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

Best recommendation of tires for the Prime

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Joshua Ventura, Jul 20, 2020.

  1. Joshua Ventura

    Joshua Ventura Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2015
    41
    15
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    I currently have 5,000 miles on my Prius Prime and after driving it for that long, I have grown to not really like my tires. They are the Toyo Nanoenergy A41.

    I find they are average on handling, and are not as grippy as my Pirelli P7s on my Corolla.

    I understand the idea of having low resistance tires for fuel efficiency.

    I am looking to possibly replace my tires for Pirelli P4s All Season tires. Has anyone had them?

    Or do you have recommendations for grippy tires that handle well? Especially in the rain too.
     
  2. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,958
    8,836
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Your needs and wants are different from mine and most likely others. Tire recommendation is mostly personal preference. I have not had non-OEM tires on my PRIME yet. 2017 PRIME came with Dunlop Enasave and my current 2020 PRIME has BS Ecopia EP422Plus. Both are "A OK" tires for my needs and wants. But, I have considered Pirelli P4 before for my previous Gen3, but ended up buying Conti Turecontact. I was very happy with that set despite the fact that I only had them for short while before trading in the car. I have heard and read that Yoko Avid Ascend GT is very capable tires on rain. I don't drive spirited, so grippiness is not one of characteristic I look for on my tires.
     
    #2 Salamander_King, Jul 20, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2020
    jerrymildred likes this.
  3. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Lots of good tires. No "best" tire. I really like my Yokohama Avid Ascend GTs, but there are plenty of other good ones.
     
    PT Guy likes this.
  4. David9962000

    David9962000 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2011
    139
    65
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    Just watch the weight.
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I would just resist the urge to scratch that, for at least another 30K. Average, but no complaints? What's not to like?
     
    Mark57 likes this.
  6. Rob43

    Rob43 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2014
    1,373
    1,044
    0
    Location:
    VA, BMW Race Car, BMW R1200R, BMW 330Ci, Ford F350
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
  7. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2013
    1,534
    581
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I've had these tires for a few months. I'm not seeing as good gas mileage as the OEM Dunlop Enasaves. Hoping my gas mileage will improve as the tires wear in more. Except for the short tread life and being flat prone near the end of life, I like the Enasaves better. There's rain in the winter where I live and no snow, and I've never had a handling issue with the Enasaves. The Yokahama's seem noisier, less smooth, seem to wander at highway speeds (maybe this is my imagination).
     
  8. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Mine had Toyo Nanos. They didn't last long. Noise on the Yokos seems similar to the Toyos, but that's comparing new tread to old tread. Steering feels a little lighter with the Yokos, but not what I'd call wandering. New tires always take a bite out of fuel economy. Mine might be a tiny teeny bit worse with the Yokos, but it's hard to compare since I only had the car about two months before I replaced the Toyos. I'm still getting around 5 miles/kWh and 60-70 mpg on roads designed to maximize consumption.
     
  9. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2016
    1,074
    707
    0
    Location:
    Washington, the state
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I ran the tirerack.com Tire Decision Guide for Joshua. He's in L.A. and doesn't drive in snow, so I picked Summer Tires. I checked Wet Road Handling and Dry Road Handling at 5 spots each, and left the rest blank. They chose Goodyear Eagle Sport All Season or Sumitomo HTR A/S PO2. Interestly, these are both rated as all-seasons.

    Joshua, the truth is that if there is actually a best tire, no one knows which tire that would be. And, as we're discussing, best for which driver and which criteria. In that decision guide I told it to ignore cost, comfort and tread life. When those are included the results will change. If you go into a tire store the criteria they'll include will also be which tires they most need to get out of their warehouse so they can stock something that will sell better.
     
  10. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yeah, it's kind of like asking which medicine is best. Depends on what's ailing you. Or which tool is best. Depends on what you want to fix.
     
