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initial mini review of new nokian WRg2 tires

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by konakahuna, Feb 12, 2008.

  1. konakahuna

    konakahuna Junior Member

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    after 30K miles waiting for my OEM integrities to die, i did my research and decided to go with nokian WRg2 tires in the OEM size of 185/65/15. i've had the tires on for nearly a week now and wanted to pass along a few observations for those interested....

    1) the nokians definitely provide a more comfortable ride. this is most noticeable over rough sections of road where the rebound is more controlled and the jolt less jarring. i've never thought the prius was a particularly smooth riding car..despite its size, but these tires have definitely helped.

    2) the nokians have also sharpened up the handling. the steering effort is virtually the same, i suspect because the nokians weigh exactly the same as the integrities (17lbs. each), but they feel more precise and the car truly feels more planted and confident

    3) running the same pressure 40/38 as my old OEM tires, gas mileage has been a bit lower, but with only a hundred miles or so on them...they're not really broken in yet either. i have noticed a greater willingness of the prius to go into stealth and it seems to roll easier, which bodes well for my mileage down the road.


    so far, i've been very very pleased with these tires. i wanted better handling without paying a mileage penalty, and i think the nokians are going to deliver that for a reasonable price. no buyer's remorse here. more later as i get some wet weather experience with them...
     
    #1 konakahuna, Feb 12, 2008
  2. treehggr

    treehggr New Member

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    Thanks for the review. I'd be interested in hearing if your mpg improves over some time. May be my next choice in tires down the road.
     
    #2 treehggr, Feb 13, 2008
  3. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    How about tire noise?

    Tom
     
    #3 qbee42, Feb 13, 2008
  4. Pinan

    Pinan Member

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    Watch for an odometer slight over-read, as the tire's RPM is 849, while stock Integrities is 855.
     
    #4 Pinan, Feb 13, 2008
  5. konakahuna

    konakahuna Junior Member

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    tire noise seems very moderate to me, although i haven't taken my car much above 55mpg. i would say that at most speeds, the nokians are quieter than the integrities.

    also as for the difference in revolutions per mile, the diameter of the 185/65/15 tire is 24.5''. a difference of 6 revolutions per mile means a difference of 12.25 ft.

    there are 5280 ft. in a mile, so the tires will actually roll 5267.75ft. that's 99.7% of actual so at 60mph, you're actually traveling 59.82mph. a negligible difference.
     
    #5 konakahuna, Feb 16, 2008
  6. Pinan

    Pinan Member

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    I'm glad that I wrote "slight". Heh
     
    #6 Pinan, Feb 17, 2008
  7. FishHawk

    FishHawk New Member

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    I am also interested itn this tire. Try running the tires at 42 /40 and see if the milage improves. FishHawk
     
    #7 FishHawk, Feb 17, 2008
  8. konakahuna

    konakahuna Junior Member

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    i think my mileage so far has been due to several factors:

    1) sporadic cold weather that has lowered my total MPG
    2) new tires that haven't worn in yet

    given how easily my car seems to want to coast and go into stealth, i think the warmer weather combined with a few more miles on these tires will yeild MPGs as good as or better than the stock integrities.

    so far, i've been very pleased.
     
    #8 konakahuna, Feb 17, 2008
  9. FishHawk

    FishHawk New Member

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    That's good news. These will be my replacement tires when the stock tires ware out. FishHawk
     
    #9 FishHawk, Feb 18, 2008
  10. NoMoShocks

    NoMoShocks Electrical Engineer

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    I have had my Nokian-WR tires for a little over 5000 miles, and just recently pumped them up to 40/42 PSI. My mileage is back to 50 MPG, same as with the original tires, and I agree, the Nokian tires are Great! Mine ore the older version, not G2
     
    #10 NoMoShocks, Feb 19, 2008
  11. prim2

    prim2 Junior Member

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    "also as for the difference in revolutions per mile, the diameter of the 185/65/15 tire is 24.5''. a difference of 6 revolutions per mile means a difference of 12.25 ft.

    there are 5280 ft. in a mile, so the tires will actually roll 5267.75ft. that's 99.7% of actual so at 60mph, you're actually traveling 59.82mph. a negligible difference."

    If I recall geometry correctly, you need to multiply the diameter by Pi, or 3.14159 to get the circumference. So, six revs would transport you 38.5 feet. (Still fairly minor).
     
    #11 prim2, Feb 20, 2008
  12. konakahuna

    konakahuna Junior Member

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    you are totally correct. i have always SUCKED at math.

    let's try this again.

    24.5'' diameter x 3.14 = 76.93'' circumference x 6 additional RPM = 461.58'' or 38.465 ft.

    the nokian tire will roll 5241.53ft. instead of 5280ft. so that yields 99.27% of the total......so if i haven't screwed up again,

    at 60mph, the nokians will actually be going 59.57mph
     
    #12 konakahuna, Feb 20, 2008
  13. philmcneal

    philmcneal Taxi!

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    so you very happy with the tire? for us prius owners how long you expect that tire to last until you have to replace it again? if it can get 3 winters out of them then that'll be pretty good!
     
    #13 philmcneal, Dec 27, 2008
  14. craigk

    craigk Member

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    I purchased my WRG2's this spring, have 3300 miles on them and the treadwear indicator is already missing the 8 (4-6-8). Perfectly even wear, alignment was checked at installation. Car handles great, summer mpg's are easily in the +/-50 range, but don't know why they are wearing so quickly?
     
    #14 craigk, Jun 13, 2010
  15. Mike Dimmick

    Mike Dimmick Active Member

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    Because they're a soft compound designed to work in very low temperatures. The WR is a winter tyre, not all-season. In summer the compound gets too hot and wears quickly.

    Nokian make summer tyres as well. I'm going to try out some 'H' tyres (seriously, that's what they're called, simply after their speed rating) because after 21,000 miles, the OE Bridgestone Turanza ER30s (UK model) are worn out - down to 3mm tread on the front. I would try the i3, which have had good reports from US owners, but Nokian don't make them in 195/55 R16. (They're good for the 185/65 R15 size used by the 'base', non-Touring Prius.) The i3 is T-rated (up to 118mph) and are plenty for the Prius.

    Nokian are working on ultra-low rolling resistance tyres: Nokian Tyres - Summer tyres - Winter tyres - Friction tyres - Studded tyres
     
    #15 Mike Dimmick, Jun 14, 2010
  16. craigk

    craigk Member

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    Nokian WRG2 Update-
    I have only 17,100 miles on my WRG2's, still handle great but wear indicator is down to 4 and under (8-6-4) already. My Nokian Hakkapeliittas, a soft tire for winter have 13,000 plus miles and still have 6 on the indicator, seem to be wearing just as well or better...I figured the WRG2's would go longer, will look for less soft tire for summer next time.

    (just put on my Hakkapeliittas for the first snow of the year and it's like I have all wheel drive! All I need is a lift kit and I could go through anything:D)
     
    #16 craigk, Nov 21, 2011
  17. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Craig, if you like the Nokians and want to stick with them then look into the enTYRE or i3. Both are great tires. I've ran the i 3 and really liked them. For the money there may be better options with longer treadwear.
     
    #17 F8L, Nov 22, 2011
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