Low Rolling Resistance replacement tyres (Europe)

At the suggestion of F8L I am opening a Thread on LRR tyres (low rolling resistance) for the UK/European Prius vehicles. F8L has been of invaluable help to us all in the area of tyers, "and much more".

Unfortunately the information on US tyres does not always apply to those here wishing to get the best out of there Prii and there tyres.

I cannot even hope to emulate the work done by F8L, but will do my best to follow his good work in Europe.

I will start shortly with a list of tyres for the gen2 following I hope with all the other Prius variants. Your contributions would be greatly appreciated and I will answer any queries you have to the best of my ability.

(Edit) 27/4/2014.
For 195/55/16 tyres go to post (8)
For 205/55/16 tyres go to post (19)
For 195/65/15 tyres go to post (26)

John (Britprius)

 

As many of you will know Tyres sold within Europe now must have displayed at the point of sale "usually in the form of an attached lable" certain attributes of the tyre. These being:-

(1) The tyres (RR) rolling resistance rated (A to G) the lowest rolling resistance rated (A)
(2) The tyres wet grip rated (A to G) the best grip rated (A)
(3) The amount of noise the tyre produces in DB (decibels) the higher the DB the more noise the tyre makes.

It is important when looking at any tyre in the lists following for prospective purchase, all the details are followed this includes the speed rating designated by a single letter (eg h, s, t, v) and the load rating usually numbers (eg 87, 91 but can also have the addition XL "extra load") as both designations on the same named tyre can and does affect the RR, wet grip, and noise.

Example:-
Goodyear Excellence 195/55/16 speed V, load 87, gives:- RR (C), wet grip (C), noise 68db.
Goodyear Excellence 195/55/16 speed H, load 87, gives:- RR (E), wet grip (B), noise 67db.

As you can see two very different sets of results for the same named tyre.

John (Britprius)

 

It does get you that way. I did intend putting this in the gen2 forum but as it will apply to all models i do not know where it should go. (Asking for trouble there)

 

Let me know 17inch at what width and ratio.

 

195/55/16 tyres. In this size I can find no tyres better rated than (C) for RR. I have listed them in no particular order of preference and not gone below this rating. There are more at this rating but I have ignored tyres with poor wet grip. This is not an exhaustive list. Other tyres will be added as found or notified.

Details in order:- Speed letter/Load/RR/WG/Noise db.

SIZE 195/55/16
Michelin Energy Saver +
V 91 C A 70
V 87 C A 70
H 87 C A 70
T 91 XL C A 70
Michelin Energy Saver S1
T 87 C B 70

Continental Eco Contact 5
H 87 C C 71
H 91 XL C B 72
Continental Premium Contact 2
H 91 XL C B 72
H 87 C B 71

Goodyear Efficientgrip
V 87 C B 69
H 87 C B 69

Excellence​

V 87 C C 68 ​

H 87 C C 68

Hankook K425 Kinergy Eco
V 87 C C 70
H 87 C C 70
Hankook K115 Ventis Prime 2
V 87 C C 69

Avon ZV5
V 87 C C 69

Dunlop Sport Blue Response.
H 87 B A 68
V 87 B A 68

For those people running 195/55/16 tyres on there gen2 Prius and intending to change all 4 tyres I would seriously suggest considering going to 205/55/16 size. There are a number of reasons for this:-
(1) The 205 size generally has a lower rolling resistance "more mpg".
(2) They are cheaper. (by as much as 20%)
(3) There is a much greater choice of tyres in this size
(4) They considerably improve grip and vehicle stability.
(5) The speedo becomes more accurate "still reads about 1 to 2mph fast at 30mph".
(6) The MFD fuel consumption readout becomes reasonably accurate (no need to calculate)

As an example of cost saving going to 205's from 195's on the Dunlop tyre saves £23 on each tyre of the same rating.

Downside:-
The oddo under reads your millage by about 2.8% depending on your tyre choice. So remember when calculating your mpg to add 2.8% to your millage.

 

Sorry something wrong with format. I type it out as a list and when I post it jumbles it all.

Working on it.

John (Britprius)

 

Those tyres have an (E) rating for economy but an (A) for wet grip. The best fuel economy with grip I can find is Hankook Ventis Prime 2 K115 rated (B) for economy and (B) for wet grip. There are no tyres with (A) rating for economy in this size.

John (Britprius)

 

Have you found a way to present the information as typed. I set everything out neatly in columns and when I post it it comes out all jumbled see post 8. If I go to edit the post it appears in the edit box as I typed it. "annoying"

John (Britprius)

 

RP if you need to keep cost down and want to stay with Michelin look at the "Energy Saver S1" T 87 same price as the tyres you quoted to me but better economy rating of (C) and wet grip (B) against your choice (E)(B).

John (Britprius).

 

205/55/16 tyre size details. Although not an OEM fitment size for the reasons given in post 8, I include this size. Only tyres with the lowest RR shown. This is not an exhaustive list. There are no tyres in this size with a higher rating than (B) for fuel economy apart from the Bridgestone rated (A). Other tyres will be added as found or notified.

(Edit) 24/4/2014. Found an A rated tyre for fuel economy. This is a Goodyear EfficientGrip tyre (not the performance version). It is a Fiat OEM tyre that is available designated FP FI. It is also one of the quietest tyres I can find rated at 67db.
(Edit) 27/4/214. Kumho now make a LRR tyre.

SIZE 205/55/16.
Details in order:- Speed letter/Load/RR/WG/Noise db

Bridgestone Ecopia EP001S
V 91 A A 70 On a sample of one set of tyres, the ware rate on these is high, less than 18,000 miles.

Goodyear Efficientgrip. (note not performance)
V 91 A C 67 Designation FP FI (Fiat OEM) Lowest noise rating I have found.

Goodyear Efficientgrip Performance.
V 91 B A 68
W 91 B A 68
H 91 B A 68

Hankook K425 Eco Kinergy
H 91 B B 70
V 91 B B 70
Hankook K115 Ventis prime 2
W 94XL B B 69

Continental Eco Contact 5
H 91 B B 71
H 94 B B 72

Michelin Energy Saver.
V 91 B B 70
H 91 B B 70
W 91 B B 70
Michelin Energy Saver+
H 91 B A 70
V 91 B A 70

Bridgestone Ecopia EP150.
H 91 B C 69
V 91 B C 69

Dunlop Sport Blue Response.
H 91 B A 68
V 91 B A 68
W 91 B A 68
V 94 XL A A 68

Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27
H 91 B B 67