LRR Tire Options - Handling vs MPG

We often go through this with DiscountTireDirect. They want you to think everything is in stock, so that if you need sizes they have you buy their old inventory. If you need what's sold out, you pay a few dollars more per tire and get the next-gen, i.e.; Premier instead of MXV4 or what-have-you. I would not rely on manufacturer claims of mileage, Consumer Reports testing often finds their claims without merit.

 

We've bought tires from Discount for the past 20+ years and every tire we've bought has exceeded mileage claims. They've also met or exceeded Discount's recommendations and our expectations for quiet and comfort. I'm really only asking questions because the Prius environment is all new to me and much more affected mileage-wise by the brand of tire, wheels, etc. I'd even consider 16" wheels to get Michelins if I could find some reasonably priced that would not adversely impact mileage.

 

Unfortunately, the response was what I was expecting, not what I was hoping for:

I apologize, unfortunately we do not manufacture this tire size 195R6515 in the Energy Saver A/S. Your request will be forwarded to the appropriate Marketing Group for future consideration.

 

That's good thinking: discontinue the stock tire size of what is more-or-less the mpg champion. Somehow "appropriate Marketing Group for future consideration" sounds like the waste basket, lol.

 

I agree, Mendel, doesn't make any sense to me. BTW, how many cars come with 16" rims to warrant a 16" model but not a 15"?

 

I've bought from Discount Tire, Price Club, DirectTire and Costco for more years than that, and have had onions amoung the roses. We have 12000 miles on our new Michelin Premier tires and are not seeing a statistically-significant difference in mileage vs. the stock Yokohama tires. I'm only offering personal experience and suggesting you focus more on overall value and safety as well as mileage, and consider an independent testing authority:
Best All-Season Tires - Consumer Reports

 

I think something is wrong, the Michelin rep you've contacted is smoking something pretty good. I'll bet that 195/65R16 mentioned should in fact be 195/65R15.

When I looked on Michelin Canada it continues to show Energy Saver A/S in 195/65R15. Also, when I ask for a display of all tires, all sizes, in 16" there are no tires in 195/65R16:

 

Obviously, having owned cars since 1965, I've bought tires from other places and my comment was only meant to counter what I thought you said, basically that Discount will list a discontinued tire as being in stock in order to sell you their old stock. IMHO, there's nothing wrong with that as long as they have the stock, but that's different than Michelin no longer listing a tire that is only temporarily not in production or behind in production, which is what I was hoping they were doing and, as Mendel pointed out, might still be the case.

And I do check CR, but they don't test a specific set of tires on specific vehicles to determine comfort, safety and mileage. Certainly the experience will be different on a heavier mini-van than on a Prius, so controlled tests are only an indication of what one can expect, just like EPA testing. It is helpful to know the Premier holds up against Yokohama on mileage, but that in no way means the Energy Saver A/S wouldn't be better on mileage or a better overall value for us here in the desert Southwest. Gathering information in no way suggests my priority is mileage.

 

Interesting: the Canadian Michelin site lists Energy Saver A/S, and the US site the (summer only) Energy Saver.

 

Doesn't instill confidence, does it?

 

Well, after the first tank, my 'mileage' fell almost 14% (13.63%) (from an average of 66.9mpge to this tank's 57.8mpge). So I've cranked up the psi on these Michelin Premier A/S's (195/65R15) to 37 psi all the way around (from 34 psi they filled them with when they left the shop). I don't expect that to change the mileage that much, though. These tires are not at all the same as the older Energy Savers. I like the ride and the handling, however. So that's the trade-off. I guess I could crank up the pressure (max is 44 psi), but that will affect the ride as well. The OEMs were Goodyear (I'm pretty sure), and I always had them going at 38/36 psi. So we'll see what happens on tank two with these Michelins set at 37 all the way around.

 

Yes, please update how it goes. Also, can you recall which GY tire your OEM's were, for reference?

 

99% sure they were Assurance Fuel Max, and I think they were S rated rather than H. The new Michelins are H rated.

 

Replaced energy saver a\s with premier a\s on 2010 with 15" wheels. Nice ride, great in snowy slush and ice. Mpg dropped from around 52 to around 42, can get 50 if I drive like I would to get 60. 2700 miles on tires, 37 front 35 rear.

 

A large part of the difference is probably due to winter gas, winter driving conditions, new tires at the start of their wear cycle and tires with deeper tread.

 

Yes, winter lowers mileage, conditions have been quite mild at times, but mileage stays lower than with energy savers. Energy savers had high initial mileage, hopefully premiers will get better with use. At 3100 miles they are starting to feel a little less "sticky" when accelerating.