1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Winter tires and rims

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by shadow4478, Aug 21, 2017.

  1. shadow4478

    shadow4478 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2017
    84
    53
    0
    Location:
    Barrie
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Just noticed the Prius comes with, what looks like aluminum rims with hubcaps must be a weight saving and wind resistance thing :)

    What's recommended for winter rims and tires?
    Will any regular rim do or does it have to be 3/4 of a rim with hubcaps :/?

    What's common tried tested winter tire that works with Prius?
     
  2. Yippeekyaa

    Yippeekyaa Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2017
    137
    160
    0
    Location:
    North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Michelin ice. No mpg hit. I run them year round and get 50 to 60k on a set. No rims to buy or store. I buy a set in the spring when they are on sale and typically pay 65$ each. Their wet weather traction is amazing compared to the defender lrr tires for half the price.
     
    goldfinger likes this.
  3. shadow4478

    shadow4478 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2017
    84
    53
    0
    Location:
    Barrie
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    winter tires all year round with no MPG hit? thats awesome but may not be for me..
    I think the other route I may have to figure out what proper winter rims to use and but TPMS's
     
  4. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2016
    3,709
    5,182
    0
    Location:
    Cornwall
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Can't remember who, but might have been @Mendel Leisk said Corolla steel rims were a perfect match. If it wasn't him he pretty sure to know who does.
     
    Prodigyplace likes this.
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    This is what I'm using with snow tires, and no tpms:

    Corolla 15" black steel rims p/n: 42611-02471
    With lug nuts p/n: 90942-01007 (utilitarian, open-ended, galvanized)

    In Canada tpms typically comes installed on new vehicles, but is not mandatory. In the 'States, some States will fail you at a an annual inspection if the tpms light is on, some won't. If you google there's a list in progress regarding which States. Also, I believe in all States, tire shops are obligated to install functional tpms? There may be work-arounds, say if you bring in loose rims, not sure.

    Also, a 2" ABS pipe end cap makes a serviceable hub cap with this rim, and it's really a good idea to cap it: the Prius hubs are VERY rust-prone, especially on wet/salted roads. The cap fits slightly loose, but I found pushing on a section of bicycle inner tube like a gasket, then the cap, fills the gap and holds it tight.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Aug 23, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2017
    postwhistle, RCO and WilDavis like this.
  6. ea8631

    ea8631 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2004
    186
    80
    0
    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Technology
    I kept the gen 3 stock rims and winter tire which is from my totaled gen 3 back in July and they will be on my gen 4 this winter. The tire I used is bridgestone blizzak WS70. Will get another set of TPMS since the old one from gen 3 not compatible with the gen 4.
     
  7. Tour de Prius

    Tour de Prius New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2017
    23
    18
    0
    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    Ok slightly technical question, for those who had the 17" touring wheels and tires, did you use a 15" steel wheel and tire combination? If so, how did you account for any difference is SLR (Static Load Radius) from dropping down to a 15" steel wheel. If you are using another set of TPMs, do you have to have them reprogrammed each time you swap out tire and wheel combos?
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    In order:

    Yes.
    No clue.
    Skipped TPMS, but yeah if you got them you would have that ongoing chore.
     
  9. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2016
    3,709
    5,182
    0
    Location:
    Cornwall
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The tyres on the 15" rims will be a higher profile than those on the 17" rims, so the the difference will not be as marked as you might expect.
     
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    There's theoretically about a 2% increase in OD, when you go from the 17's to the 15's. Yes, increase. Still, in practice, it gets "lost in the noise": I've watched Garmin Nav vs speedometer correlation, and the offset (speedometer always reads a bit high) seems about the same. That's watching as close as I can without driving off the road, lol.
     
    Prodigyplace and RCO like this.
  11. Tour de Prius

    Tour de Prius New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2017
    23
    18
    0
    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    Interesting. I guess I would have to do more research on this topic because a 15" wheel and tire combo would be a lot cheaper than 17s.

    AFA the TPMS light, is it just a light, or a chime or a warning message?
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Just a small light. It's mostly steady, occasionally blinks.

    I went with Michelin X-Ice, happy with them. They're good on bare pavement too, feel/sound like a decent all-season.
     
    goldfinger, Tour de Prius and RCO like this.
  13. Elt31987

    Elt31987 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2016
    205
    149
    0
    Location:
    Derry, NH
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Xice Xi3 and 15" TireRack Steel rims.
     
  14. Dman747

    Dman747 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2017
    6
    5
    0
    Location:
    Montreal
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Hello guys ; thinking about buying some Nokian winter tire that are studded what do you think ?
     
  15. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2016
    3,709
    5,182
    0
    Location:
    Cornwall
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The question is, what do you think? Are you going to need them, if yes then get them?
     
    krmcg likes this.
  16. Dman747

    Dman747 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2017
    6
    5
    0
    Location:
    Montreal
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Up here in Quebec it is the law to have winter tire ; for the last 10 years I have driven AWD car ; i do skiing but the rest is city driving ; I know I will take a it on mpg but trying to figure out is it going to be really bad if I get studded vs no. Studded
     
  17. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2016
    3,709
    5,182
    0
    Location:
    Cornwall
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    There are several Canadian members on here including @Mendel Leisk and @Tideland Prius who may be better placed than me to advise. I've poked them for you in the previous sentence, so stand by for a more useful answer. (y)
     
  18. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2014
    2,489
    2,153
    49
    Location:
    Top RH Corner of RH Coast on L side of The Pond
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Studs can be a bit noisy, and some states (here in USA) only allow studs at certain times of the year. I run summer tyres on OEM 16" rims from late April to late October, and Blizzak snows on 15" steelies the rest of the time, and ignore the NagLight. ;)
     
    Mendel Leisk, Dman747 and RCO like this.
  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I'm not sure about the legality of studded tires, might vary province to province, and as WilDavis says they might only be allowed for some months of the year. They're uncommon around here. I didn't even consider them.
     
  20. Dman747

    Dman747 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2017
    6
    5
    0
    Location:
    Montreal
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Legal in Qc from November to end of March
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.