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Are these tires good or bad? Prius V 2010

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by ilovemymac, May 17, 2013.

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  1. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    The PureContact is a much better choice for wet weather traction and handling. The EP422 feels mushy in comparison but it's more comfortable and offers slightly better fuel economy.
     
    #21 F8L, Nov 10, 2013
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  2. ilovemymac

    ilovemymac Member

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    I read that dropping to 15in tires and wheels can easily bump you 5-6MPG is this correct or is it again depend on tires? I see several people selling stock wheels and tires for the 15in.
    WHat do you mean by mushy in comparison?
     
    #22 ilovemymac, Nov 11, 2013
  3. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Assuming you go from a typical 17" wheel/tire combo to the OE 15" wheel/tire combo. The effect can be larger if you go to the Energy Saver A/S 15" tire or are coming from a non-LRR 17" tire. The OE 17" tires are pretty efficient so the gain will be smaller if you still have those.

    Mushy tires = soft handling. The tire feels like it is low on air pressure which equals looser steering and more body sway.
     
    #23 F8L, Nov 11, 2013
  4. ilovemymac

    ilovemymac Member

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    My prius is the V so it came with 17. I just see people selling 15 w factory wheels & tires on eBay and other places was curious since I have to switch anyway.
    Thanks guys for all the help. It's so great having a community to ask questions and just join in on prius love haha.

    Also considering I have non LRR high performance directional tires might be good. Just weighing options of getting the pure contact 17in or dropping to 15in tires and wheels. Seeing how much I could save with both.

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    #24 ilovemymac, Nov 11, 2013
  5. ilovemymac

    ilovemymac Member

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    So would dropping to 15in gain more vs the 205/50/17?
    I just hate having a prius and getting 42 all the time.


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    #25 ilovemymac, Nov 12, 2013
  6. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Yes. Definitely. The car is a big faster with the 15s too but handling and possibly stopping distance suffers.
     
    #26 F8L, Nov 12, 2013
  7. milesmutt

    milesmutt Junior Member

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    I would LOVE to take those 17's off your hand. ;)
     
    #27 milesmutt, Nov 12, 2013
  8. ilovemymac

    ilovemymac Member

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    I love them but I just need better gas milage with the miles I put on. If I can find some 15s is make you a deal.


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    #28 ilovemymac, Nov 12, 2013
  9. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    Buy 15s and put winter tires on them. Your mpg won't magically improve much if it's due to bad weather. Keep the 17s for summers. You most certainly do not want to sell them or your resale value will take a hit.
     
    #29 32kcolors, Nov 13, 2013
  10. ilovemymac

    ilovemymac Member

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    its not bad weather i have never gotten excpet a few tanks above 50.
     
    #30 ilovemymac, Nov 13, 2013
  11. ilovemymac

    ilovemymac Member

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    Where do you guys find parts used parts for the prius? i have called around about used wheels and no one has anything for the prius period. I am in Kansas city so not a small town. am i looking at the wrong places.
     
    #31 ilovemymac, Nov 13, 2013
  12. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    Okay, you said you were getting 53 mpg in an earlier post but perhaps you meant 43 mpg. The problem is the tires aren't low rolling resistance but as F8L said, it won't be cost efficient to replace the tires just to gain a few more miles to the gallon. I suggest getting 15s with dedicated winter tires and replacing your current tires with LRR tires like the Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 once they're worn down.
     
    #32 32kcolors, Nov 13, 2013
  13. ilovemymac

    ilovemymac Member

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    Mistype 43. Well just filled up today got 44.8. And it's cold out bit not bad weather. But also that's about what I get anyway. It varies from 48 to 41.


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    #33 ilovemymac, Nov 13, 2013
  14. ilovemymac

    ilovemymac Member

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    The tires on the 15In wheels im looking at are Yokohama avid LRR.
    How good are these tires?
     
    #34 ilovemymac, Nov 16, 2013
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Our stock tire is Michelin Pilot 215/45R17, and every winter I swap over to Michelin X-Ice2 195/65R15. The following's my calc's for 2013. Note, the comments as to when I switched from the Pilots to the X-Ice. The last tank, mostly on X-Ice is maybe a bit of anomaly (I hope), there was a lot of short trips, basically very low miles, about a month fill-up to fill-up. I guess what I'm saying, switching to 15" might help, but it's not night-and-day, and it's quite an expense. And come trade in time, having a V with 15" rims will likely depress interest...

    Prius mileage for past year.JPG
     
    #35 Mendel Leisk, Nov 16, 2013
  16. ilovemymac

    ilovemymac Member

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    i would keep the 17s in storage. The only reason i ask is i got a guy who wanted better rims and tires for his prius wants to sell his stock rims and these tires. I thought if i could get them at or less then cost of 4 17s then why not.
    Its either that or go to the pure contact or the extremepure contact. The extreme claim to be LRR but i thought the pure already were.

    I am surprised you dont get better MPG on your 15s.
     
    #36 ilovemymac, Nov 16, 2013
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Well, they are snows. Seems to end up neck-and-neck with the 17's. The 17s are better for RR, but wider.

    And then they're slightly smaller OD, to confuse things further, LOL: the car think's it's gone further with the smaller OD 17's.
     
    #37 Mendel Leisk, Nov 16, 2013
  18. ilovemymac

    ilovemymac Member

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    How are people here getting 60MPg? I know of course using 15in wheels but then your saying it would not be that big of an improvement so i just am amazed at these high MPG that i can only dream of.
     
    #38 ilovemymac, Nov 18, 2013
  19. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    Those same people wouldn't be getting 60 mpg if they had non-LRR tires like you do, even using 15" wheels.
     
    #39 32kcolors, Nov 18, 2013
  20. ilovemymac

    ilovemymac Member

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    F8L did you ever test MPG on the Purecontacts and the wet snow traction vs the ECopia422?
    i see the ECOPIA is cheaper so i was thinking of going this way
     
    #40 ilovemymac, Nov 18, 2013
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