Need new tires

For LRR you could go with Mich Eneygy saver A/S or Bridgestone Ecopia 422. You can go to TireRack.com to compare to your tires. Go to TireRack.com and enter your vehicle and see of the options. I am thinking of Continental True Contact which is getting good reviews but I need more snow grip than you do. I think you got some better stores than TireRack, but that' all I got here.

 

more noise, no. less noise.

less handling. yes. you're comparing a a/s performance tire vs a regular all season tire.
a/s, performance a/s, performance a/s, summer performance. those are your main tire categories. as you proceed "up" you increase handling and braking but decrease comfort, tread life, and MPGs.

if MPG's are key, run the energy saver a/s's period.
if other factors are more important, well then some other choices need to be made.
if you like your handling and MPG's with your current set when they were new, then you could just replace them with the same kind. just know that they are NOT LRR. and usually have a very short tread life in comparison to Michelin's.

my 06 Acura TL has Ventus V12 evo's. handles like a champ. but tread wear with 3k rotations is quick. something like 20k and i'm going to have to replace them soon.

i've run Continental PureContacts, Michelin Energy Saver A/s's, Michelin Primacy MXV4's, Continental ProContacts, Pirelli P7's, Sumitomo A/S P01, Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S, and Goodyear Integrity's.

for the Prius, run Energy Saver A/S's.

 

I also live in So. Calif. and have a 2008 Touring Edition. I wanted Michelin Energy Saver A/S, but they're not available in 195/55-16 so I went with the Summer version. Mpg and wear have been good, but the noise is unacceptable. The Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 is a much better option.

 

Perhaps try 205/60R16. The stock non-touring tire size is 185/65R15 but 195/65R15 is generally seen as being the a good "alternative". The 205/60R16 is with 3% overall diameter.

If you're stuck on stock size, I'd give the Michelin Premier A/S a try. The best handling tire with good comfort and good tread life BUT MPG loss will be noticed if coming from a LRR tire. Using Ventus's the MPG difference is unknown to me.

 

They're Ventus V4 ES H105? Tirerack does not indicate them to be LRR, AND describes them as "(Ultra High Performance All-Season)". Yikes!

If you're willing to lower your performance expectations, just off the top of my head:

Michelin Premier A/S

Consumer Survey Results By Category

 

My 2008 Touring Edition and l also live in Southern California and I sure like my Bridgestone Ecopia EP422s.

 

Moving to a 205/60R16 is a bad call, IMHO. Speedometer/odometer readings will be off and the larger tire will decrease MPG because of larger footprint/higher friction. Also, the larger tire will be heavier which increases the unsprung weight. The result: Degraded driving dynamics (handling, etc.).

 

The best size to go for is 205/55/16 for the touring. In Europe all gen2's come with 16 inch wheels. Going up one size does not reduce fuel economy, there is a much greater choice of tyres in the 205's, and they are at least 25% cheaper than 195's. There are many more advantages see my thread linked below. I know the US tyres are different, but the advantages are still there.
Low Rolling Resistance replacement tyres (Europe)

John (Britprius)