Quietest All Seasons for 15" wheels?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Ben Vaughan, Dec 17, 2025 at 4:01 PM.

  1. Ben Vaughan

    Ben Vaughan New Member

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    It's time to replace tires on my 2017 Prius Two with the 15inch wheels. Currently, I have Hankook Optimo H426 (the only tire I've had in my ownership of the car, so I'm not really sure how relatively loud or quiet it is). I would be interested to know what you all think is the quietest all-season tire for the 15s. Thanks in advance.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    michelin energy savers if they make them.
     
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Something to keep in mind, any tires tend to be quieter when brand new, then very gradually get noisier as they age and tread wears.
     
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  4. Paul Gregory

    Paul Gregory Senior Member

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    A noisy tire is often one with regular spacing between the lugs. This sets up a sonic resonance while driving. most manufacturers counter this with an irregular spacing, which has no such resonance. If it remains noisy, it's probably associated with the type material used in the tire.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the michelins were quiet from day one through their life. it made a huge difference on my 2012. of course, it was still a very noisy car in other ways.
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    I've never experienced that; would it mean you could be trying to get the wheel back on, only to find it's not going on, you need to rotate it and try again?
     
  7. Paul Gregory

    Paul Gregory Senior Member

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    My first Michelins had crudely made spacing between the lugs; as if butchered over with a knife. My well-read cousin informed of their purpose.
    No Mendel, its just that regular spacing between the lugs creates harmonics that make sounds. The position of the tire has nothing to do with it unless you have two or more with identical tread patterns that happen to get in the right sync.
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    I think you're misunderstanding my question. You seem to be saying an irregular spacing between lugs can be advantageous. Or am I misreading this:
    If so, here's a sketch, uniform versus irregular wheel lug nut spacing:

    upload_2025-12-18_15-14-10.png

    I can't see this being viable.
     
  9. Paul Gregory

    Paul Gregory Senior Member

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    You win
    I guess?
     
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Rather than winning/losing, I'm genuinely curious, is that what you meant, or something else?
     
  11. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Check out the Continental truecontact touring tire. We've found them to be considerably quieter that the Goodyears that came with the car.
     
  12. Ben Vaughan

    Ben Vaughan New Member

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    I have been looking at the Continental TrueContact Tour 54's, they seem to be a great option. I'm between those and the newer Goodyear Assurance Maxlife 2's.
    Out of curiosity, which Goodyear tires were those?
     
  13. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    I can't remember, to be honest. It was how Toyota sold the new car to us, whatever they were including in 2018.
     
  14. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    I've been putting Michelin Defenders on both Prii owned and our 2017 RAV4 HV. Do what you will with that info.