1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Best Alternatives to Michelin Energy Saver A/S ?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by ngc4565, Feb 6, 2012.

  1. Therand

    Therand New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    31
    10
    0
    Location:
    Atlanta, GA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Thanks for the posts F8L. I find myself in the market after just passing 50k on my OEM Bridgestones. Not the best set of tires but I guess I could have had worse.

    For me, I do tons of highway driving. Absolute max MPG is not my primary concern. As tread wear took its toll, I found the Bridgestones to become very noisy. It has definitely made me value low noise more than economy. Honestly, I could care less about how much gas I'm saving if constant road noise ever contributes to eventual hearing loss. Note: the wear has been very even and I have not had any vibration issues. They were just noisy.

    I'm leaning towards the Continentals right now but I would like to know if you or anyone else has a comparison of road noise between the top contenders.

    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. ngc4565

    ngc4565 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2011
    156
    17
    0
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I'm not sure how you managed to wear those tires out in only 30,000 miles. Our vehicle went almost 43,000 miles on the same tires. Nevertheless, I do not miss them at all.
     
  3. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Based on your needs I would suggest one of the following:

    Michelin Primacy MXV4
    Continental ProContact with EcoPlus
    Goodyear Assurance Comfortread

    My first choice would probably be the ProContact with EcoPlus because it does just about everything well and is inexpensive. The next choice would be the Primacy MXV4 for its overall good performance and milder hit on mpg compared to the Goodyear. The Goodyear is just a Caddilac of a tire with high treawear warranty but is not LRR so expect a larger hit on mpg. If overall comfort if your goal, not mpg, then I may have to do a bit more research. I usually ignore non-LRR tires. :)

    See my Tire Test thread for details on each tire.
    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-fuel-economy/98592-new-tire-tests-tirerack-com.html
     
  4. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2011
    3,292
    547
    0
    Location:
    2014 Prius c
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    it really depends on where you live. In some areas pavement is very abrasive. We squeezed 50K out of fronts, worn to the bars, rears at 76K are still going.
     
  5. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    986
    141
    0
    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I never said I 'wore them out'. I never .... EVER ..... 'wear tires out'.

    When a tire stops performing as it should, I get rid of it. That's usually around the 4/32 depth. Worn tires perform very poorly in the rain. I'm sure I could have legally and within parameters of the wear bars go up to around 40K, but it's simply not worth it to me. I like riding on good rubber, not eking out every possible mile from a set of tires.

    I'm sure at one time or another you've realized that your tires weren't as good from 30K to 40K. Whether they spun from a stop in the rain on occasion, or maybe just a touch of hydroplaning was noticed, or maybe worried you a little when you turned and they hesitated slightly when it was wet.

    If that happens ONCE to me when it shouldn't ... I replace my tires (as long as I wasn't overdriving them a little). :D

    I don't risk a $20K car for $400 worth of rubber every year and a half. I love the feel of good tires, and I don't mind one bit paying for it. You're welcome to my cast-offs at any time, free of charge, and I think I even noticed that you're in PA. :D

    REV
     
    1 person likes this.
  6. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I've got a feeling that Cyclopathic drives his car slow and easy judging by his mpg therefore he would be less likely to eat up tires. It could be that he lives in Prius utopia and 60mpg is easy, tires last forever, and girls in bikinis pump your gas and wash your windows for you. :)
     
    BCP likes this.
  7. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    986
    141
    0
    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Could be !!! :D

    Even with the Prius, I like to have a little fun.


    REV
     
  8. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2011
    3,292
    547
    0
    Location:
    2014 Prius c
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    shhh dont blow my cover :)

    Actually the avg per tank/oil change is in 32-35MPH, not many freeway miles. And the highest speed limit in metropolitan area is 55.
     
  9. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Uhh huh... Well just keep it safe uhh Rev? :p

    I knew it! :D

    My average per tank is between 43-49mph depending on how many rural road trips I make while going to preserves. If it is just my commute then I am closer to 55mph average since I only get about 4 trips to work before I have to refill and I drive 65mph on the freeway.
     
  10. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2011
    3,292
    547
    0
    Location:
    2014 Prius c
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I took a long 500mi each way trip in march last year and the worse MPG was ~46 indicated. This is with 65mph limit driving like yahoo flooring to 90 to pass trucks. Was 51 on the way back, with avg 61MPH both ways.

    yeah I prefer to use rural roads, it actually saves time vs gridlock
     
  11. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2009
    898
    92
    0
    Location:
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    In 50 degree temp, my OEM s33 averaged 44mpg at 75mph cruise control. 41 to 42 from ecoplus and 40 from altimax

     
  12. ngc4565

    ngc4565 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2011
    156
    17
    0
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    OK - I misunderstood you. The Yokohama S33Ds really started to become ineffective in heavy rain somewhere between 25 and 30 thousand miles. After that we started to leave the Prius in the garage on rainy days.

