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Please help me beat a dead horse.....

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by lester williams, Jul 25, 2014.

  1. lester williams

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    I have a 2014 Prius 4 that I have done fell in love with--- except--- it ''wanders'',, ''drifts'', on the interstate..... I had the local Toyota dealer install a TRD swaybar as it is an almost new vehicle and this is factory warranted, not much more for it than off ''Amazon''. However, after driving Corvettes and 2 Lexus RX350 prior to the Prius, the ''handling'' leaves a little to be desired. After doing a lot of reading here-- I have decided to get some 16'' ''Konig'' lace wheels and install Michelin 'Premiere'' tires in 215-55-16 and see if it will ''settle'' down. I would really prefer ''Energy Savers'', but after reading here I feel the ''Premiere'' will ''handle'' better, not as mushy. My girlfriend has a 2012 ''V'' with 16'' Turanza tires on it and it is very stable and solid-- much more so than mine. My car has the ''Yokohama'' 195-65-15 factory tires now, and I hope the shorter sidewall will stabilize it better--- where am I going wrong????[ I hate the ugly wheel covers now, and will ''save'' the factory set-up for when trading this 2014 on my next Prius]
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Going from a 195 to a 215 or 225 would help immensely. The mileage won't be as good as the 195 15s but you came from driving a 15mpg corvette, it would still be a vast improvement.
     
  3. lester williams

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    I initially thought about going to a 205-60-16 ''Energy Saver'', but thought perhaps a ''55'' series would not have as much sidewall ''flex'' as that, so I settled on the ''Premiere'' instead. The girlfriend's ''2012 V'' is very stable, driving it some was what prompted me to even get a Prius with her super mileage, as compared to the 2013 Lexus RX350. I can throw a little money at the Prius and tune it somewhat-- and pay for that in gasoline savings. We are in Hilton Head, SC right now and averaged 57.5 by calculator on the way up [ 575 miles ] . I will need to order by tomorrow for the $70 Michelin rebate, and will be home to receive them from shipping.... I am willing to take a 2-3-4 mpg hit for better handling.......
     
  4. vskid3

    vskid3 Active Member

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    What PSI do you have the tires set at? I would try increasing it a bit and see if that helps.
     
  5. lester williams

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    BTW, her car has 48,000 miles on it with the original ''Turanza'' tires, which actually still look pretty good. At the proper time I will order her a set of the 205-60-16 ''Energy Saver'' tires and personally check the ''handling'' of these for ''mushiness''. I have increased the tire pressure to 37.5 in the front, 35 in rear, and the ride did not change much by doing that. Although--- anything will ride swell after driving Corvettes...
     
  6. vskid3

    vskid3 Active Member

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    I would go all out and pump them up to the sidewall max, just to see if the issue can be remedied without buying new tires and/or wheels.
     
  7. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    I'd skip the 16" wheels and move to a 17". I'd actually try the Prius Plus lowering springs 1st to see if it corrects the problem. If not, then try the Prius Plus 17" wheels. Go to a dealer to test drive a model.
     
  8. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    Reading this string, I keep thinking about the 17" wheels that came on the Prius I drive. This car is rock solid on the highway. I can get up next to the 18 wheelers at 75 MPH and never feel any sway or wander at all. Even with a good cross wind, she still holds the road well.

    Running OEM Ace 17" Wheels (only available through Gulf States Toyota Distribution Center) and Michelin Primacy's. Size is in my signature file below. This Prius is like night and day better than our previous Gen II Prius. It handles like a dream and is a joy to drive. I liked my Gen II, I love my new Gen III.

    I too vote to go to low profile 17" and add the stiffening brace. That is "if" you want to spend money on her. Otherwise, pump the tires up and drive the car... Whatever you choose, be certain to keep LRR type tires on her. Your wallet and your MPG will be happier.

    Best of luck to you,
    Ron (dorunron)
     
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  9. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    Not sure what your experience is, but I get 18 mph average while driving mine around town, and 28+ mpg on the highway. I don't baby it either.
     
  10. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    Explain please.

    "Drifts?"
     
