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Tire recommendations

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by VincentTN, Oct 7, 2018.

  1. VincentTN

    VincentTN New Member

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    Hello!

    First post on the forum - so if there is a better place to post please let me know. This is the first time I’m buying tires for a Prius as I purchased my Prius with 25k on it this year and am at 42k now. I use the Prius for work as I travel all across TN, KY, and part of AL as a sales rep. My tire size is 215/45r17 and my car is a 2012 Prius.

    That being said the things that matter the most to me is lifetime of the tire and MPG. I normally buy from discount tire and was researching the Goodyear assurance Maxlife tire but called my local DT and the employee who picked up the phone happened to be a Prius owner and he suggested the michelin primisis mxm4.

    Let me know your thoughts

    Thanks
     
  2. fgp

    fgp Active Member

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    i am a dedicated michelin defender guy. have had them on 2 different prii. the mpg will be good, the handling vastly improved tire wear will be good and the safety in good ole tenn rain will be outstanding. there are other good choices but 1) its tough to beat michelins 2) defenders are an outstanding choice. they ain t cheap. you will notice a handling and braking difference instantly. as you can tell i cant recommend them highly enough.
     
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  3. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    You will get many different views -- our Gen 3's with 17" all came with Bridgestone -- all replaced the first time with the Michelin Premier AS -- Bridgestone's being $225 at the time. We got almost 90k out of the OE sets and a bit less with the replacement Premier. Our newer Gen 4's w 17" all came with Yokohama -- they are not holding up as well (more than one vehicle). Not sure if it is the cars -- but they are in the $225 range as well. Our Lexus CT's came w/ Michelin MXM4's and overall have lower miles. The one car with he most (40k) had a tire damaged (replace two) -- so I do not have a full set above 40k to evaluate about the overall miles we are going to get. Not 80k -- maybe 60k if lucky.

    I say all the above .... because. Really don't see a big difference. Don't believe the Defender comes in the 17 size. I have been moving all of my cars to Continentals -- they all get Continentals when due. I find them to be slightly better in the wet and snow vs the Mich ..... much cheaper ($130's) and have been getting good miles out of them.

    Lexus uses the MXM4 in many of vehicles -- it's an all around good tire. Quiet -- predictable .. I have them on my convertible. In the mid Atlantic with a lot of rain and more snow (recently) -- the Continentals are a bit better IMO for our everyday use.
     
    #3 yeldogt, Oct 8, 2018
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2018
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I too like them, they seem a very good balance of longevity, rolling resistance. Unfortunately not available in 215/45R17. :(

    I'm somewhat in the same boat, still rolling on the original Michelin PIlot hx MXM4's, still plenty of tread, but getting close to ten years from manufacture date. Right now I'm thinking Michelin Primacy MXM4: they're one of a dwindling number of Michelin tires still saying "Green-X", have the rim guard, and decent handling/feel reviews.
     
  5. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    I'm curious about your miles? To each his own -- but ... would never keep tires that long. At six years they are gone -- anything heavy five.
     
  6. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    What would be the difference between the Michein Defender, and the MXM4?

    And do you mean the Primacy or Pilot MXM4's?

    Good video here:
     
  7. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Don't ask Mendel how long he keeps his air filter, either. :D (Just joking, Mendel!!;))
    I've kept tires on previous cars in the past... for 7 or 8 years? They looked fine, but I was an unimformed young man back then. :LOL:

    I'm going to do more research on the Primacy tires. The first video says they are for luxury and/or performance sedans? Would they work for an old man in a Prius with 15" wheels?

    Another one:

     
    #7 Starship16, Oct 8, 2018
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2018
  8. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    The pilots are typically the summer only line of tires .. Both the MXM4 and the V's came on all manner of sport sedans ..... it's a decent mix of all around performance with quiet being high on its list. I have them on my older MB SL .. summer only are typically louder and they don't last very long. They (MXM4) have a firm ride. Michelin tires in general last a long time because of harder rubber compounds -- many people don't like in the rain for that reason .... they are better when new.

    The Prius is not going to stress any tire
     
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah that's the problem: we're low miles, and the stock tires are off the car (swapped out for snow tires), 3~4 months of the year, every winter. We're only at 77K kms,, and I'd doubt the Pilots have been rolling more than 50K. But, their build date is 5th week of 2009 (Feb). The car was built in August of 2009, and we bought it in November 2010, brand new. They have about 6/32" remaining tread depth, but will be 10 years since manufacture as of Feb next spring. It may be time...
     
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  10. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Primacy MXM4 does not come in a 15" size (Tire Rack). Defender would be my alternate.
     
  11. nick31

    nick31 Member

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    My next set of tires will be 225/50/17. They fit and I am tired of harsh ride.
     
  12. VincentTN

    VincentTN New Member

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    Sorry I meant primacy mxm4, I pulled the trigger. Set an install appointment for Thursday. This will be my first michelin. We shall see
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Are you sure? Those are a fair bit bigger Outside Diameter (OD). More or less same OD as 195/65R15 would be achieved with 205/50R17.
     
  14. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    As I said above they are a fine tire -- prefer them over the lesser in the Mich line. It's a firm, quiet tire. Prefer the Continentals
     
  15. nick31

    nick31 Member

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    Only 5% difference in diameter/circumference from 205/45/17 and less than 4% from 195/65/15.
    Per internets, they fit.
     
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