    I think that you will enjoy your new Continental ProContacts once you get them mounted. The tread channels are very wide, which I gather is why they perform so well in the rain.
     
    1 person likes this.
  13. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2009
    898
    92
    0
    Location:
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I drove mine for another 1000 miles, fuel mileage around the same (41-42 indicated at 75 cruise). Noise is definitely on par with stock A033. I even took it to an autox, I can say they perform slightly better than the Yoko despite how noisy they are when pushed.
     
    1 person likes this.
  14. ngc4565

    ngc4565 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2011
    156
    17
    0
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    This is probably old news to many of you, but the Consumer Reports Annual Auto Issue (April 2012) includes an article on tires. The Continental ProContact with Eco Plus and the Michelin Energy Save A/S tied for first place in our vehicle class.
     
    1 person likes this.
  15. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2011
    3,292
    547
    0
    Location:
    2014 Prius c
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    they are good tires but not the most efficient.

    In tirerack report they score lower then Avid TRZ in dry, which is surprising since TRZ isn't that great handling tire.

    Eco-Focused All-Season Tires: Do They Deliver on the Promise?
     
  16. ngc4565

    ngc4565 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2011
    156
    17
    0
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I hear you there. Our MFD mileage seems to be settling in somewhere between 54 and 55 MPG now that the tires have reached 1500 miles. There may or may not be much more improvement as they continue to break in. It seems as if they are reaching an asymptotic limit.

    That being said, these tires are clearly superior to the Yokohama S33Ds that they replaced, especially in the rain. Given the longer projected tread life, I believe the economics are going to work out favorably. I just wish there were more people who could actually get their hands on the Michelin Energy Saver A/S to compare notes with.
     
  17. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2004
    3,054
    301
    19
    Location:
    Northwest VT
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Tire Rack availability update!!
    Just ordered a set of Energy Saver A/S in OEM size. I called because the site said "in stock" but the recent posts here said weeks, maybe months. They are IN STOCK in Delaware and South Bend as of YESTERDAY (just in time to get the $70 rebate card!!!).

    Other locations still waiting. The service guy said they are expected 1st-2nd week of April but they have no confirmation so he isn't promising those dates. He did say that they were back ordered a long time and seeing them come in to the two locations gives him some confidence that the 'next week or two' for the other warehouses is probably good.
     
  18. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2004
    3,054
    301
    19
    Location:
    Northwest VT
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I read through all the posts, thanks for the informative thoughts.

    I chose the Energy Saver A/S over the ProContact EcoPlus for several reasons:
    1) I'm only driving about 12K miles a year and half of that is on winter tires. With 120K miles on the car, I think the 65K mile warranty should suffice. Oddly, the TireRack customer surveys put the tread life of the A/S at Superior(9.0) and the ProContacts at Excellent (7.9) but the Continentals have a 15K longer tread warranty..
    2) The cost of gas is going straight up. The presumably better MPG of the A/S should help with the cost differential
    3) The $70 rebate (only until April 1!!!!) brings the differential down to $30.
    4) I'm sneaking up on 50 MPG lifetime. Wouldn't want to endanger that!!! Of course, if we didn't have winter snow and cold in Vermont, I'd be mid to high 50's lifetime.

    I'm not sure I'll be able to provide much in the way of "how much MPG improvement" unless it is AMAZING. Just changing from winter tires (and winter cold and snow) to summer tires and temps usually makes a ~10 MPG difference.

    Plus, my driving has changed since last summer so I don't know that it is reasonable to compare MPG with the old OEMs. They were shot at about 25K miles, most of them put on the last 2 summers. They were ripped off the car when it was less than 3 months old and royally sucked in 1/4" of snow. I had better traction with the brand new Goodyear TripleTreads with the plastic sticker still attached. I ran the TTs year round for 4 years then got snow tires and saved the TTs for summer. They were noisy, louder even than the winter tires, but they were great tires.

    As a testament to the "quality" of the (lack of) Integrity tires, those on my wife's '06 came off last spring (replaced with Ecopia 100s) worn out with about 25K miles on them. REALLY sad excuse for a tire.
     
  19. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2009
    898
    92
    0
    Location:
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I now have more miles on my Ecoplus, fuel mileage picked up slightly (now only 1-2mpg of the OEM Yoko). Wet traction is fairly good. No weird noises and ride is similar to stock tires.
     
  20. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    986
    141
    0
    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Exactly why they're going to be gone between 25K and 30K ... they currently have 26.5K on them. :D

    Not sure why you'd stop driving the car instead of just getting new tires ....

    REV