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ground clearance / larger tires

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by racerman50, Jan 15, 2008.

  1. racerman50

    racerman50 Junior Member

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    I am selling a 2007 Prius to a woman who wants more ground clearance.

    After MANY, MANY calculations the only tire wheel combo which gives about 1.22" more clearance (she wants +/- 1 inch) is a 205/60x16.

    Has anyone done this combo and are there any issues - such as ABS - other than a 5% slower read on the odometer? Will the deletion of the Tire Pressure Monitor trigger an idiot light or does the underdash button off that?

    I'd appreciate experience only, not conjecture.

    Thanks!!
     
    #1 racerman50, Jan 15, 2008
  2. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    i have larger tires. the only problem is the drop in mpg. try to make the combo as light as possible.

    my tire size is on my signature
     
    #2 V8Cobrakid, Jan 15, 2008
  3. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Big diameter wheels equal sluggish performance.
    Big wheels are like being in overdrive all the time due to larger circumference
     
    #3 patsparks, Jan 15, 2008
  4. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Sounds like this person needs a raised vehicle like a Subaru Outback. Trust me on this - I speak from personal experience - the Prius is *not* an offroad vehicle. Loose gravel or badly rutted roads will leave you stranded
     
    #4 jayman, Jan 15, 2008
  5. racerman50

    racerman50 Junior Member

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    I hear you guys, but:
    1. You ever tried to argue with a woman? Maybe it works down under...
    2. She's trading in a RAV 4 because of...guess what? MPG.
    3. However she is the active type and fancies the thought of slogging up dirt roads.
    4. If she wants another inch who am I not to give her what she wants?
    5. Sounds like the fitment will work according to V8cobrakid.

    I assume that if Tire Pres Monitors aren't switched we get a permanent red light? Anyone know?

    Hey, thanks for the advice. The first Prius I bought for resale now sits in my driveway on the wife's side. BTW, thanks to you all I am getting 12% better winter mileage from grill block. Glad I found ya!
     
    #5 racerman50, Jan 15, 2008
  6. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    yeah. you'll get red light. the dealer can turn it off.... if i recall correctly. there are a few post on the matter. i would try a google search into the priuchat.com directory
     
    #6 V8Cobrakid, Jan 15, 2008
  7. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    Larger wheels will *show* decreased MPG, because the car will
    think you haven't gone as far for the amount of gas used. With
    my Hydroedges, being just a smidge smaller than the stock tires,
    I've got 1.2% worth of the opposite problem. But even that
    extra inch won't buy you a lot in terms of offroad capability --
    couple it with different springs to raise the suspension ride
    height a little and you might be talking, but possibly at the
    early demise of the CV joints. But if she's gonna go rock-
    crawling in a prius she should also throw in a BT skid plate
    and still not have excessively grand expectations...
    .
    _H*
     
    #7 hobbit, Jan 15, 2008
  8. nerfer

    nerfer A young senior member

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    I'll let the reader make their own jokes...
     
    #8 nerfer, Jan 15, 2008
  9. racerman50

    racerman50 Junior Member

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    Being a noob here I didn't want to offend any sensibilities or be accused of being a Male Pig, Green or otherwise. But you got it:eek:

    Hobbit, You gave me an idea. I wonder if there's a market for a lifted Rallye suspension for the Prius. Yeah, that's the ticket...a rallye Prius. Knobby tires, 16 inch ground clearance, 24 inch travel shocks, skid plates out the wazoo....That'll put a new twist on tree hugging.... Wonder if she'll go for that?
     
    #9 racerman50, Jan 15, 2008
  10. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    You could try this site. Be sure to click "body" in the lower right corner.
    [Innocent look]
     
    #10 Rae Vynn, Jan 15, 2008
  11. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    LOL! And after contemplating that, Harold & Kumar went to White Castle.
     
    #11 Boo, Jan 15, 2008
  12. awithey

    awithey New Member

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    I am having a serious problem with clearance. My car scraps on my driveway and bottoms on my office garage. I was wondering if I could get a bit more clearance so I don't destroy my car by using the office garage.
     
    #12 awithey, Jul 23, 2009
  13. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Like a lot of new cars, the Prius doesn't have much clearance, especially with approach angle. Using taller tires, they probably wouldn't clear the wheel wells, and would cause the speedo to be off quite a bit

    I remember when 2wd pickups were given "prerunner" kits, which were mild lift kits. Not sure if anything is around for a car though. Some driveway approaches are so sharp, even my FJ would probably bottom out on them
     
    #13 jayman, Jul 24, 2009
  14. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Your car is a few years old and you're JUST now complaining about the issue - are you sure the suspension is OK?
     
    #14 a_gray_prius, Jul 24, 2009
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