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2016 Prius 4 Touring 17 inch OEM tire replacement

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by mjustice, Nov 5, 2017.

  1. mjustice

    mjustice Member

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    Took our 2016 Prius 4 Touring with 17 inch tires in to dealer due to road noise that made me suspicious that I might be loosing a wheel bearing. Everything checked out okay, except the tires are wearing on the inside, which is what was making the road noise. They rotated the tires and the noise shifted with the tire with the worse wear. They recommended a wheel alignment and that I was going to need new tires.

    Any recommendations regarding replacement tires? I am interested in low rolling resistance tires for improved gas mileage. I had run Michelin and Bridgestone LRRT's from Costco in the past on our 2005 Prius.

    Anyone else having alignment issues on their Gen 4's, particularly the 4 Tourings with 17 inch tires? Love my Gen 2, but it did eat the tires until I had aftermarket shims put in (front & rear). Hope this is not an issue in the Gen 4's. Thanks in advance.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how many miles on her? see if michelin premier (great mpg's) or defenders (great longevity) will fit.
     
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  3. mjustice

    mjustice Member

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    Just under 28,000 miles. Thanks for the suggestions.
     
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    have an alignment done at the same time. ask about the uneven wear on the old tires. avoid the dealer, maybe one of those places with free lifetime alignments.
     
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  5. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    I have not had any problems with OEM (exact brand and country of manufacturer) tire wear on 5 Prius's at 42 PSI. However razor blades have done one in so I replaced two at the same time.
    Low tire pressure and alignment kill tires.

    At 24K zero tire wear. Pictures were posted in another thread and more pics at 30K

    As long as Bridgestone (MIJ) makes tires that have great MPG, handling, and wear I will never go back to Michelin. But I will if that changes.

    My local dealer has new service reps every time I show up so this time he argued with me about 42 PSI and said I would die and my tires at that PSI. I said fine. I will fix it and don't worry about it. Then he said no problem I will make sure its 42 PSI.:LOL::ROFLMAO:

    BTW I never drive in snow, ice, or bumpy roads so these droids may not be the droids you are looking for.
    Probably would drive a 4X4 with a 14" ground clearance if I lived in the great white North.
     
    #5 ETP, Nov 22, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2017
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  6. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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  7. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    So long and thanks for all the fish.
     
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That's what I tell our grandkids, sometimes when they're leaving, just to maintain my rep.
     
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  9. mjustice

    mjustice Member

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    Just went with the Michelin Premier tires as my replacement for the OEM. Had a wheel alignment done and it was a little off, but the noise I was hearing was from the tread starting to separate on the OEM. Had 30,000 miles on the OEM tires. We will see how the Michelin’s do.
     
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Please post how you like them, thanks.
     
  11. mjustice

    mjustice Member

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    Bought the tires at Costco for $161 each for 215/45R17 87V for our 2016 Prius 4 Touring. Hate that the 17" tires cost so much more, but had to go with this model of Prius to fit me. A lot of reviews comment on increased road noise, but that has not been an issue for me and they are quieter than the OEM tires that I was having a problem with (see above). Have put 1,500 miles on them over the past week since they were installed. They handled well in the wet weather conditions. The Prius and the Michelins handled an emergency stop well, tracking well and stopped quickly when a deer jumped out in front of me. Have averaged 55 mpg over the 1,500 miles, which is not bad for new tires on the 4 Touring and in the colder winter weather. I am averaging 58 mpg overall for the first 31,000 miles. Only the beginning on the tires, but thought I would give you my take so far.
     
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  12. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    I thought all Gen 4 liftbacks had the same space and tire outside diameters are the same. Do the different seats make that much difference?
    I believe the Trim 4 has the same seats with 15" wheels.
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Thank you, lots of info there.
     
  14. mjustice

    mjustice Member

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    My understanding is that you can put 15" wheels on our 2016 4 Touring, but the particular package that I needed only came with the 17" wheels standard. I believe that some people have switched out their 17" wheels for 15", but at a significant price that I was not willing to pay. It is also my understanding that the tire outside diameters are the same for the 15" & 17" wheels, which allows for the interchange.

    My complaint was about the pricing for the 17" tires. The 215/45 R17 tires that are OEM on the 2016 4 Touring are about $36 more each compared with the 195/65 R15 that is OEM for the 2016 4 (not Touring).
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Up here, a while back, I did the math on getting a set of 215/45R17 Premier A/S, vs 195/65R15: worked out to $288 more, balloons to $322 with (12%) sales tax.

    I'm still on the fence, have an aging set of Michelin Pilots on our original (3rd gen) 17" rims, but also have a set of 15" PIP rims. The latter is basically the ONLY decent bare rim in 15" that Toyota has put on a Prius.

    Decisions, decisions.
     
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  16. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    You wouldn't want indecent rims. :eek: :LOL:
     
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  17. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    10,500 miles on my Michelin Premiers. (15") Noisest tires I have ever had. Tire rotation made it worse. Alignment didn't help. Another rotarion didn't help. Tried various psi, from the factory specs 36/35, up to 42. That didn't help. I hand out earplugs to my passengers.
     
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  18. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    I am well past 34K on both cars and I am starting to get concerned about some of the scary stories. My tires are perfect so far at 42PSI. No significant wear any kind but who knows what this week will do for me. Looking at Nokia, Pirelli, some cheap brands and 50/55 profile replacements.

    At $170 per tire (at least after install) Cheap aluminum wheels and standard tires become an option at some point in time.

    https://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=MR11656531740BRS&wheelMake=MOTEGI+RACING&wheelModel=MR116&wheelFinish=Black+w%2FRed+Stripe&showRear=no&autoMake=Toyota&autoModel=Prius&autoYear=2016&autoModClar=Four&packageSearch=true

    Could do two for spares.
     
    #18 ETP, Aug 20, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2018
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  19. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Hi ETP. I don't doubt that the tires may wear better at 42 psi, and I tried it. But my Michelin Premiers at 42 gave me a very rough ride. Every little bump was magnified, and I was starting to hear suspension noise that bothered me. Even the hatchback lid was making groaning sounds.

    Lowered everything to 40 psi, and that is slightly better. But I just can't find any solution for the constant tire noise. Several rotations later, rebalancing, an alignment, and these Premiers just refuse to quiet down.
     
    #19 Starship16, Aug 20, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2018