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Michelin Primacy MXV4 on Prius TOURING !!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by FloridaWen, Apr 13, 2010.

  1. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    We just purchased a set of Michelin Primacy MXV4 205/55R16 for our 2007 Prius Touring !! The tires were precision balanced and a vehicle alignment was performed. They were purchased from Tire Rack and installed by a 5-star Installer. They initially filled the tire with only 36 pounds per tire. My Wife (100% Driver of vehicle) said they felt "squeemish" on the Interstate above 60 MPH. I immediately (the next day) corrected the tire pressures to 42F / 40R and when she drove to work on a calm (no wind) day on the Interstate she said over 60 MPH the Prius wanders all over the road !! I told her it takes about 1,000 miles for tires to "break-in", the belts take a "set" and the rubber mold release gunk will wear off the tires. It has been close to 1,000 miles and the tires are still "all over the road, wandering" above 60 MPH.

    WHAT TO DO NEXT ?? :confused:
     
  2. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    Alignment.
    .
    _H*
     
  3. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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    +1 on alignment, if it is actually spot on install an upgraded under body brace and a front upper strut bar.
    Are the roads it wanders on heavily marred by truck traffic, any car will wander on roads the trucks have dug channels into and a Prius with excellent rubber will definitely wander...
     
  4. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    You think the Tire Shop messed up the ALIGNMENT when they aligned it ?? It cost us $75+ for an alignment and they had the vehicle all morning. Take it back ?? :confused:
     
  5. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    We have installed the BT BRACE years ago when we first purchased the Prius.

    The theory of the "truck groves" sounds like it could be it, but same roads with the old (original) tires never produced wander. The only new variables are new tires and new alignment ?? :confused:
     
  6. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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    Stock was 185/65 15 and now you're on 205/55 16 must be new rims also, anyway the tread is 1" wider so the tire just grabs more of everything, check with the alignment people, if it's not spot on make them adjust it, human error is always possible...
    I used to run 18" 40 series tires on an Audi and it was horrific on the highway, on my Prius I run 17" 45 series rubber and with the front upper strut bar it's not to bad unless the road is ridiculous.
     
  7. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    No, this is the Prius TOURING and the O.E.M. tire is 195/55R16. Michelin does not make a Primacy MXV4 in that size, just 205/55R16 !! Sounds like we'll be taking the Prius back for another alignment ??
     
  8. derkraut

    derkraut Member

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    It's an alignment problem, imho; I'm wondering why you would have an alignment done in the first place, unless you ran over a curb, etc, etc. Cars nowadays very seldom go out of alignment, except when in an accident. Like previous posters, my recommendation is to take it back and have them go over the alignment again, at no charge, of course.
     
  9. timkf1

    timkf1 New Member

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    I disagree w/ derkraut on recent models not going out of alignment. With frt wheel drive cars, they require alignments more frequently to maintain proper alignment. I DO agree however with the increase in tire size being the most likely contributor. 10 extra mm on the width of the tire could most certainly be the cause. It is more noticeable w/ electric p/s too. Very sensitive steering feeling accompanied w/ a slightly wider tire will accentuate any sensation while driving in the steering system. Either switch back to factory size tires of a different brand, or double check the availability of a 195 size tire in the Primacy. The Primacy's are a great tire, so hopefully they make them in the correct size.
     
  10. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    Here in Florida the Railroad track crossings are at street level. Driving around here, one goes "bumpity, bump, bump" over several every day, and some are brutal on the front end (and rear). That is why we thought the need to take a 3+ year old vehicle with over 40K miles into the shop for an alignment.
     
  11. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Did you receive a report from the first alignment? If so what is the front and rear toe-in?

    I agree that it sounds like the alignment should be checked again given the handling issues you've experienced. Ideally the alignment shop would be willing to reperform this work at no charge.
     
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  12. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    By changing to different tire size, you increased the diameter from 24.44 in to 24.87 in. Since the diameter is different, it is probably best to get an alignment.
     
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  13. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    I second the suggestion by Patrick to post the alignment data. My car was very squirrely at highway speeds when the rear toe settings were out of whack.
     
  14. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    Yes, that is specifically why we opted for an alignment, the difference in tire diameters from old to brand new could have seriously affected camber and toe, front and rear !!
     
  15. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    VERY Unlike alignment shops I've used in the past, THIS shop did NOT give me any alignment data spec. sheets on what the final settings were :mad: !!
     
  16. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    Re: Michelin Primacy REDUCED tire pressures !!

    I reduced tire pressures from 42F / 40R down to 38F / 36R and it seemed to help a lot. Obviously the Michelins were "overinflated" !! :(
     
  17. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Re: Michelin Primacy REDUCED tire pressures !!

    Well, I think your car has a problem which has not yet been identified.

    I'm using 44 psi on Bridgestone Ecopia EP100, 185-width tires which is standard on non-Touring, no problem driving at 75+ mph on rural AZ highways.
     
  18. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    I know that when my rear toe settings were uneven, it did not matter whether I used the door sticker inflation settings (35/33) or higher settings (40/38) it still felt unstable at freeway speeds. Correcting the toe to be even and in spec helped drastically.

    I now have Michelin X-radials and the car feels much more stable than with the OEM Integrity tires. I'm running 44/42 with the Michelins.
     
  19. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    The REAR axle of a Prius is "solid"......... how do you adjust TOE ?? Is it total toe of the relationship of the rear axle being "parallel" (so to say) with the front end ??
     
  20. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    I need my car aligned - did that involve shimming the back?