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Bridgestone Ecopia is loud. I want quieter tires. Fuel economy be damned.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Eug, Mar 13, 2015.

  1. Eug

    Eug Swollen Member

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    I'm not a big fan of the Bridgestone Ecopias that came with my car. The car has 29000 km (18000 miles) on it. Sure they may be lower rolling resistance, but they are also loud. I want quieter, comfortable tires, and I am more than willing to sacrifice fuel economy for it.

    Note, technically I don't have a regular 2010+ Prius, but have the 2012 Plug-in, but as far as tires are concerned, I'd guess the car is basically the same in most respects except the weight.

    Which brands and models of tires would you recommend? I wouldn't upgrade right just now, but would consider it sooner rather than later.

    I went to the Michelin site and they recommend:

    Energy Saver Summer
    Energy Saver All Season
    Defender All Season
    Premier All Season

    I'm leaning toward the Premier. Can anyone comment on how loud they are? My guess is they will be more comfortable. Other brand and model recommendations? BTW, I note that for some reason they didn't list the Primacy MXV4 as a recommendation for the Prius Plug-in. For quiet tires, Tire Rack recommends Michelin Defender, Michelin Energy Saver A/S, Michelin MXV4, and Goodyear Assurance ComforTred, but I don't think the Michelin Premier existed back then.

    Looking for Quiet Tires? Check Out My Top Three Picks! - Make Driving Fun with Performance Tires & Wheels | Tire Rack
     
    #1 Eug, Mar 13, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2015
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  2. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Depends on which version of Ecopia's they are and what road surface you run on. I did find that the stock Bridgestones on my car got much louder when they were near end of life 3mm. I'm guessing with only 18k miles it's your front that are getting low and the rears are fine?

    You don't say where you are in the World and Bridgestone offer different models for different areas depending on weather, heat etc.
     
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Goodyear ComforTred or Michelin Primacy MXV4 S8 would be my choices. We had the MXV4 Plus on the Camry and it was very nice. The S8 is supposedly the next level up from the MXV4 Plus, the MXV4 Plus, one up from the MXV4 you stated.
     
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  4. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    +1 on the Michelin Primacies - I noticed a quieter ride immediately. If "mileage be damned", then set them all at about 35 PSI.
     
  5. Eug

    Eug Swollen Member

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    I am in Canada - Toronto. Not sure what version of the Ecopias they are. I'll have to check.

    I think I may have had the Primacy at one point on my old Prius quite some time ago, although probably not the upgraded version. Can't remember for sure though now.

    Has anyone tried the Michelin Premiers? I believe they are relatively new, and it seems they may be the replacement for the Primacy MXV4.
     
  6. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    I upgraded from Ecopia to Primacy MXV4 and noticed a big reduction in noise.

    At the time, the Primacy did not show up on a Michelin Canada search for Prius tires and I concluded that this was because the Primacy had a higher speed rating than was the minimum needed for the Prius.
     
  7. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    I rather live with some noise than killing my PiP MPGs. My titres are at 42/40 psi......
    I can muffle the road noise with a lauder music tho
     
  8. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    I have used MXV4s on several vehicles and have been pleased.
    I don't pay THAT much attention to gas mileage.
     
  9. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Michelin Defenders hands down.
     
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  10. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    Get Michelin Defenders. Quiet comfortable ride and good handling plus 80,000 mile tread wear warranty.
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Likely EP20, but yeah please check, OP. I can recall swapping back to EP20 from snows, and seriously thinking something was wrong. Especially noisy as they wear, I think.

    Be careful what you wish for tho, you may get quiet AND a mph hit. I think Tirerack surveys include loudness, worth checking.
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Looking on TireRack, quietness ratings, in 195/65R15 (10 best, 0 worst), just Michelin:

    Premier A/S: 9.0
    Defender: 8.3
    Energy Saver A/S: 7.7

    For mpg, the Michelin site rates the above (best to worst): ES, Premier, Defender.

    With Michelin at least, maybe your sweet spot is the Premier A/S.

    The Premier's currently on my preferred list, especially since I'd be looking for 215/45R17.
     
  13. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    OK Canada...I had the GY Assurance Comfortred for a long time. Seemed like they got noisier as they got older... I mean old...they are a long life tire. USA we do not have that exact tire anymore, so I went with the Continental True Contacts from Tire Rack.com. On my van I went with the Defenders.

