Touring Edition Tire Upgrade

[Boo]

Originally Posted by Lloyd9

I realize your post on these tires is from June 08 - do you any further updates on your milage and preformance with these tires?
I am about to change the OEM tires and the Potenza G019 Grid in 195/55-16 have been suggested although I was leaning towards one of these.
#1 Michelin Hydroedge
#2 Michelin Energy Saver A/S
#3 Goodyear Assurance TripleTred


Also - winter driving involves mostly rain with the occaisional wet snow, nothing like the East coast. How are these in the snow?
thanks
Lloyd

Hi Lloyd,

I don't have the Potenza G09 Grid. I have the TripleTreds, which I like for their solid 4 season performance.

Don't know if you're aware of this, but Consumer Reports has conducted new tire tests, and the results are published in its November 2009 issue.

The types of tires tested were:

- All-Season (S & T speed ratings)

- Performance All-Season (H speed rating)

- Performance All-Season (V speed rating)

- Winter

Scans of the Consumer Reports Recommendations and Ratings charts are attached below in a Word file because my computer skills are too limited to insert the charts directly and more clearly into this post (so, zoom in or blow up the view if and as necessary):

Attached Files: Consumer_Reports_Nov._2009_Tire_Tests-1.doc

I'd look over those Recommendations and Ratings charts carefully -- lots of very interesting and useful information there.

I think the Hankook Optimo H727 looks especially interesting for people looking for solid 4 season performance -- its snow traction and ice braking are as good or better than most of the winter tires tested, and its price is right.

[40wnks]

"I don't have the Potenza G09 Grid. I have the TripleTreds, which I like for their solid 4 season performance."


I would have liked to get either the comfort treds or triple treds but they are not available from goodyear for the touring sedan and it's 16 inch wheel. I certainly could stand to be corrected on this.
Bill (40wnks)

[Boo]

Originally Posted by 40wnks

"I don't have the Potenza G09 Grid. I have the TripleTreds, which I like for their solid 4 season performance."


I would have liked to get either the comfort treds or triple treds but they are not available from goodyear for the touring sedan and it's 16 inch wheel. I certainly could stand to be corrected on this.
Bill (40wnks)

True, neither the ComforTred nor the TripleTred is available in the Touring OEM size of 195/55R16.

But both are available in the 10 mm wider 205/55R16 size.

If I were a Touring owner, I wouldn't hesitate to get the tire I want if I could only get it in the 205/55R16 size.

[elkhornsun]

I was told by Costco that they will only install V or H rated tires on the Prius touring and that would eliminate a lot of tires that re T rated for "only 118 mph". Any V speed rated tire is providing its high speed capability at the expense of tread wear and unless someone is going to actually cruise at 130mph comes only at the expense of 1/3 less miles per set of tires. Odd thing is that the T rated tires have a great load capacity than the V rated tires but that is being ignored.

Going with 195/55R16 also eliminates about 80% of the tires on the market so I looked into the difference in dimensions with a 205/55R16 tire and it is 0.25 inches larger in its radius and about 0.5 inches wider than a 195/55R16 on average.

The Michelin Hydro Edge, besides being top rated by Consumer Reports, has a wear rating that is almost double that of the stock tires and does not appear to have greater rolling resistance to affect gas mileage.

The Falken 912 tires are on sale for 25% off if you buy four at Sears and their performance is excellent but their wear rating indicates about half the life at best of Hydro Edge tires.

The Goodyear Assurance TT seem good from the specs but they have 3/4 the probable road life of the Hydro Edge tires, which makes them about 30% more expensive.

[Lloyd9]

Thanks for all the updates and details. I had pretty much decided on the hydroedge. They are not available in the 195R55/16 for the touring model, but I am able to get them at the 205R55/16.
A suggestion was for the 205R50/16 as these would be almost identical in overall height/radius as the 195R55/16, but they are not available.
I have ordered from 1010tires.com, should be here next week, will let you all know if I have any challenges or notice any significant changes. anything has got to be better than the oem's.