Does the 16" Tire Get Lower Mileage Than the 15"

Tenor1 · 07-13-2007, 11:48 AM

Is there a difference in mileage?

Thanks,
Tenor1

**Tideland Prius** · 07-13-2007, 11:55 AM

yes. Some people in Japan have swapped their 16" Touring rims for the smaller standard 15" rims.

narf · 07-13-2007, 11:57 AM

The word on the street is yes, the Touring gets about 5% worse mileage. It could be caused by tire brand as much as wheel size. I've owned both, and I'm getting virtually the same mileage on the Touring as I got on my 2005. Of course I learned how to drive a hybrid on the 2005. Overall I think the difference is below the general noise level of variations from car to car.
I got about 45 winter and 50 summer on both cars, although the 2007 seems to keep getting better.

Tenor1 · 07-13-2007, 01:46 PM

Thanks for the responses. The 5% variance could be driving patterns. I like the idea of the upgraded suspension more than other bells and whistles plus the price increase seems negligible.

Narf, do you feel the touring suspension is worth the potentially slightly lower mileage?

Regards,
Tenor1

Charles Suitt · 07-13-2007, 01:58 PM

Again... Howdy Tenor1 - looks as if you are enjoying your '07 Prius... and PriusChat is a superior resource to get practical, realworld information.

I drove my '04 Prius for just over 2 years, now my '07 Touring for 7 months. I find that the '07 Touring gets about 10% lower MPG than the '04 did but must comment that the '07 being only 7 months old is still likely a little 'stiff.' My '04 continued to gain MPG up to over 15K miles on the clock. I did run my tires at 40/38 psi on the '04, and choose to run the Bridgestone Turanzas on the '07 at 36/34 psi for a little more comfortable ride - that can definitely affect MPG. All things considered, I believe the '07 Touring is getting very close to the same MPG.

CIAO

Tempus · 07-13-2007, 01:58 PM

I suspect the 16" Wheels have higher un-sprung weight which would result in lower mileage by some amount.

qbee42 · 07-13-2007, 02:01 PM

The 16" tire (wheel) should have mileage that is 1" higher than the 15". Well, actually, 0.5" higher since half of the diameter is above the axle. Hope this helps.

Tom

prius2go · 09-21-2007, 03:17 PM

It doesnt :P
The larger wheels have lower profile tyres
However there may be a couple of percent difference in rolling circumference.
How are miles being measured in these mpg tests?
with the car or sat nav?

In theory the increase weight of aluminum wheel should be less than the reduced rubber and air
so the larger wheels should have higher mpg

douglas001001 · 09-21-2007, 03:34 PM

The touring's bridgestones have max sidewall of 51 psi, so for those not wanting to go above the psi limit (are the integrities 42 on the base?) this could make up some of whatever is lost by the bigger rims/wider tire.

**Tideland Prius** · 09-21-2007, 09:27 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius2go @ Sep 21 2007, 12:17 PM) [snapback]515897[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

It doesnt :P
The larger wheels have lower profile tyres
However there may be a couple of percent difference in rolling circumference.
How are miles being measured in these mpg tests?
with the car or sat nav?

In theory the increase weight of aluminum wheel should be less than the reduced rubber and air
so the larger wheels should have higher mpg
[/b]

What about drag from a larger surface area?

07-13-2007, 01:58 PM	#5
Charles Suitt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,622 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Again... Howdy Tenor1 - looks as if you are enjoying your '07 Prius... and PriusChat is a superior resource to get practical, realworld information. I drove my '04 Prius for just over 2 years, now my '07 Touring for 7 months. I find that the '07 Touring gets about 10% lower MPG than the '04 did but must comment that the '07 being only 7 months old is still likely a little 'stiff.' My '04 continued to gain MPG up to over 15K miles on the clock. I did run my tires at 40/38 psi on the '04, and choose to run the Bridgestone Turanzas on the '07 at 36/34 psi for a little more comfortable ride - that can definitely affect MPG. All things considered, I believe the '07 Touring is getting very close to the same MPG. CIAO __________________ Charles Suitt Dallas Texas 2007 Touring Edition (Former Prius: 2004)

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07-13-2007, 11:48 AM	#1
Tenor1 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 23 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Is there a difference in mileage? Thanks, Tenor1

07-13-2007, 11:55 AM	#2
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,785 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	yes. Some people in Japan have swapped their 16" Touring rims for the smaller standard 15" rims.

07-13-2007, 11:57 AM	#3
narf Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 522 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The word on the street is yes, the Touring gets about 5% worse mileage. It could be caused by tire brand as much as wheel size. I've owned both, and I'm getting virtually the same mileage on the Touring as I got on my 2005. Of course I learned how to drive a hybrid on the 2005. Overall I think the difference is below the general noise level of variations from car to car. I got about 45 winter and 50 summer on both cars, although the 2007 seems to keep getting better.

07-13-2007, 01:46 PM	#4
Tenor1 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 23 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks for the responses. The 5% variance could be driving patterns. I like the idea of the upgraded suspension more than other bells and whistles plus the price increase seems negligible. Narf, do you feel the touring suspension is worth the potentially slightly lower mileage? Regards, Tenor1

07-13-2007, 01:58 PM	#6
Tempus Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,693 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I suspect the 16" Wheels have higher un-sprung weight which would result in lower mileage by some amount.

07-13-2007, 02:01 PM	#7
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 5,556 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	The 16" tire (wheel) should have mileage that is 1" higher than the 15". Well, actually, 0.5" higher since half of the diameter is above the axle. Hope this helps. Tom

09-21-2007, 03:17 PM	#8
prius2go Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 254 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	It doesnt :P The larger wheels have lower profile tyres However there may be a couple of percent difference in rolling circumference. How are miles being measured in these mpg tests? with the car or sat nav? In theory the increase weight of aluminum wheel should be less than the reduced rubber and air so the larger wheels should have higher mpg

09-21-2007, 03:34 PM	#9
douglas001001 smug doug Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 205 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	The touring's bridgestones have max sidewall of 51 psi, so for those not wanting to go above the psi limit (are the integrities 42 on the base?) this could make up some of whatever is lost by the bigger rims/wider tire.