Prius Tire Upgrades

[hyo silver]

I would go with the 195/60/15s, having checked out the rpm issue and knowing what comes stock elsewhere. I'm leaning towards the Michelin HydroEdge, though I've heard good things about the Pilots.

[tumbleweed]

I checked my speedometer against a good quality GPS receiver and with the OEM Integrity tires (855 revs/mile) it was about 2 MPH fast at 70 MPH. I put a set of H rated Toyo Proxes TPT size 205/60-15 (847 revs/mile) and the speedometer error was reduced to less than 1 MPH fast at 70 MPH.

[Inthewind]

Couldn't answer the poll as well because our tire of choice for our 05 is the Goodyear Assurance Comfortreds, 205/60 15's. We put them on tomorrow.

[San_Carlos_Jeff]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CThaler19 @ Oct 15 2006, 05:06 PM) [snapback]333176[/snapback]</div>

I believe everyone who owns a Prius would conclude that the OEM tires that come with the car are complete crap, and I would go as far to say that they are dangerous.[/b]

I keep hearing this but have yet to notice anything wrong with the OEM tires. I've driven them through one winter (only water, no snow) and one summer, and they seem fine to me. When these do wear out I'll probably get something recommended by the people on this board. Who knows, when that happens maybe I'll see the light and be overwhelmed by the difference

[mdale]

I put Michelin Hydroedge 205/60R15 tires on my 2006 Prius shortly after taking delivery of the vehicle. For me, the car felt like it was on roller skates with the oem Goodyear Integrity 185/65R15 tires. Now the car feels more stable, handles better, and still gets 49.4 mpg (neither the engine nor the tires are broken in yet, less than 1,000 miles). I also added the BT Tech stiffening plate, which further improved the car's performance by making the car feel tighter, stiffer, and more responsive. The car is definitely not on roller skates any more!

[NuShrike]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Inthewind @ Oct 17 2006, 03:38 PM) [snapback]334222[/snapback]</div>

Couldn't answer the poll as well because our tire of choice for our 05 is the Goodyear Assurance Comfortreds, 205/60 15's. We put them on tomorrow.
[/b]

I believe CThaler only wanted to hear about this selection as he described in the first post. A rare poll since I think most people buy what's "Prius popular" without much comparison to what's currently better.

[Jerry P]

I did a lot of research at tirerack.com and it looks to me like the Bridgestone RE960AS is the best of the best in ultra high performance tires in their testing and also in owner reviews. Getting 4 for my 2004 at $78 per, balanced and installed by a local tire shop next week. Unfortunately, I'll be switching over to my snow tires in a couple weeks so I might not get a lot of driving time on them this season.

[CThaler19]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Inthewind @ Oct 17 2006, 06:38 PM) [snapback]334222[/snapback]</div>

Couldn't answer the poll as well because our tire of choice for our 05 is the Goodyear Assurance Comfortreds, 205/60 15's. We put them on tomorrow.[/b]

In hindsight I probably should have added a option for "Other", and maybe a couple of the other types of tires. Though, I did not want too many choices. Unfortunately, I can not go back and edit the poll.

[PriusOwner2006]

Purchased and had installed a set of Nokian WR 185/65/R15 tires last week to replace OEM tires. So far, pleased with new tires and although no snow as of yet, these tires do handle well in rain and [at least] shallow pools of standing water on roadways. The car feels more 'solid' with these tires than the OEM tires.

[theorist]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FBear @ Oct 16 2006, 04:24 PM) [snapback]333652[/snapback]</div>

The 195/60 size is the ones put on every where except the U.S., so they fit the rims perfectly.
[/b]

My understanding is that size 195/55-16 tires on 16" rims are standard in Europe and Australia, optional in Japan, and now available in the US on the 2007 touring edition. I don't know of anywhere that Toyota equips the Prius with size 195/60-15 tires that will fit our 15" rims.

My choice for my uses is the size 195/65HR15 ContiProContact (or perhaps the Dunlop SP Sport 5000?). If still lived in Phoenix, I'd go with a Sumitomo HTR 200. If I lived in Seattle, I'd go with the Potenza RE960AS. If I cared less about fuel efficiency and was facing a Michelin sale at Costco (like now) -- the Pilot Exalto AS. If I was looking to spend less up front -- the Falken ZE-512.

I bought the BF Goodrich Traction TA 195/60HR15 for our Elantra. I wouldn't buy them again because of the high rolling resistance and loss in fuel economy that I've experienced, other users at TireRack have since complained about, and Consumer Reports has now measured. Otherwise they're good performance tires. (They're too noisy and rough riding to be considered grand touring.)