Tire question from a Prius newb :P

jbdan · 01-09-2008, 02:38 AM

Thanks to this site and it's members for all the info. You helped me net a new Prius (w/ leather) with 1 mile on the odometer at a fair deal after 3 months of research mostly here. Gadget heaven!

I do have one concern, or maybe just my obsessiveness. I have the touring model that came with Bridgestone Turanza's 195/55/R16. I come from a 2006 Toyo Tacoma 4x4. To me, the ride in the Prius seems noisy and rough on not so smooth roads and that kind of shocked me coming from a 4x4. Is this me being used to trucks with off-road suspension and sitting up higher off the road or would it make a considerable difference opting for a quieter/ more comfortable tire? Will the Turanza's quiet down after some mileage?

I will say the Turanza's handle very well in both wet and dry. And now instead of 18MPG in the Tacoma I have averaged 46.3MPG over my first 100 miles! I'm happy

**efusco** · 01-09-2008, 09:07 AM

A lot of people like the Comfortreds for a quieter ride.

jbdan · 01-09-2008, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efusco

A lot of people like the Comfortreds for a quieter ride.

I can't seem to locate them in my size. Did they stop making them in 195/55/R16 or can I use a different size?

qbee42 · 01-09-2008, 09:17 AM

The touring model Prius has a stiffer suspension, so in buying that model you asked for a firmer ride. Also, I find with any Prius, road noise is more noticeable than with a heavy, sound dampened car. The Prius doesn't have a lot of sound dampening material, but the Prius doesn't make a lot of noise on its own, so if you drive over a smooth road with good tires, it's very quiet, but over a textured road it can be quiet loud.

Tom

**efusco** · 01-09-2008, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbdan

I can't seem to locate them in my size. Did they stop making them in 195/55/R16 or can I use a different size?

Hmmm, I don't know if they were ever made in that size to be honest...most of us just have the old 15" rims, I just assumed they'd make them in a 16" size that would fit.

subarutoo · 01-09-2008, 03:15 PM

The Prius is the QUIETEST car I've ever owned. My cars have mostly been sporty, compact cars, and a few Mustangs. I don't get the noise complaints that appear here so much. Its also my first automatic, and first 4 door. Its amazing that your Prius is louder than a 4 X $ pick-up!

miscrms · 01-09-2008, 04:01 PM

I think a big part of it, is that the road noise is more noticeable because the rest of the car is so quiet. On my WRX, you'd never know the car even had tires

rob

jayman · 01-09-2008, 06:44 PM

I would say that my FJ is hands down far better ride comfort than my Prius. To me, the Prius always did seem to ride on the stiff side, but so do a lot of cars now. I've had Corolla, Yaris, Camry, and Avalon service loaners, and only the Avalon had IMHO a nice plush ride

A stiff suspension is fine on smooth roads. Hit rough pavement or washboardy gravel roads, the Prius really vibrates and is harsh. Around a corner, the car will then skate around

In Winnipeg it's easy to find a major road in very bad shape. Drive West on Dugald, between Plesis and Lagimodiere, about every 20 ft or so are sharp ridges across the road. Almost like washboardy texture, except on pavement

The FJ has no problem soaking up those imperfections, the Prius dances in terror over them. I generally avoid such roads in the Prius now that I have the FJ.

For the same reason I now take the FJ to the hobby farm, never the Prius. They recently started logging on Crown land around 5km from my place, and the truck traffic on that gravel sideroad is creating washboardy, potholed, deeply rutted problems

The FJ has no problem over such roads, the Prius will actually scrape sometimes. So I prefer to let the FJ do what it was engineered to do.

As far as tire choices, the OEM tires for the Prius really suck on snow and *especially* on slush and ice. You can pry my studded winter tires off my cold dead fingers

lefat1 · 01-09-2008, 06:57 PM

my 08 touring with same tires rides wonderfully quiet and smooth. a little harsher than the standard prius, but i expected that due to the touring suspension, perhaps you are expecting something the touring prius isnt.

Boo · 01-09-2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbdan

I can't seem to locate them in my size. Did they stop making them in 195/55/R16 or can I use a different size?

There are not a lot of tires available in the Touring's OEM 195/55/16 size. You will have more variety of tires, including the ComforTred, available in the wider 205/55/16 size. I know that several Touring owners have gone to the 205/55/16 size.

