Need new tires for 2004 Prius

Good choices. I wish I could help but snow is a rare thing in my area.

 

You can also look at Good Year Assurance Fuel Max? I have them and they work excellent on ice and snow. Also give great FE. Best Tires I have ever had. Can be pressed to 51 and have a excellent wear rating. Hal

 

I'm assuming you still have 15" rims.

If you go Hankook Optimo H727 you'll want the 195/65R15 which is 831 RPM (Revs Per Mile) with sidewal max of 44 psi and weight per tire of 20 lbs. Tirerack says $74 per tire and it's the best rated "Standard Touring All-Season".

Nokian tires aren't listed on tirerack and I'm not sure where you would buy them or if they are better than other options. Looking at the specs I'd be thinking of the 205/60R15 XL 20.1 LBS 841 RPM and I don't know the tirewall max PSI.

If for some reason you couldn't find the Hankook Optimo H727 in the 195/65R15 you could consider

Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring 205/60R15 51 PSI 20 pounds per tire 846 RPM. Tirerack has them $111 per tire. Just don't confuse it for the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred (one says Touring the other doesn't) the non "touring" version isn't as good in the snow. The touring version is the best rated "Grand Touring All-Season".

And then we have the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S 205/60R15 44 PSI 22 pounds per tire 850 RPM. Tirerack has them at $104 per tire. It's rated as the best "High Performance All-Season"

The Hankook looks the best by the tirerack ratings but pay attention to the size as you want RPM near 850 but better to be under than over on the RPM if you plan to run higher than 35 PSI. You'll note none of the tires I listed are the 185/65/15 of the OEM tires.

 

Maybe the feul max do OK in heavy snow but tirerack reviews say that they hydroplane easily and have horrible traction in light snow. One reviewer in Ohio said he would never by a Goodyear tire again based on how bad they did for him.

I think if you like the Goodyear Assurance but want better traction you need to look at the "ComforTred Touring".

 

The Nokians can be purchased as Tiresbyweb.com. That is where I purchased my Nokian i3's. The shipping hurts but the Nokians are worth it.

Both the Nokians and the Hankooks have great reviews from people who live in severe climates.

 

Tirerack have probably never had Fuel Max on snow. They are excellent in snow and on ice. Hal

 

Tirerack didn't do testing, I was mentioning reviews of actual customers that have bought and driven in the snow on that tire.

 

I really find it hard to believe that they had reviews giving poor performance on any condition.Some folks don't like GY and I was also down on them! I have found them to be excellent in all conditions. I will not even bother installing my snow tires this year as I found the FM to be superior. Only my opinion! Hal

 

There are a few very well written posts here on tires, but upgrading to a larger size, either 195 or 205 is the first step. Check consumer reports for snow performance ratings as well.