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Best tires for Prius C?

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by SILVERCwSUN, Jun 23, 2012.

  1. SILVERCwSUN

    SILVERCwSUN Member

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    IMG_0239.jpg Just took delivery of our Prius C and am disappointed with the ratings tirerack.com gives the OEM tires.

    I am going to replace the Bridgestones this week with the best reviewed tire available.

    Does anyone have any suggestions? I am thinking about the Prielli P4s. Has anyone replaced their OEM
    Tires with a higher quaility tires?

    Discount Tire has already agreed to give me $50.00 per tire for the OEM tires. So 200.00 off the new set works for me.

    Thanks in advance....the Bridgestones have a pretty low rating across the board.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    What specifically did your C come with?

    Also, think through what you mean by "best reviewed" and "higher quality". I mean, what is bugging you about the tires? Handling? Road noise? Or?

    The OEM tires for a car of this class are invariably chosen for LRR and good fuel economy. If you head into a tire store just asking for higher quality it's pretty much a guarantee your mileage is going to drop.
     
  3. SILVERCwSUN

    SILVERCwSUN Member

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    Yes I agree on having to watch the LRR and fuel economy on the next tire selection. I am doing my due diligence and was seeing if anyone has found a higher quality tire that will work on the C without sacrificing LRR and fuel eco. The road noise on the Bridgestone OEM's seems a little excessive.

    My new C came with this tire packages. Tire rack survey would not copy and paste. Trust me, the ratings are not great.

    • [​IMG]Turanza EL400-02
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I've been pleased with Bridgestone Ecopia line. Maybe the EP422 variant?

    Tire Search Results
     
  5. ianblake

    ianblake Junior Member

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    for some reason my friends C4 came w/ Goodyear i have the Bridgestone like everyone else
     
  6. SILVERCwSUN

    SILVERCwSUN Member

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    Agreed, the best tire with a much higher overall rating than what Toyota put on my car at the factory is this;


    Ecopia EP422(Grand Touring All-Season, I will try and locate a set this week.

    I really wish Toyota would step up on their new car tire quaility. It's a cost cutter for them.
     
  7. Nic Lechner

    Nic Lechner Junior Member

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    Can someone explain what LRR means?
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Low Rolling Resistance
     
  9. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    And LRR are not all created equal.

    Low Rolling Resistance replacement tires: Current List | PriusChat

    OP, are you unhappy with online ratings or are you unhappy with your tires based on your experience? Also keep in mind that the tires that come on most cars as OE equipment are usually different than the same model sold as aftermarket.
     
  10. ewaboy

    ewaboy Active Member

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    My PC 2 came with Goodyears - "Made in Japan". Are the 15" tires Goodyear and 16" tires Bridgestone?

    Bridge = bashi + stone = ishi ---- thus Ishibashi tire became Bridgestone.
     
    RocMills likes this.
  11. SILVERCwSUN

    SILVERCwSUN Member

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    I have never been happy with the low quaility tires Toyota has installed on the last five Toyotas I have purchased. I do put some credence in the online reviews and usually end up replacing the OEM with a higher end tire. I am not sure about your OE comparison to same tire sold as after market, you are saying they are not the same? For example?
     
  12. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I ask because reviews from customers can be very flawed. Reviews from tire experts can be too but I tend to put more stock in those. :)

    OE tires are made to order by car manufacturerers and can differ from the aftermarket version that bears the same name. The Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max is one example.

    "What Is The Mileage Warranty On My O.E. (Original Equipment) Tires?
    Original equipment tires are designed to the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications and do not offer a mileage warranty. However, your tires are warranted for workmanship and material defects." Tire Questions and Answers

    This sort of sums it up. Tires are built to the auto manufacturer specifications for fuel economy, handling, noise, comfort ect.. The manufacture is bound by CAFE fuel efficiency standards whereas the aftermarket is not so once a vehicle is sold any tire can be installed on that vehicle as it is no longer the manufacturer's responsibility nor is it the responsibility of the tire maker. The tire maker has it's own agenda and thus may change some aspects of manufacturing to fit their agenda. This may make the tire better or worse than OE versions. The problem is you never really know what you are going to get. Historically, however, OE tires performed poorly in terms of handling but provided good fuel economy.
     
  13. SILVERCwSUN

    SILVERCwSUN Member

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    Good points and Interesting, so back to my original question, do you have a higher quaility LRR tire that you might recommend for the C? I have a friend who has been in the tire business a long time and will get his subject matter expert thoughts as well. I really appreciate your thoughts! Thanks!
     
  14. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Unfortunately, you don't have many choices. The Ecopia EP422 is likely the best you can do for fuel economy but I don't know how it compares to handling and traction of your OE tire. As with most things in life, the further you specialize in one thing the worse you do in others. So when going for max fuel economy and long treadlife you will have to give up max handling and traction.
     
  15. SILVERCwSUN

    SILVERCwSUN Member

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    I ordered and am having the Ecopia EP422's installed when they arrive at my local Discount Tire center. They are going to purchase my OEM's back. Price TBD. I will post more after the install and report what I can on the Ecopia EP 422's. The Ecopia has many very positive reviews. Not being a tire expert, I believe that positive reviews do hold value. Based on many reviews I have read, the Bridgestone Turanza EL 400's are not what I consider a quaility tire.

    Cheers!
     
  16. donny612

    donny612 "Captain Jack Sparrow"

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    Why not just wait until you wear out the original set and then think about a higher end tire???
     
  17. SILVERCwSUN

    SILVERCwSUN Member

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    After having the Bridgestone Ecopia's installed, and rolling about 800 miles on them, I can honestly say it's a night and day difference in the quietness, handling and ride quality of the "C".
    I also liked the idea of only having to come out of pocket $236.00 for a set of four Ecopia tires. I received $200.00 for the OEM Turanza's and an additional $100.00 visa gift card for the purchasing the new Ecopias when I did. So $300.00 off a brand new set of MUCH higher quality tires and the ride and handling that go with it was worth dumping the Turanza's. The Ecopia's are the only LRR tires that I will have on my C.
     
  18. cinder

    cinder Member

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    Any improvement in gas mileage with the 422s' ? We had them installed on the '11 base model Fit with a 5 speed auto on May 6th and have seen an increase in F.E. compared to this time last year with the Dunlop SP31s that came with it . 6 out the last 7 tanks hane been over 40 . Seems easier to keep the gas mileage up . Here's some pics from a gas fill yesterday . The calculated mileage was 41.1 . The calculated gas mileage was usually lower before the 422s' and has been above the display of the FIT . These are the same size as your " C " . Please inform on your gas mileage if possilbe . GEDC2252.JPG GEDC2250.JPG GEDC2255.JPG
     
  19. cinder

    cinder Member

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    Forgot to say how sharp your " C " is in Silver (y) . The FIT is at Fuelly.com if intersted , Blue (Honda Fit) | Fuelly , 10 fills since install of the 422s' .
     
  20. Slinton57

    Slinton57 Hybrid Silver Bullet

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    It's about time for my first replacement tires at 55k so this has been helpful. Will check into the Ecopia EP422 as well unless someone has found something better for the "C". I am hoping it will provide a smoother ride on the occasional rough roads. Thanks!
     
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