    EDIT: I see now TireRack does have the ComforTred again...for a while it was off the list
     
    #13 wjtracy, Mar 14, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2015
  14. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Defenders on my 2010 Prius, 2006 New Beetle and will go on the 2014 Corolla S when factories wear out.
     
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  15. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    weird, the OEM EP20 were quiet tires in my experience. i switched to conti purecontacts at 40000 miles and got more noise and lower MPG.
     
  16. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    I'm not saying that there aren't quieter tires than the EP20s, but the Prius isn't known to be a quiet car. It could use more sound proofing. There are threads on Prius Chat on that topic.
     
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Seems to be a lot of tires that get noisier as they wear down. So you go from noisy worn tires to quiet new tires. Much better! Then the new tires start to wear, get noisier, you vow you won't be getting those again. ;)
     
  18. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    You bought a Prius Plug In.
    Most of us on this site own a Prius or Hybrid of some incarnation.

    I think if it is really "Mileage Be Damned!", then thinking about changing your vehicle might be the better way to reach a higher level of quietness and comfort.

    In comparison to vehicles I have owned in the past, I think because of it's low speed electric motor operation and turning off at stops, coupled with the eCVT transmission, The Prius is one of the quietest vehicles in operation I have ever owned. Can't get too much quieter than "turned off" at a stop light.

    Does it produce road noise? Sure, but not more than any other light vehicle I have ever owned. Guess when I'm on a long drive on the highway I'm just good at turning that road noise into white noise and ignoring it. Admittedly I've never owned a vehicle I think anyone would classify as a luxury automobile, most have been lightweight, so I don't expect a high degree of quietness at highway speeds.

    You can research, and get recommendations for "quieter tires". But IMO, although tire manufacturers will certainly advance the idea that their tire and tread design is quieter, I think it's mostly just marketing hype. Road noise produced I think has much more to do with the insulation of the vehicle and the road surfaces you happen to be driving on, than the tires.

    If it's something you absolutely cannot stand, I'd investigate sound insulation (There are Threads) before I would expect a tire change at only 18,000 miles would make much of a lasting difference. As stated above, I think there can be some benefit perhaps when a good quality tire is brand new, but as they wear, they all become rubber on the road, and at that point the insulation of the vehicle, and the conditions of the roads you are driving, I think impact the road noise you are hearing, much more than the tires you are riding on.

    I don't think there is a "tire" magic bullet. The audible noise that reaches the cabin, is the audible noise that reaches the cabin.
     
  19. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    Stated that way, maybe you are right but there is a LOT of difference in the road noise that some tires make over others.

    Most any tire can be quiet on a perfectly smooth brand new asphalt (except maybe swamp knobbies) but the good ones are much better on a "difficult" old worn surface.

    I guess maybe you have to hear and feel it to believe it.
     
  20. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I agree I guess.

    But I still think most claims of a tire making a long term significant difference are primarily simply manufacturing sales "hype".

    I mean think about it, no manufacturer designs a tire to purposely BE loud. I think there is a limited amount in regards to what actually can be done to make a "tire" quieter in operation.

    In fact, my last vehicle (Honda Fit) I purchased brand new tires. I actually enjoyed doing the research on the tires. I thought the vehicle was loud in terms of road noise, and a "quieter" tire was a priority that I wanted.

    When I actually had picked out the tire I thought best, and actually went to the local tire "chain" to order them, I mentioned that I hoped the tire would be "quieter".

    The guy that worked there? Well he said over the years he actually refused to sell anyone a tire, and tell them it would be quieter, because of the vast number of times people would inevitably be disappointed when the new tire wasn't significantly "quieter". He said, he'd sell a tire based on tread wear, riding comfort, traction, handling...but NOT based on whether it was a "quiet" tire or not. He said too often the problem is so much based on the vehicle itself, and the surfaces the vehicle is driven, and the tire can have so limited an impact in that area.

    I went ahead and ordered the tires, which were ones I had probably over researched. And they were fine tires. My honest evaluation however was that with the Honda Fit...a light, compact vehicle, these tires that did advertise being "quiet" did not make a difference in terms of road noise.