  11. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2005
    2,542
    2,485
    0
    Location:
    Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Going for my 40,000 mile oil change and check over in Aug. 2020. I still have the original tires on my 2017 Prius Prime. They still look good but I am planning on getting new tires with fall/winter coming up. Comments posted above very helpful.
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  12. fmerkel

    fmerkel Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2018
    88
    46
    0
    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I have Continental DW 215/45/17 (aftermarket rims and tires) on a 2015 that were probably 2/3 used when I got the car. Stick well in rain and dry, miserable in snow, and howl on worn freeway so loudly I can't talk to a passenger. Hate them. After 50 miles I feel like getting out and walking. Don't suggest turning up the radio. I can't even hear it.

    Put on Bridgestone Blizzak (stock rims) this last winter. Surprise! MUCH quieter, softer ride, and 2-4mph INCREASE in mpg. Conti has to go.

    In terms of personal performance weighting, in order: quiet, mpg, wet handling.
    Bridgestone Quiettrack seems to be very good for quiet. Can't get anything on mpg for them. Anyone have any experience?

    Open to other contenders also. General Altimax RT43 is creeping up the list.
     
    C Clay likes this.
  13. phlack

    phlack Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2020
    32
    18
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius PHV
    Model:
    XLE
    How about run-flat tires? Where I am, I don't need to worry about snow/ice. And since there is no spare, this seems like a good idea.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Run-flats are not very popular. I don't think they've really caught on. Likely for a lot of reasons. They still need repair, just you can run on them for a short while after a puncture? They're heavier, noisier, don't ride as good?

    In your shoes I would get something like Michelin Defender T+H or X-Tour (Costco's itteration, the same), and cobble a spare rim/tire. Or Bridgestone Ecopia, either EP422 Plus or EP20. The latter would be my pref.

    And just my 2 cents: boycott cars without spares in future. This is the only way they'll wake up.
     
    #14 Mendel Leisk, Jul 28, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2020
    alexcue and phlack like this.
  15. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2016
    1,074
    707
    0
    Location:
    Washington, the state
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    We're satisfied with the 3rd generation run flats, the Bridgestone DriveGuard. They're heavier, so there is a minor hit to economy. They are a bit noisy and stiff, and we accept that. With the driving my wife does, lots of rural drives with assistance a ways away, I'd get these again. The earlier run flats were a problem as well as very expensive. The DriveGuards are said to be good without air for 50 miles at 50 mph...then they're junk. If they're driven reasonably to the first available repair shop after the low pressure alarm comes on, I expect that they can be repaired OK.

    I've used Ride-On tire sealant in the past, and I'd use it again if I didn't have the run flat tires. Tire Sealant - flat tire prevention for Cars | Ride-On Tire Protection It's kind'a messy to put into the tires. 3 bottles does 4 Prime tires. Again, as soon as the low tire pressure alarm lights, get the tire fixed. They claim this product isn't as messy as Slime (I agree in bike tires), and no problem for a tire shop to patch the tire.
     
    phlack likes this.
  16. fmerkel

    fmerkel Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2018
    88
    46
    0
    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Going to Discount Tire today. After too much searching I made a decision. Putting on General Altimax RT 43 205/50/17. This is replacing noisy, but otherwise fine, Continental DW 215/45/17. Will report back after some use.
     
    #16 fmerkel, Aug 26, 2020
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2020
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  17. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2005
    2,542
    2,485
    0
    Location:
    Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I just put on Michelin Defenders yesterday. Had them filled with nitro. The ride home was so smooth and quiet. Prime On !!!
     
    C Clay likes this.
  18. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2016
    1,074
    707
    0
    Location:
    Washington, the state
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Did you pay extra for the nitrogen fill?

    Air is 78% nitrogen. The only advantage of pure nitrogen in tires is that it is free of water. A good water separator filter on an air compressor does that as well.
     
    pghyndman and Hicksite like this.
  19. eveyo

    eveyo Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2019
    85
    10
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Hey guys I have my stock toyo tires with 32,000 miles. For those that have had these tires at what mileage did you end up changing your tires? I was just curious. I know it will vary on the terrain and how you drive. With the penny test these tires seem to still pass.

    Reading the thread above I'm considering Michelin defenders from Costco. Looking for efficiency, durability and quietness. Is this a good choice for this? Thanks guys
     
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Get a tire depth gauge, they're something like $5.
     
    C Clay likes this.