2010 Prius only getting 32 mpg due to wheels/tires...need recommendations on replacements

A/C on with the windows down does feel great. I loved it when I had my Cobra and Subie and enjoyed the sound of exhaust rumble. I do it less with the Prius because, well, there aren't any exhaust notes .

I agree that storing your bicycle inside the car doesn't add any significant weight to kill y our MPG.

I'd focus on looking at your tires, and driving habits. I like to keep my eye on the MPG meter that's to the right of the speedo on how heavy I'm pressing down on the gas pedal. I focus on trying to keep that as close to 50 or higher as possible.

I'm assuming that you've checked your tire pressure and at a minimum, they are at 32psi?

 

Come up to L.A. I got a sweet of stock 15's you can test out Kay to see of its ready your ruins or not. I'll jusy hold your rims as collateral.

SPH-L900 ? 2

 

Just think of it this way, no matter what you do with rims and tires, you won't be taking any kind of hit in MPG. Anything will be an improvement on that kind of MPG. I'm running stocks without the the hubcaps and I think it looks fine, plus I average 58.7 MPG.

 

Oh no I didn't improve MPG by removing the hubs. I removed the caps because the black rims under look way better. I get that kind of MPG all the time. Not a hyper miler but my Pri gets good gas mileage. I'm usually somewhere between 65 and 80 MPH on the freeway

 

I would focus on your driving habits a bit more before spending more money on analysis, tires, and whatnot. I have had my 2010 for 2.5 yrs and my MPG can vary from 32-49 and it is all about how I drive the car.

I have aftermarket tires (not as big as yours). When I am only driving to the train station and back (typically 2 mile super race bc I am always running late, stop and go for traffic and lights) well that is when I get 32.

On other occasions, my daily commute was 45 miles each way, a lot of freeways, almost no stopping my average was >48 and climbing. The more you drive the car and pay attention to what is happening, the easier it will become to get to those higher numbers.

That said, remember to drive safely as opposed to hypermiling. The $3 per tank savings when "Driving Mrs Daisy" is not worth getting into an accident or being the Prius that caused it.

 

Get a working pressure gauge and try tire pressures closer to 36 or above. I run 40 psi but it's a little harsh, even with the 15".

 

Open windows, air on, 18' wheels and you wonder why your mileage sucks, stop trolling

 

Kinda harsh man.

 

The OP isn't trolling, just uneducated on the various factors that impact mpg. There are even 15-wheel Prius owners who've bought into tire shops' lies that their recommended non-LRR tires are the much better replacement only to watch their mpg disappear into thin air.

 

get some lightweight Volk ECO wheels and LLR tires

 

get some 16's corolla oem

 

Were the tires morning cold, or had they be run long enough to warm up? If the former, you can do better with more pressure, but it will come at the cost of ride harshness. If the latter, then your tires are definitely underinflated. Check them again first thing in the morning, while they are still cold.

Also, try this questionnaire: Fuel economy complaints/queries? Please copy, paste & answer these questions, esp. if you're new