shape than I think they are . . . I can't find it if it's there. Closest thing I see is a
205/55 15.

???

Um - maybe I just found some in a different place. The 205/60s would be better, right? They revs are closer to the Integritys, I think.

apadyk · 09-08-2006, 12:14 AM

Check out this link to tirerack.com. That's where I bought my tires, though I'm sure your local dealer can get them also.

tirerack

The Hydroedge are also available in 205/60/15 but I went with the Pilot Exalto A/S because I think it is quieter and handles better though probably not as long wearing.

Claudia · 09-08-2006, 12:21 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hybrid_Mutant @ Sep 8 2006, 12:14 AM) [snapback]316181[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Check out this link to tirerack.com. That's where I bought my tires, though I'm sure your local dealer can get them also.

tirerack

The Hydroedge are also available in 205/60/15 but I went with the Pilot Exalto A/S because I think it is quieter and handles better though probably not as long wearing.
[/b]

We don't really need the longest wearing tire on the market - we only put about 10,000 miles a year on a car. The Pilots sound perfect to me!
Thanks.

09-07-2006, 02:11 PM	#6
tumbleweed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 2,211 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 75 Thanked 225 Times in 172 Posts Friends: 1	I agree 205/60-15 is a good size if you want to keep the original rims. You will take a small mileage hit, more in city than highway driving. As Mutant said the original Integritys are 855 revs per mile, the tires I use are 847. The speedometer with the original tires was about 2 MPH fast at 70 MPH, with the 205/60-15 tires it is a bit less than 1 MPH fast. So they actually corrected the speedometer error a little. The rim width of the original rims (6JJ) is just right for the 205 size tires also. Make sure you have a 4 wheel alignment done. Toyota should do it for free during the first 12 months/12K miles, just tell them it wanders when it goes down the road. The Prius seems (to me anyway) to be very sensitive to alignment. The alignment will also help to make sure your new tires wear properly. __________________ Tom

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New WHEELS/TIRES	B Rad	Gen II Prius Modifications	5	05-02-2007 08:08 PM
New Wheels and tires	Hawk	Gen II Prius Modifications	4	03-28-2006 02:37 AM
FS: Prius Wheels and Tires	hngu7721	Private Sales	5	01-29-2006 12:25 AM
Which Wheels/tires will improve MPG above OEM?	windstrings	Gen II Prius Modifications	22	12-31-2005 09:48 AM
My 17" wheels and tires are now on!!	BT Tech	Gen II Prius Modifications	22	06-13-2005 09:53 PM

09-05-2006, 12:41 AM	#1
Claudia Join Date: May 2005 Location: Martinsville VA Posts: 104 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Our new Prius needs some new feet. These Integritys gotta go. I was thinking I'd like to put a little bit wider tire on the Prius - this is a dumb female type question, I know - but can I put different size tires on the car without having to replace wheels or rims or anything else? I hear good things about the Hydroedge and Comfortreds - any recommendations as to what tire would give the best combination of better handling, better feeling of control, along with a smoother feeling ride? They don't have to be guaranteed to last forever, just to serve well - we generally put fewer than 10,000 miles on a car in a year. I've read so many tire comparisons here that my head's spinning! There's also another Michelin I've seen a lot about - I think the Prius tends to "wander" a little bit on the highway, more so in a crosswind of course, and I'm hoping to find a tire that will both help that as well as cut down on some of the rough road feel that bothers me a little bit.

09-05-2006, 12:51 AM	#2
Bill Merchant absit invidia Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA \| Oregon \| Portland area \| 97004 \| Posts: 4,096 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 19 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts Friends: 62	You can get the HydroEdge and ComforTred tires in the same size as the OEM Integrity tire. This means your MFD will be accurate for miles driven and MPGs. A wider tire will mean more rolling resistance and lower MPGs. I think you'll be very satisfied with either tire without having to change size. I got ComforTred tires with less than 300 miles on the Integrity tires. No wander, good road grip, MUCH quieter.

09-05-2006, 03:53 AM	#4
GreenSpeed Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 200 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Ack, i personally couldn't stand the 'thin tire look' upgrade the rims if that's an option. My tires are wider than what you're looking for but in my experience I've received a huge addition to handling. EDIT: In my enthusiasm... i forgot to mention the 3mpg hit on my fuel economy...

09-06-2006, 11:53 PM	#5
apadyk Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 8 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I swapped out the oem Integrity tires at 205 miles for Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S size 205/60/15. The Pilots handle great on the mountain roads I drive, are extemely quiet and comfortable too. I run them inflated to 40/38 and have averaged 46 mpg in mixed mountain driving with the ac on (only 1300 total miles on the car). They are very close in circumference to the oem tires at 850 revs per mile vs 855 for the Goodyears. I now have 1100 miles on them and they seem to get better everyday.

09-07-2006, 09:02 PM	#8
Claudia Join Date: May 2005 Location: Martinsville VA Posts: 104 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I just looked around the Michelin site at the Pilot Exaltos - they don't mention them in a 205/60 15, unless my eyes are in worse shape than I think they are . . . I can't find it if it's there. Closest thing I see is a 205/55 15. ??? Um - maybe I just found some in a different place. The 205/60s would be better, right? They revs are closer to the Integritys, I think.

09-08-2006, 12:14 AM	#9
apadyk Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 8 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Check out this link to tirerack.com. That's where I bought my tires, though I'm sure your local dealer can get them also. tirerack The Hydroedge are also available in 205/60/15 but I went with the Pilot Exalto A/S because I think it is quieter and handles better though probably not as long wearing.