  11. lester williams

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    Yes, to me it does,, and my girlfriend who has had a 2005 and 2008 hatchback says so also. She now has a 2012 ''V'' which is lots more ''stable'' on the interstate, it does not ''blow'' around, ''wander'' at speed. She told me after buying, '' These hatchbacks do tend to ''drift'' around, but you wanted the mpg, so I did not mention this''...You cannot even compare the ''stability'' of a Prius with the past two previous Lexus's I had. If I had enough smarts to realize that the CT200H was nothing but a fancy Prius----- I would have gotten one of those instead......As it is,, nothing to do but drive mine now for a few years, so, I will attempt to get it track as true as possible. I am more than thrilled with the gas mileage-- the best I can manage from her ''V'' is in the low 50's. I can surely see a 4th Gen. CT in my future.........
     
  12. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    If you do not run 2 pounds less in you rear tires, try that and see if it helps!
     
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  13. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    Definitely keep the rear tires two pounds lower than the front unless you are running the low profile 17" tires. They run 1 pound less in the rear.

    I have read where adjustment of the toe a little will help with the wander/drift. Can remember exactly which way to set it, but it can be tweaked. It might be the camber instead of the toe. Do a little digging here on Prius Chat and I believe you will find the information I am referring to. I think the post was done within the last 12 months.

    Best of luck to you lester williams.

    Ron (dorunron)
     
  14. MSA14

    MSA14 Junior Member

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    I believe it's the factory yokohama s33's that is the problem. I have them on my car and it wanders.

    I drove my Co-worker's 2013 with Bridgestone Ecopia tires and it did not wander on the highway.

    Go to the dealer and test drive a new prius that does not have the yokohama s33's on it and compare it to yours.
     
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  15. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    I've had no such issue. Do you drive in a lot of cross winds? That would certainly make any vehicle prone to it.
     
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  16. lester williams

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    Thanks for the advice, guys. And yes, I do rum 37.5 in front-----35 in rear, put in myself with an accurate [ supposedly ] digital gauge.And''qdllc'', I have ran into a strong cold front while on the interstate with the cruise set at 62--- it blowed it so badly that I immediately knocked the cruise off and slowed down a good bit. 18 wheelers passing me on the interstate while I am traveling 62-66 mph would really rock the car and ''blow'' it around--- hence the factory TRD swaybar.We both agree that the TRD swaybar does help with that, so that money is not chunked up a hog's butt........I will try larger, wider tires next, if that does not work, I will add the front strut braces and the middle brace at the same time. We want to take a week's vacation in the middle of Sept. just doing a ''roadtrip of Colorado, after school starts and traffic thins somewhat--- and before the snow flies. If I can't get mine more stable-- we will just go in hers, but mine is still under factory warranty--- 1,500 miles from home......
     
  17. MSA14

    MSA14 Junior Member

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    You must be on good roads.

    The s33's like to follow grooves on the road which causes some wandering. My car is a 2014 purchased in April and it has been wandering from the start. The alignment was checked a week after purchase because of the wandering - it was within spec.

    Some tires have this tendency. My car spends a lot of time on worn interstates in Atlanta where the car wanders. The car will not wander on freshly paved roads. Some tires can handle grooves and such better than others based on their tread pattern, design, and rubber compound.
     
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  18. Stratman

    Stratman Member

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    The Prius is basically a high-tech, high mileage econobox. I bought mine for the mileage and that's what I got, a car that gets me to work cheaply. One of my personal accounts is over 5 hours away. Driving that far on the highway is less than inspiring. Nothing you do is going to make it compare to a luxury car.
     
  19. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    I think every vehicle I've owned has some "wandering" when on grooved pavement. It's what happens. The "bite" of the groves makes the tires want to follow the grooves rather than go in the direction they are pointed. Being a motorcyclist, this is a common experience on any non-smooth road surface, so I'm used to it.

    Out where I live, potholes are more of an issue than grooved pavement.
     
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  20. Elsiediveley

    Elsiediveley New Member

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    I think MSA14 is on to something as I have now arrived back home. Coming through Montgomery, Ala. on the way home--- I-85 is very ''rutted'' and the car was keeping me busy just staying more or less centered in my lane. We had traveled mostly 4-lane between Montgomery and Savannah, going through Columbus, Ga. and the roads were lots smoother--newer-- and the ''wandering'' was not near as prevalent. So--- ya'll are on to something here-- My G/F also commented, ''The Five is wider and does not follow or wallow in truck ruts like the hatchbacks'' leaving me to think wider tires would ''stabilize'' mine more also. The wonderful news behind this story is--- we averaged 56.7 mpg on the 1,171 mile trip, and that was running speed limit home, slower on the way up, A/C running both ways.

    E.T.A.,,,Elsie is my G/F and a member here also, posting on her computer ]
     
    #20 Elsiediveley, Jul 28, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2014
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