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Hydroedges: 195/60 or 205/60 for handling, chains and mpg?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by K2D2, Oct 4, 2007.

  1. K2D2

    K2D2 Junior Member

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    Almost time for new tires. My 2006 has 28,000 miles on Falken Ziev 512 205/60/15. With winter approaching and despite the old tires still having a little tread on them, I think I'll get the Hydroedges from costco when the rebate goes into effect later this month. I go skiing at Mammoth Mountain and they have mandatory chain requirements. Last year was a bad year for snow so I got by without having to put on the chains, but this year with any luck I will have to put chains on a at least several times. So....I like how the 205's handle and look a little sportier. But I have not had to put chains on them. I may order these cables:Security Chain Super Z6 from favorable reviews here.
    1. Any experience with chains or cables on 205 size tires?
    2. Has anyone gone back to 195's after having the 205's? the effect on handling? MPG? (My take is that the Prius needed all the help it could get with handling, so I have the BT Brace and 205 tires)
    3. Tire rack seemed to like both Triple treds and the hydroedge but the TT seemed heavier by several pounds in the corresponding size. Both seem to be very good tires. All things equal, my thought is that rotational weight would have an impact on MPG. How do the two stack up?
     
    #1 K2D2, Oct 4, 2007
  2. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(K2D2 @ 2007 10 03 23:38) [snapback]521044[/snapback]</div>
    They seem very close in most respects, though the TT is rated higher in snow. If that's one of your main concerns, the narrower tire might be the better choice.
     
    #2 hyo silver, Oct 4, 2007
  3. Drifter

    Drifter Member

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    How much is the rebate you are referring to? Is it Costco specific?

    I am planning on buying a set of hydroedges soon. I've been deciding between the 195/60s and the 185/65s, and leaning towards the 195s.
     
    #3 Drifter, Oct 4, 2007
  4. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    205/60-15 will have a larger circumference than stock so will cause the milage calculation to be wrong. It will also reduce acceleration and increase load on the engine and HSD.
     
    #4 patsparks, Oct 4, 2007
  5. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(K2D2 @ Oct 4 2007, 02:38 AM) [snapback]521044[/snapback]</div>
    Both TireRack's customers and Consumer Reports generally rate the TTs higher than the HEs, but it's more or less a toss-up.

    Note however that Consumer Reports rates the HEs as being better in ice braking, and the TTs better in hydroplaning resistence.

    The HEs have a longer warranty (90K) than the TTs (80K).

    The TTs run about $20 less per tire.
     
    #5 Boo, Oct 4, 2007
  6. K2D2

    K2D2 Junior Member

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    Thanks for the advice. The rebate is for $60 off a set of 4 michelins. It runs from 10/8-10/28, but when I went to costco to look at the tread design they said it extended into early november. I imagine the rebate applies to all michelins, but the info I got was in a costco flier.

    So, I think I will go with the Hydroedges instead of the Triple Treds, but I still have to decide on the size. I hate to give up MPG's and I don't want a tire that is so big that chains are impossible to use easily, so that would give the nod to 195's. But, I've always felt the achilles heel of the Prius is the handling, so I would hate to give up handling during the 99% of the time I'm on dry san diego roads, so then I lean towards the 205's. Hmmmm, maybe with the cables made for low clearance wheelwells I can get away with the larger size?
     
    #6 K2D2, Oct 5, 2007
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