Tire Upgrade

Re: Touring Tires

Hi Kay,

My main reasons for changing my Standard Prius' OEM Goodyear Integrities after only 1000 miles were to improve what I considered to be the poor or subpar handling and braking of the Standard Prius.

Because the Touring model already handles and brakes well, I think if I were to own a Touring model, I probably wouldn't bother to upgrade or change the Touring's OEM Bridgestone Turenzas until they wore out.

But if your winters are severe in terms of snow, you might consider getting dedicated snow tires.

* * * * * *

As you may already know, if and when you get new tires for your Touring, you'll find that there are not a lot of tires available in the Touring's OEM size of 195/55/16.

The tires that come in the Touring's OEM size are mostly of the "Run-Flat" variety -- leaving only a handful of regular (non-run-flat) tires available in that size. Maybe more tires will eventually be made in the Touring's OEM size. But I think that right now, you're basically left with two decent choices -- the OEM Bridgestone Turenzas which cost over $100 each or the Falken Ziex ze-912 which costs about $75 each. PriusChatter misslexi has the Falken Ziex ze-912s, and seems very pleased with them. And the 912's predecessor or cousin, the Ziex ze-512, was among the highest rated and well reviewed tires of performance tires.

EDIT: Consumer Reports tested both the Falken Ziex ze-912 and the Falken Ziex ze-512. The ze-912 was its highest rated Ultra High Performance All Season tire. And the ze-512 was among its second highest rated Performance All Season tire.

Because there are few regular tires available in the Touring's OEM 195/55/16 size, some or many Touring owners have or will go to the next larger size -- 205/55/16 -- as there are a lot of tires available in that size.

When you get new tires for your Touring, you might want to re-read this and other tire threads. And you should do a specific thread search on the Touring. Right now there are a couple of threads on tires for the Touring, including: http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-modifications/37637-touring-edition-tire-upgrade.html

Good luck.

 

Nokian WR and WRg2 LRR all weather tires are available in 195/55R16 in both regular and run flat versions. They are a great choice for your Touring wheel if you live where it snows.

JeffD

 

I don't remember seeing pros and cons for the regular vs run-flat tires on the Prius. The Avalon's is full size. I've never owned a vehicle with a spare donut. On list for Touring.

 

Thanks for the great research - have you had any experience with the 195/60 TT in snow?

Mike from Chappaqua

 

Noobe question. If I replace my tires from 185/60R15 origional tires to 195/60R15 tires. Can I use the same wheels or do I have to replace them.
And yes, I have noticed that my speedometer is usally 1 to 2 MPH faster than what my GPS says Im going.

 

Going from a 185 to a 195 is fine without having to go to a wider wheel (make sure you match the tire diameter exactly by adjusting the "series") BUT are you sure you have a 185/60/15? The stock Prius tires size in the U.S. is 185/65/15. Overall you want to try and maintain the stock 24.4" diameter.

 

Your right I dop have 185/65's... Getting old...

 

so without reading all of the 33 pages of this great thread, Im on the 4th or 5th page I think, What exactly would I upgrade to away from 65 series tires? Europe is what 60 series? Then I might get away with LRR in say 195/60/15 ?

I agree that the stock tires look too little to belong on the car.

 

I personally like the Goodyear Assurance TripleTred in the wider 195/60/15 size. I've had the TTs on three cars now. They're top rated by Consumer Reports, TireRack and TireRack customers. And they cost less than $100 each. There are lots of good tires out there. But I think you'll be hard pressed to find a better performing and longer warrantied (80,000 miles) all season tire for under $100.

I don't know if I experienced a mileage drop with the wider TTs. I drive so little that I don't have much basis for measuring. But I do know that this summer I've averaged over 50 mpg on my last two tanks.

 

This may have been discussed sometime in the last few hundred posts, but I'm not about to reread the whole thread to find out. My apologies if you've heard this before.
Knowing that the speedo reads a bit fast with the stock tires, wouldn't a tire that's slightly smaller improve the speedo's accuracy? I'm thinking the TT's revolutions per mile of 862 as a replacement for the Integrity's rpm of 855 is just about perfect.

 

No, smaller tires will make the speedo read higher. You need a tire with fewer revs/mile to adjust the speedo lower (note that this will appear to lower your MPG by the same %, but the change is not real).

JeffD

 

jdenenburg: I don't know if Hyo Silver has an SGII, but if so, I believe there's a mileage adjustment. In fact, I know there's one. I went crazy trying to set it for the Avalon. That's when I realized the Georgia's mile markers are all screwed up with all the new construction on GA 400. Anyway just a thought.

 

Has anyone researched (or had experience with) the Yokohama Avid T4 or the Yokohama YK520?

 

Just ordered new shoes for our 2006 Prius -- Falken ZE-912 195/60HR15 -- after reading a mind-numbing number of posts/reviews/ramblings....

The OEM Integrities still have reasonable tread at 32,700 miles, but we've never liked them and certainly don't want to go through another winter with them (lots of rain, some snow).

Getting them at my local Discount Tires -- their price was $90 + $13 each install/balance. Sears had them for $73.14 + $11; DT matched the price instantly -- I've always had good experience with buying from them (and from Costco, but they won't install 195s...).

--------------------
12/28: Well, we've had the Falkens on for a couple of weeks, during which we've had some of the most severe winter weather here in decades -- lots of snow, without the usual warming to melt it. So lots of experience driving on soft snow, packed snow, ice, deep 'slush ruts' (where the low clearance is a problem...). The Falkens are certainly better in these conditions than the Integrities (especially after 20K-30K miles!) -- not a snow tire, but a reasonable all-weather. In the limited use we've had on wet & dry pavement, they're very solid & stable; we like them a lot. Have no idea yet about mpg, since conditions have been so weird. Road noise seems about the same, but it's not something we're very sensitive to. Highly recommended so far.

 

Costco is funny. One said that they would not install 195/60/15 instead of the OEM's size. I went to another Costco maybe 15 miles away and they did.

 

I want to thank nyprius for his posts on this thread lo these many years ago. Tomorrow I am ditching the OEM Integrities which were barely adequate new and now, 28,000 miles later, are downright dangerous. Looking forward to the Goodyear Assurance Comfortreds, 195/60/R15s. Am opting for these rather than the TripleTreds because we are leaving snowbound Ohio next year for warmer climes and I think the Comfortreds will be a great rain tire and have a quieter ride than the TTs.

 

just bought my 07 Prius last week the OEM GY Integrity's are worn out , low tread they need replacing NOW! i have read many many ... post concerning tire upgrades ,the more i read to more i don't t know the way to go ..?, I'm looking for handling, longer tread life , smooth ride ,reasonably cost , maintaining milage , I'm new with this Prius , but so far im getting 50+ since i bought it , I'm sure there is more to learn on that point ,that's for my next post , but for now , i would be very interested in any one out there who can suggest some good upgrade ideas , so far i have been looking at the Bridgestone Potenza G019's , GY TT'S Michelin HE 's, GY Comfort and as well thinking of going to the 195/60/15 up from the spec. 185/65/r15 , that what i have been reading , it makes since to me, so if any one can send me some helpful info or suggestions on this matter , i would greatly appreciate it .....

Happy Driving ... Thanks !

 

Everyone will recommend the tyres they fitted to there car, I recommend Michelin Energy XM1+.