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Is Michelin energy savers still the top tires?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by ToyotaGal, Sep 7, 2024 at 7:11 AM.

  1. ToyotaGal

    ToyotaGal Member

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    Location:
    Millis, ma
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
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    N/A
    Hi all,
    I got my 08 touring in January. It came with okayama tires .
    In May, I thought my wheel Bearings were going and the mechanic said drives front. I fixed it. Not much chance in noise.
    In June I was visiting my friend and I took it to her mechanic cause the noise was getting louder. He said passenger wheel bearing. When he was in the middle of the job he said the axel bearing needed to be done as well. I think that was the additional work.
    Noise is much better loudest on the highway.
    Mycombo meter started to act up so I took it to the local hybrid specialist (awesome place) asked him to fix the combo meter and figure out the noise.
    He said it was rear tire was bubbling. Or something like that (russian so there is a small language barrier)
    I took it to a mechanic in that area and asked his opinion. He came back with transmission bearing drivers side and told me to call a transmission guy.
    The transmission gut said over the phone, he has never seen one go bad in a prius in over 25 years.
    Went to another mechanic he said all 4 tires need to be changed worst one is the same tire the hybrid people said to change. Tread is good just old and bubbling.
    Went to a tire shop. They told me I have the wrong size tire on the car 205 instead of 195 and wanted to sell me a name I never herd of.
    I came here and looked up tires. All threads seem to be old but Michelin seem to be the way to go.
    I plan on going to a tire shop not saying anything and see what they think of my tires but after reading the tire threads I think I is the tires and Yokohamas are probably loud tires.
    I bought the car with 89 thousand on it and currently it has 116 thousand on it.
    Which tires do you recommend?
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    In that part of Massachusetts I would say pick your battles wisely You have a near 20-year-old car I don't think you need the latest 100,000 mile we're out warranty tires. Usually I don't get but about 65,000 out of those and at that $65,000 the tires are gray and ugly and look so bad it's ridiculous I just cut back to $45,000 mi tires so that they stay black their whole life and all of that nothing better looking than a set of Michelin defenders with 70,000 mi on them that look like they're turning white looks like the colored tire commercials from the '80s remember the yellow pirellis and all that that didn't go on cars they were in advertisement I wouldn't overthink my tires too much the cheaper the better on the Prius I buy $49 tires from a couple of manufacturers as I have four cars and it works out really well $250 for a set of tires is a far cry from 5 or 600 just for the tires then you have in your state $40 a wheel to mountain balance and throw the old ones out or more now you have $1,200 of tires on your car look at that as a $1,200 set of new shoes on your feet yeah pretty ridiculous unless of course.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    They are very good, but can be hard to come by.
    Nothing wrong with 205’s, but it’s a personal decision.
    There are plenty of threads here with tyre reviews and advice.
    Sounds like you’re getting a lot of conflicting advice, which is par for the course in automotive maintenance unfortunately
     
  4. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    I would go with the Michelin Cross Climates or Nokian WRg5 tires. That way you will have traction when bad weather hits. Both are Low Rolling Resistance tires and will perform well.