17" Wheels on the 2010 Prius

Can anyone tell me what the advantages are of having the 17" wheels available as an option on the new generation Prius?

I hear that the mileage suffers to the tune of 2-3 MPG, the car is certainly heavier as a result of the heavier suspension, so where are the pros? Do the larger diameter wheels carry low profile tires; is the overall tire rolling radius higher than for the 15" wheels?

If there's less sidewall flex in low profile tires than in regular tires, doesn't that mean that the rolling resistance should be lower, since less energy is being used to deform the tire while rolling?
What am I missing here?

Let's also mention ... THEY LOOK BETTER TO SOME PEOPLE!

Who in hell cares ... you don't spend your day staring at car tires do you!

So is the effective rolling radius of the 17" higher than for the 15" wheeled tire? Also is the LP tire capable of running at higher pressures? I would guess not, since the tendency for any tire under internal pressure is for the X-section to go circular.

if the car is designed for it, it should still ride well... i spent some time in new Avensis Wagon with 18" wheels (highest available factory package) and it went well over the big bumps we have around here... it might have been firmer overall than Prius, but it also lost a lot less composure over the bumps which actually made it feel better...

advantages: slightly better handling on dry pavement, better looking (according to some).

disadvantages: more expensive (both the wheels and the tires), reduced mpg, slower acceleration, slightly poorer handling on wet pavement due to larger contact area between rubber and road; slightly reduced stopping power; reduced ride comfort with the shorter sidewalls

Less sidewall flex would be for more aggresive cornering; turning and sideloads, not rotational loads.

I'm with HTMLspinner on 16" wheels. I think they would be a nice option. Slap on 205 width tires, and whatever profile for the correct diameter.

Keep the 16" wheels from the Gen2 Touring for the Gen3. I like them even with the plastic wheel covers. They look like alloys.

17" wheels on the 2010 Prius ...

That would be the $expensive$ car

It's actually marginally smaller. A 195/65R15 tyre has an approximate rolling circumference of 1993.34mm (78.47"), while a 215/45R17 has a circumference of 1964.44mm (77.34"). The 15" has 807 revs per mile, the 17" 819 revs per mile.

A 225 width tyre would be a better match at 1992.71mm (78.45"), still 807 revs per mile. However, that probably is too wide.

Hey, does anyone know if wheels that fit gen 2 will also properly fit gen 3's, and vice versa?


Tim

trust me, you guys get better roads than us... they are not bad here as in some other countries, but we have few on our test drive routes where it gets pretty bumpy. As I said, Avensis with 18" wheels takes on those bumps better than 2nd Gen Prius.

Hi Tim,

I don't believe that the 3G bolt pattern or wheel offset is known yet, so it would be difficult to answer your question accurately.

I feel silly asking this, but I can't seem to find it anywhere ... is there an actually photo comparison of the different wheel sizes on the 2010?

I said SOME people, not all ... why do I have to think the way you do? Pious would fit you well. It's an option. Maybe we should have 8" wheels ... why do you need 15"