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Raising my 2010 Prius Hybid higher off the ground?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Cheryl Root, Jun 7, 2020.

  1. scona

    scona Active Member

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    jimontheocean and Raytheeagle like this.
  2. normythebear

    normythebear New Member

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    :rolleyes: I'm literally a Master's student in neuroscience at the top university you can think of where I'd be "bottoming out on Boston roads".
    Sorry, I don't meet the rigorous quantitative data standards of where you're from in Blanca, Co.

    I didn't post tire size because if the OP doesn't know what generation her Prius is, then what's the chance she understands tire aspect ratio? I was responding to her, not you, because you didn't exist in the thread prior to my post.

    I'm more interested in posting something helpful that OP understands than attempting to sound smart by throwing a bunch of meaningless numbers at her.

    Good job with your double post. I'm guessing the internet isn't your best subject.

    Here's my tire size, since it's so important that you had to be needlessly rude to another human: 215/55R-17 VREDESTEIN QUATRAC 5 XL

    Here's my car for reference. I'm sure you can find something to nitpick since that your thing.
    You: "That Blue Spruce looks a little green. I'm guessing arboriculture was not your best subject" Screen Shot 2020-06-23 at 16.58.19.png
     
  3. normythebear

    normythebear New Member

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    I'm so envious that the US never had a 7 seat version of the Prius. Sometimes you just want a car you can put a lot of people in, without having to get a van or SUV. I wonder is the Prius+ is similar enough to the V that is can be retrofitted?
     
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  4. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    The Prius+ had a Li-Ion HV battery located between the front seats, inside the centre armrest, leaving us a shallow storage area and I believe the V has the HV (NiMh ?) under the back seats, so I think it would be quite a major transformation. Probably easier to import a European (not UK), left hand drive, Prius+.
     
  5. normythebear

    normythebear New Member

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    I figured it would probably be quite involved. Thank you for sharing that info.
     
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  6. softdown

    softdown Junior Member

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    FWIW I have finally tested the replacement of 185/65r15 tires with 205/70r15 tires. These are initial findings:
    1) No loss in turning mobility whatsoever - no rubbing at all.
    2) Significantly softer ride on washboard roads.
    3) ~.9" of greater ground clearance over the 185s. The 185s are 1/2" shorter than stock 195s. The 185s were the choice of the previous owner.

    I see no reason not to employ at least a 205/70r15 if you need more ground clearance. I may have done 205/75r15 if I never had to consider steep mountain passes while towing a teardrop trailer.
     
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  7. normythebear

    normythebear New Member

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    I agree. Larger diameter tires would be the easiest way for OP to gain so clearance. When she gets new tires installed, the shop will give her grief and assume she doesn't know what she's talking about because they are not the factory size. So I recommend that she do as much research as possible and state exactly what she wants.
    15 inch wheels are one of the things I miss the most about my 2006 Prius when I had it. The ride was much smoother than my factory 17 inch wheels.
     
  8. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Some shops won’t even install tires sizes that are not recommended by Toyota and it’s manual due to liability reasons.

    Disclaimer- this reply may not apply in all situations.
     
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  9. softdown

    softdown Junior Member

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    I'm a mild explorer. Been stuck three times already. Fixed a piece of black under carriage plastic that was dragging today. 85% of my aerodynamic black plastic under carriage covers are - gone. Thinking that is approx. 2-3mpg loss right there.

    I have a few 4WDs - but the gas bill for daily hikes can get horrendous.

    If you are an avid hiker/explorer type - carry a floor jack. Doesn't take a big one. Mine has saved me 3 out of times. Was still an adventure 3 out of 3 times.

    Prius were built for mpg. Not for any off road use at all. Though one can do some super mild stuff with over size tires.
     
  10. bettergolf

    bettergolf Active Member

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    My 2015 has none of the plastic skid pan stuff...I don't feel I'm suffering lower gas mileage. Year round I average over 50....summertine I get almost 54 and winter its more like 48.5.
     
  11. softdown

    softdown Junior Member

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    The only reason for the plastic plates is aerodynamics - significantly less turbulence. They didn't put them on for other reasons.

    I plated the bottom of my teardrop camper for aerodynamics - but lost the Prius plates in the mean time. Wonder what a salvage yard says when I bring a huge wheel barrow full of plastic plates to the counter?
     
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  12. spoonerisms

    spoonerisms Junior Member

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    Recently saw a youtube vid by a company called priusoffroad. They sell 1.5" lift kits. The rear installation is a breeze on Gen3. Front will take you awhile! ;)
     
  13. spudnut

    spudnut Active Member

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    I recently posted about, look it up, installing a lift kit from PriusOffRoad. Just yesterday, due to deepish unplowed snow, leaving a parking lot I ran off a curb. No problem, I am positive I would have scraped before,
     
  14. douglasjre

    douglasjre Senior Member

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  15. spudnut

    spudnut Active Member

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  16. priusFour

    priusFour New Member

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    Try buying Mexican specs Coil springs
    Part# 48231-47190