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Why Are Tires So Hard To Replace For The Prime?

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Main Forum' started by FarTraveler, Jul 27, 2024 at 1:17 PM.

  1. FarTraveler

    FarTraveler New Member

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    I got my new Prius Prime in October last year and so far I've had to replace two tires. Getting the new tires was extremely difficult as not only did most of the Toyota dealerships not have the tire in the required size, but most tire dealerships didn't have the proper tires either. For over nine years before getting the Prius Prime I was driving a Prius Plug In which I got in 2014 and I never had any trouble locating replacement tires for that car whenever I needed them but it can be impossibly hard to find the proper tires for the Prime, why is that?
     
    #1 FarTraveler, Jul 27, 2024 at 1:17 PM
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    plug in had standard tyres you could buy anywhere.
    toyota realized their mistake, and like the 12 volt battery, came up with oddball tyres. but even the dealers can't get them!
     
    #2 bisco, Jul 27, 2024 at 1:24 PM
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    All 5th gens are in the same boat, with odd tire sizes. Too, tire diameter seems excessive for what was a relatively straightforward, fuel efficient vehicle.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Jul 27, 2024 at 1:33 PM
  4. tovli

    tovli 2023 Prius Prime replaced 09 Prius

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    I bought a spare for $172 free shipping from tirerack.com just for that reason.
     
    #4 tovli, Jul 27, 2024 at 3:42 PM
  5. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    it's not just plugins or even hybrids.

    Lots of new cars use uncommon tire sizes, for a wide variety of reasons. Tire manufacturers don't exactly discourage this because it increases their chance of being an exclusive supplier for a given size, which translates to higher profits.
     
    #5 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Jul 27, 2024 at 4:11 PM
  6. Blackat

    Blackat Member

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    Not a problem for me. 225/55/17- FTW!
     
    #6 Blackat, Jul 27, 2024 at 5:16 PM
  7. KH111

    KH111 Junior Member

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    My Prime XSE has the Michelin Primacy All Season 195/50R19's. I just checked and they seem to be available, Tire Rack has them in stock and my Discount Tire store can get them in a couple of days. Pricey though, $254 each.

    KH
     
    #7 KH111, Jul 28, 2024 at 8:05 AM
  8. Hotdog453

    Hotdog453 New Member

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    I'd guess most cars with 'unique size' though are generally performance oriented cars, right? The weirdness here is our size is so 'odd', and therefore expensive, so if we end up spending 50-60 bucks more for our odd sized tires, that sort of negates the whole 'saving money on gas thing'. 150 bucks in gas or whatever is... well, a lot of gas :p
     
    #8 Hotdog453, Jul 28, 2024 at 8:25 AM
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed. no problem getting oem's at a reasonable price for our '24 hycam
     
    #9 bisco, Jul 28, 2024 at 1:38 PM
  10. FarTraveler

    FarTraveler New Member

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    Well it makes sense that those uncommon tire sizes wouldn't stay uncommon as tire companies would produce more of them as the demand for such tires increases.

    But they won't be getting higher profits when other tire companies also start producing tires of that given size.
     
    #10 FarTraveler, Jul 28, 2024 at 1:55 PM
  11. FarTraveler

    FarTraveler New Member

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    I don't drive a Prime SXE I drive a Prime SE, the Prime SE is less expensive, has slightly better gas mileage, and Im not a fan of leather seats. Im not sure if the SXE and the SE use the exact same tires.
     
    #11 FarTraveler, Jul 28, 2024 at 1:59 PM
  12. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

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    They do not. But the SE tires are also an odd size for now, though more available and cheaper than the XSE.

    Tire Rack prices:

    LE/SE (195/60-17)
    Toyo Extensa - $142.50 - in stock - UTQG rating of 300 B A
    Bridgestone Ecopia - $186.00 - in stock - UTQG rating of 600 A A
    Michelin X-Ice Snow(winter tire) - $180.00 - in stock

    XLE/LTD/XSE/XSE+ (195/50-19)
    Toyo Extensa - $172.00 - currently out of stock - more arriving 8/15 - UTQG rating of 300 B B
    Michelin Primacy - $255.50 - in stock - UTQG rating of 540 B A
    Michelin X-Ice Snow(winter tire) - $227.65 - in stock
     
    #12 Hammersmith, Jul 28, 2024 at 2:15 PM
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Maybe a chicken and the egg thing? For model year 2012, annual US sales of Prius were 236,655. For 2023: 35,816. Info from here:

    Toyota Prius Family Sales Figures | GCBC

    Too, Gen 3 and 4 had a common-as-dirt base tire (195/65R15). For 5th gen, Toyota's chosen rare-as-hen's-teeth sizes, and sales figures are barely 1/10th, of the hey day numbers.
     
    #13 Mendel Leisk, Jul 28, 2024 at 2:22 PM
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