Wider tires improve Prius handling and looks

nyprius · 05-24-2006, 09:00 AM

I'd like to put 195/60R15 tires on my 05 BC Prius. The US 185/65R15 OEM tire looks narrow on the car and doesn't seem to handle well (poor cornering, freeway tracking, etc). The wider 195 tire would handle better and look better. In Japan, Europe and Australia, the OEM Prius tire is a 195. Australia uses a 195/60R15. Japan and Europe use a 195/55R16, but I don't want to buy new rims. The 195/60R15 has 5-8 more revolutions per mile (depending on tire brand). This would affect the speedometer reading by less than 1%. Is there a way to re-calibrate the speedometer/odometer for new tires?

In an earlier post, someone said re-calibration could be done. But I could not find re-calibration info on PC.

DocVijay · 05-24-2006, 10:32 AM

If the difference is less than 1% you don't need to recalibrate. It is close enough.

LowCO2 · 05-24-2006, 11:29 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nyprius @ May 24 2006, 08:00 AM) [snapback]260266[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I'd like to put 195/60R15 tires on my 05 BC Prius. The US 185/65R15 OEM tire looks narrow on the car and doesn't seem to handle well (poor cornering, freeway tracking, etc). The wider 195 tire would handle better and look better.
[/b]

Not sure how 1 extra cm of rubber is going to look much or handle much better. I bought my Prius cleaner transportation / mpg biased performance - most people that are concerned with "looks" or "handling" might opt for something less..

usbseawolf2000 · 05-24-2006, 11:31 AM

Just want to point out that the difference is 10 cm... not 1cm.

Dennis

ceric · 05-24-2006, 11:34 AM

Dennis,
195mm - 185mm = 10mm = 1cm

B Rad · 05-24-2006, 11:38 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LowCO2 @ May 24 2006, 10:29 AM) [snapback]260329[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

most people that are concerned with "looks" or "handling" might opt for something less..
[/b]

They put larger wheels (16in) on the EUROPEAN Prius and it sure looks a lot better. I see no reason why a person can't be concerned with "looks" or "handling" and still want a Prius. My stock wheels and tires will be up for sale on E-Bay shortly after I take delivery.

nyprius · 05-24-2006, 12:26 PM

1 cm = about .4 inches. That is noticable. The Prius weights nearly 3,000 pounds. That's fairly heavy for narrow tires. Weight plus narrow tires equals poor cornering and highway instability. That's probably why nearly every other country, including the one where the car was designed and built, uses a wider 195 rather than 185 tire.

As others have said, the US Prius has some better and some worse features than other countries. The narrower tires and rear drum brakes are examples of worse features. The narrow tire problems can be easily remedied. The 6 inch rims on the US Prius can easily handle 195 tires. And the speedometer impact is neglible, as pointed out above (though it would be nice if the speedometer could be calibrated so there was no impact).

I think the Prius is great. I'll never own a non-hybrid again (unless something better comes along). I don't think there's anything wrong with having the Prius look sporty, as someone implied above. The wider tires will make the car look better and handle better.

usbseawolf2000 · 05-24-2006, 12:49 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ceric @ May 24 2006, 11:34 AM) [snapback]260331[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Dennis,
195mm - 185mm = 10mm = 1cm
[/b]

Thank you.

My Celica that weighted 2,450 lbs had 195 mm wheels. I can tell the difference.

Dennis

hycamguy07 · 05-24-2006, 12:57 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nyprius @ May 24 2006, 09:00 AM) [snapback]260266[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I'd like to put 195/60R15 tires on my 05 BC Prius. The US 185/65R15 OEM tire looks narrow on the car and doesn't seem to handle well (poor cornering, freeway tracking, etc). The wider 195 tire would handle better and look better. In Japan, Europe and Australia, the OEM Prius tire is a 195. Australia uses a 195/60R15. Japan and Europe use a 195/55R16, but I don't want to buy new rims. The 195/60R15 has 5-8 more revolutions per mile (depending on tire brand). This would affect the speedometer reading by less than 1%. Is there a way to re-calibrate the speedometer/odometer for new tires?

In an earlier post, someone said re-calibration could be done. But I could not find re-calibration info on PC.
[/b]

I have this size on my car 195/60R15 using the stock rims looks sporty..

It did seem to lower my mpgs on the screen though..

I would love to get a set of raised white letter tires for my prius!!!

auricchio · 05-24-2006, 01:03 PM

It's possible that in non-US countries the larger tire is easier to find and cheaper. That's a simple explanation.

As for more revs per mile, that will make the speedometer error worse. With OEM tires, the speedo reads high. When it says 60 you're going about 59. So with a faster-revving tire, the speedo will be even farther off. If possible, you'd want to choose fewer revs per mile.

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05-24-2006, 09:00 AM	#1
nyprius Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Saratoga Springs, NY Posts: 340 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 2 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I'd like to put 195/60R15 tires on my 05 BC Prius. The US 185/65R15 OEM tire looks narrow on the car and doesn't seem to handle well (poor cornering, freeway tracking, etc). The wider 195 tire would handle better and look better. In Japan, Europe and Australia, the OEM Prius tire is a 195. Australia uses a 195/60R15. Japan and Europe use a 195/55R16, but I don't want to buy new rims. The 195/60R15 has 5-8 more revolutions per mile (depending on tire brand). This would affect the speedometer reading by less than 1%. Is there a way to re-calibrate the speedometer/odometer for new tires? In an earlier post, someone said re-calibration could be done. But I could not find re-calibration info on PC.

05-24-2006, 10:32 AM	#2
DocVijay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,455 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	If the difference is less than 1% you don't need to recalibrate. It is close enough.

05-24-2006, 11:31 AM	#4
usbseawolf2000 Pro Efficient Technologies Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 1,583 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 15	Just want to point out that the difference is 10 cm... not 1cm. Dennis

05-24-2006, 11:34 AM	#5
ceric Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 806 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Dennis, 195mm - 185mm = 10mm = 1cm

05-24-2006, 12:26 PM	#7
nyprius Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Saratoga Springs, NY Posts: 340 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 2 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	1 cm = about .4 inches. That is noticable. The Prius weights nearly 3,000 pounds. That's fairly heavy for narrow tires. Weight plus narrow tires equals poor cornering and highway instability. That's probably why nearly every other country, including the one where the car was designed and built, uses a wider 195 rather than 185 tire. As others have said, the US Prius has some better and some worse features than other countries. The narrower tires and rear drum brakes are examples of worse features. The narrow tire problems can be easily remedied. The 6 inch rims on the US Prius can easily handle 195 tires. And the speedometer impact is neglible, as pointed out above (though it would be nice if the speedometer could be calibrated so there was no impact). I think the Prius is great. I'll never own a non-hybrid again (unless something better comes along). I don't think there's anything wrong with having the Prius look sporty, as someone implied above. The wider tires will make the car look better and handle better.

05-24-2006, 01:03 PM	#10
auricchio Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cambria, CA, USA Posts: 853 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	It's possible that in non-US countries the larger tire is easier to find and cheaper. That's a simple explanation. As for more revs per mile, that will make the speedometer error worse. With OEM tires, the speedo reads high. When it says 60 you're going about 59. So with a faster-revving tire, the speedo will be even farther off. If possible, you'd want to choose fewer revs per mile.