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Need Quiet, Soft Riding Tires

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Shel, Jun 20, 2021.

  1. Shel

    Shel Junior Member

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    My sweetie has a 2007 model, and we've replaced the suspension on the thing, but it still rides like an Olde Tyme buckboard on a cow trail. Our streets and roads around here are terrible, and sweetie is getting tired of the rough, jarring ride.

    I dropped tire pressure to 32-lbs all around, and that has helped some. I may drop it a couple of pounds more, to 30, and see how that goes. However, we'll soon need new rubber, and I'd like some suggestions. As the subject states, we wand quiet, soft riding tires. Mileage is of no concern. Rain and snow handling are not important.

    I put a set of Cooper Evolution Tours on my Camry, and they are quiet and comfortable. Anyone know how they might be on the Prius? Any other suggestions? Cost is not an issue.
     
    #1 Shel, Jun 20, 2021
    edthefox5 likes this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    michelin energy savers a/s are quiet and smooth. not sure if they make them for gen 2
     
    #2 bisco, Jun 20, 2021
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I've been very pleased with General Altimax RT43, if they are not too inexpensive for your tastes.

    What suspension work was done?
     
    #3 ChapmanF, Jun 20, 2021
  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    I second the General altimax RT43 recommendation. They really quieted down our other subcompact car and I plan to hang a set on our Prius once we wear out the factory rubber.
     
    #4 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Jun 20, 2021
  5. Rph74

    Rph74 Active Member

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    I went with Pirelli (non energy saving) tires from Sam’s club. Mileage went down an mpg or 2 but smooth as butter now. The mpg penalty doesn’t bother me, especially when I compare it to what I get in my 5.7 Tundra lol.
     
    #5 Rph74, Jun 20, 2021
  6. Shel

    Shel Junior Member

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    As far as I can tell, they don't.
     
    #6 Shel, Jun 21, 2021
  7. Shel

    Shel Junior Member

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    Struts, springs, mounts all around.

    I'll look further into the Generals. Thanks for the suggestion.
     
    #7 Shel, Jun 21, 2021
  8. Shel

    Shel Junior Member

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    Tks for seconding the Generals.
     
    #8 Shel, Jun 21, 2021
  9. Shel

    Shel Junior Member

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    Where are you located? What kind of roads do you generally drive on? Trying to get a sense of what your roads are like compared to those in our area of California. Are the tires quiet? Compared to what other tires you've had on the Prius? Which Pirelli tires did you get? Tks!
     
    #9 Shel, Jun 21, 2021
  10. Rph74

    Rph74 Active Member

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    I have Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus tires. Yes they’re very quiet. I live in Springfield,MO and drive in a mix of city and highway roads. It’s been a while, but I remember the roads out in CA seem to have a different surface. I had Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires before and they would only stay quiet for the first 10,000 miles or so. Then they would get loud. I’ve only had these tires for 5,000 miles or so.

    I noticed a huge difference when I got the Pirelli’s. Very nice to drive on trips now. Btw, The guys at Sams mentioned that they get a lot of complaints on the Goodyear tires in general.
     
    #10 Rph74, Jun 22, 2021
  11. Another

    Another Senior Member

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    Michelin Defender works fine, has long life and gets great mileage. Costco has a deal on them every couple of months including free rotations and balancing and five year road hazard warranty.
     
    #11 Another, Jun 22, 2021
  12. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    That's a big deal. I live near Philadelphia but I own a business in Los Angeles, so I'm out there fairly often.

    I doubt I would enjoy driving our c on the segmented concrete of I-5 or even the 170. I rent cars to get around out there and usually smile when they give me something with a long wheelbase like an Avalon.
     
    #12 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Jun 22, 2021
  13. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    I just got a set of those coopers on my newish Kia today. Really nice tire quiet and nice ride. Second set of Coopers for me great tires. $123 each.
     
    #13 edthefox5, Jun 22, 2021
  14. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I had Michelin Harmonies on my Gen 1 at one time, but when those were discontinued I bought a set of Defenders, and those were louder.
     
    #14 ChapmanF, Jun 22, 2021
  15. The Lizard King

    The Lizard King Member

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    Goodyear Wrangler SR-As are nice and quiet. :)
     
    #15 The Lizard King, Jun 24, 2021
  16. qmanqman

    qmanqman Active Member

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    #16 qmanqman, Jun 25, 2021
  17. Valiant V

    Valiant V Member

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    Reading the article....

    Here in Rural NE Texas, they do a road surface called "Chip Seal" - where they spray down a layer of hot asphalt/tar, and spread rock chips on it. Depending on how big the chips are, the road can be loud to deafening - especially with higher tire pressures.

    Running 35-36 PSI - I don't know if any tire is gonna be quiet on these roads.

    Our current tires (NEXEN NPriz) that came new on the car - are super-quiet on smooth roads. Not so much on this rough chip seal. Like every other tire I've driven on, they "sing" on textured concrete road surfaces.

    Is any tire gonna be quiet on a loud road surface?
     
    #17 Valiant V, Jun 25, 2021
  18. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Always put Kumho Solus tires on my G2.
    Fantastic tire for about 15-20000 miles than there just awful lol loud as can be.
    But very inexpensive tire.

    Florida is tough on tires.
     
    #18 edthefox5, Jun 25, 2021
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