There have been several recent threads here about the Touring's tires. You may want to take a look at this one:

Touring Edition Tire Upgrade

Good luck.

01-09-2008, 02:38 AM	#1
jbdan Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: ATL GA Posts: 51 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Tire question from a Prius newb :P Thanks to this site and it's members for all the info. You helped me net a new Prius (w/ leather) with 1 mile on the odometer at a fair deal after 3 months of research mostly here. Gadget heaven! I do have one concern, or maybe just my obsessiveness. I have the touring model that came with Bridgestone Turanza's 195/55/R16. I come from a 2006 Toyo Tacoma 4x4. To me, the ride in the Prius seems noisy and rough on not so smooth roads and that kind of shocked me coming from a 4x4. Is this me being used to trucks with off-road suspension and sitting up higher off the road or would it make a considerable difference opting for a quieter/ more comfortable tire? Will the Turanza's quiet down after some mileage? I will say the Turanza's handle very well in both wet and dry. And now instead of 18MPG in the Tacoma I have averaged 46.3MPG over my first 100 miles! I'm happy

01-09-2008, 09:07 AM	#2
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,225 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 24	Re: Tire question from a Prius newb :P A lot of people like the Comfortreds for a quieter ride.

01-09-2008, 09:17 AM	#4
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 5,639 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	Re: Tire question from a Prius newb :P The touring model Prius has a stiffer suspension, so in buying that model you asked for a firmer ride. Also, I find with any Prius, road noise is more noticeable than with a heavy, sound dampened car. The Prius doesn't have a lot of sound dampening material, but the Prius doesn't make a lot of noise on its own, so if you drive over a smooth road with good tires, it's very quiet, but over a textured road it can be quiet loud. Tom

01-09-2008, 03:15 PM	#6
subarutoo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chatsworth, CA Posts: 1,063 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Tire question from a Prius newb :P The Prius is the QUIETEST car I've ever owned. My cars have mostly been sporty, compact cars, and a few Mustangs. I don't get the noise complaints that appear here so much. Its also my first automatic, and first 4 door. Its amazing that your Prius is louder than a 4 X $ pick-up!

01-09-2008, 04:01 PM	#7
miscrms Plug Envious Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,087 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	Re: Tire question from a Prius newb :P I think a big part of it, is that the road noise is more noticeable because the rest of the car is so quiet. On my WRX, you'd never know the car even had tires rob

01-09-2008, 06:44 PM	#8
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 6,415 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	Re: Tire question from a Prius newb :P I would say that my FJ is hands down far better ride comfort than my Prius. To me, the Prius always did seem to ride on the stiff side, but so do a lot of cars now. I've had Corolla, Yaris, Camry, and Avalon service loaners, and only the Avalon had IMHO a nice plush ride A stiff suspension is fine on smooth roads. Hit rough pavement or washboardy gravel roads, the Prius really vibrates and is harsh. Around a corner, the car will then skate around In Winnipeg it's easy to find a major road in very bad shape. Drive West on Dugald, between Plesis and Lagimodiere, about every 20 ft or so are sharp ridges across the road. Almost like washboardy texture, except on pavement The FJ has no problem soaking up those imperfections, the Prius dances in terror over them. I generally avoid such roads in the Prius now that I have the FJ. For the same reason I now take the FJ to the hobby farm, never the Prius. They recently started logging on Crown land around 5km from my place, and the truck traffic on that gravel sideroad is creating washboardy, potholed, deeply rutted problems The FJ has no problem over such roads, the Prius will actually scrape sometimes. So I prefer to let the FJ do what it was engineered to do. As far as tire choices, the OEM tires for the Prius really suck on snow and especially on slush and ice. You can pry my studded winter tires off my cold dead fingers __________________ 2004 Toyota Prius "B", Tideland Pearl 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser 5AT "C", Sun Fusion

01-09-2008, 06:57 PM	#9
lefat1 Fat Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sunny S. Florida Posts: 1,123 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Re: Tire question from a Prius newb :P my 08 touring with same tires rides wonderfully quiet and smooth. a little harsher than the standard prius, but i expected that due to the touring suspension, perhaps you are expecting something the touring prius isnt.