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All Terrain Tires

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Marcilla Smith, May 14, 2018.

  1. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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  2. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    Thanks for the link. That is a more sophisticated calculator than the other ones I've seen online.

    Still, it assumes that the OEM tire fits outside the spring perch. As I see it, our tire sits under it.

    I went back and reread the article on the Gambler Prius. The first thing I noticed is that the tires and wheels came from a "lifted Subaru." The wheels, therefore, could have a different offset which put the tires outside of the spring perch.

    The other things I noticed were in the pics. For one, there isn't too much of the fender trimmed off. Hmmm...

    Additionally, I measured the size of the tire and compared it with the distance between the lug nuts. When I calculated this out, rather than a diameter of 29" as claimed, I came up with 27.7" - the exact diameter of a 215/75R15.

    While this is far from a scientifically precise means of calculation, I also know that I watched way too much pro rasslin' during my formative years to take everything I'm told at face value
     
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  3. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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  4. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    Yes, their offerings definitely provide some inspiration :)

    For what I imagine they charge, you'd think they could at least throw in a snorkel:

    [​IMG]
     
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  5. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Put a roof basket on that with a ATV spare and a few cans of gas and you've got prime /r/battlecars material.
     
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  6. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    Yes, well, admittedly, I've looked into it, and there's a Tennessee Gambler 500 just a few hours away :: sheepish grin ::

    As for the spare, wouldn't it be better in the rear, for the sake of fuel economy? This is one of those annoying, tree-hugger Prii, after all.

    Returning to the tire question, Walmart offers a Kumho AT51 in 31/10.5r15 for $123.21

    [​IMG]
    According to the Kumho website, it is Severe Service rated for winter. At 30.5" diameter, it is the largest tire that is recommended for the 6" wide OEM wheels.

    Next up: wheels spacers, sawzall, fender flares?
     
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  7. oil_burner

    oil_burner Active Member

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    Not sure what you hope to achieve, the stock tire size is fine for gravel roads (I commuted in my Prius down dirt roads to a copper mine for a year). Get ready to have a lot of tire hum on the highway. I really don't think you will be able to fit a 31", even if you could you would have almost zero travel whereas the stock suspension/tire has a ton. Also the higher you lift the faster you will go through CV joints.
     
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  8. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    [​IMG]

    With the 40mm lift, full travel would be likely for anything up to 27.5". You have a good point about putting the corners on a high point and making measurements :: rubs chin ponderingly ::
     
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  9. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    I can envision a few possible options:
    • Doing it for the LOLZ
    • Trolling people on the Internet
    • Instagram noteriety
     
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Driving off-road with a Prius, and beefing it up with some off-road tires? I would instead a more appropriate vehicle, say a Jeep Wrangler.
     
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  11. oil_burner

    oil_burner Active Member

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    I mean, my Prius needs a lot of throttle just to get up car ramps to change the oil. It's definitely not made for crawling. It can get you down a rough gravel road if you know where to put your wheels and beware that the oil pan is completely exposed. I take mine down some roads that I really shouldn't because I use it to tow my dirt bike to staging areas. For the money you spent you could just get a cheap samurai or geo tracker and have a lot more fun. I abuse the crap out of my Prius, but I stay on the side of the line that won't wreck the car.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    #31 oil_burner, Feb 15, 2019
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2019
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  12. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Of course I was thinking of something else entirely :whistle: : The "Send Nudes" Prius | PriusChat
     
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  13. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Only thing is that when I posted on pirate4x4 about where to find a Hybrid Synergy Drive add-on kit for my CJ, they sent me over here
     
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  14. oil_burner

    oil_burner Active Member

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    well all the power to you, my advice: no on snow tires, they're way too soft of a compound. We punctured a snow tire on my friends GC a couple miles into a gravel road last year. They're meant for winter and believe it or not...snow. Also wouldn't recommend a 6 ply LT tire, the carcass would be way too stiff so you're going to have a lot of unnecessary weight and weight ruining the ride.
     
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  15. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    I've made quite a number of comments in that thread. I'm pretty sure he's doing that for all the reasons I listed.
     
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  16. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    After surviving 9 rainy (and muddy) days in a row, I have more confidence in my Douglas (Walmart) all seasons. Nonetheless, I am also more acutely aware of the driving conditions that are encouraging to try some all terrains.

    Consequently, I have been doing more research on best tires for mud, sand, snow, etc. What I have read says that the physics involved favors a more narrow tire.

    The narrowest AT's available for a 15" rim are 205's. As far as I have been able to determine, there are the General Grabber AT2's and Firestone Destination AT's that are both available in 205/75r15.

    Returning to the Yokohama Geolandar AT G015's I first mentioned in the thread, they are available in 205/70r15. In addition to giving up a half inch in ground clearance, they are also $28 more expensive and 9 pounds heavier (than the Firestone's). On the plus side, however, they are 3PMSF rated.

    According to this page on tirerack.com, the General's are 3PMSF rated as well. The General Tire website does not say so. :: scratches head ::
     
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  17. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    If you can't located either locally, it might be time to shoot a call to anyone will to listen and confirm.

    Below is an image to help the rest of us understand what is at stake here (Thank you Wiki) :

    Tire showing the ASTM 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snow Flake) symbol, denoting a qualifying snow tire, and a separate snow flake symbol, that recommends tire replacement with 4 millimetres (0.16 in) of tread remaining

    [​IMG]
     
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  18. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    Right, sorry about the confusion. Basically tires with the 3PMSF rating are made with a rubber compound that makes them better in snow than "M+S." Many tires that carry the rating are for winter only, however there are a few all season AT's that also carry the rating.

    Living in the North Carolina piedmont, snow is not a huge concern (or "yuuuge," in the vernacular of the current US American president). There are maybe ~2 snowfalls of any significance per year, and everything shuts down, anyway. From what I've read, the 3PMSF rating tests specifically for acceleration on medium packed snow, not necessarily indicating performance in braking or cornering under the same conditions.

    After contacting the manufacturer, I found out the General tire comes with both the 3PMSF and the 75 profile, so it looks like that will be my next set :)

    It looks as if I should be able to get a set of 4 for under $450 at Walmart, or I will probably go for 5 so I have a full size spare.

    [​IMG]

    ...now I just need to figure out how to mount the spare :: sigh ::
     
  19. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Haven't seen a rear hatch rack, maybe adopt one from another platform. Or take the MPG hit and get a roof rack like @Prius Gang

    Curious what the other tire options weighed in at, since the Yokohama Geolandar AT G015's were 9 lbs heavier.
     
  20. Marcilla Smith

    Marcilla Smith Active Member

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    Now I'm not sure how I figured the 9 lb difference (except that I've noticed quite a bit of inconsistency from one website to the next!). Using Tire Rack's website, it says the Yokohama's are 27, the General's are 25, and the Firestone's are 24