Aerodynamicists and efficiency experts, tire advice needed.

the stock 185/65-15 calculates to a 24.5" diameter, (185 x 0.65 x 2)/25.4 +15) so either tire already lifts the car about 1 inch extra. Will the tire place work with you? Throw the biggest ones on the front and see if they clear from lock to lock? If they'll work with you on it, I'd try to get the larger ones.

 

Those tires look like beasts, lol. I think they're going to work great for off-paved road driving. I would probably go with the 205, since it is the maximum recommended for a 6" wide rim.

Equivalency table
Rim width Minimum tire width Maximum tire width
5,5 Inches 165 mm 195 mm
6,0 Inches 175 mm 205 mm
6,5 Inches 185 mm 215 mm
7,0 Inches 195 mm 225 mm

 

Hi Bunce,

I read a Prius chat today of various owners buying different rims and tires and showing them off in pictures. The one that got the most praise was the lightest weight (forged) rim wheel and tire that only weighed 8 pounds. Everyone was jealous of the light weight wheels. Based on their reaction, I think they would say get the lightest weight set. They thought the lightest weight set would get the best MPG. I agree. Everytime you accelerate and brake, you are fighting the inertia of the weight. To accelerate, more weight means using more gas. To decelerate, more weight means more wear and tear and heat on your brakes. Heat on your brakes is lost energy.

Other than that, the wider tires will work better in sand and mud. The larger surface area makes it less likely to sink into semi-fluid mediums. Wider tires are more likely to hydro-plane on wet roads, increasing the chances of skidding.

The skinnier tires will cut deeper into the snow. (Skinnier tires with smaller surface areas are more likely to sink into semi-fluid mediums.) If skinny tires cut deep enough into the snow, they might reach the asphalt and then you will get better traction. They will also get better traction on wet roads.

If the diameter is larger than the factory standard, it will distort your cars calculation of mileage driven: distance traveled per revolution = 2 * pi * radius of wheel. Change the radius and you make the odometer reading proportionately wrong. Larger radius = odometer reading is smaller than actual distance traveled. Smaller diameter = odometer reading larger than the actual miles traveled (affecting resale value, and warranty.)

If the diameter is WAY TOO BIG, then you risk scrapping the wheel wells, especially during sharp turns where the wheel sticks out the sides of the wheel well.

I just read that the other reviewers said the 215 was too wide for your OEM wheel.

If you go to Tire Rack they list a UTQG rating for the tires they sell. It is an industry rating of treadwear, traction and temperature range that the tire can endure. I use this plus the customer review ratings to choose my tires. I looked up your tire. Customers rate it 8+ out of 10. That's good. The UTG is 600 A B. That's good too. This is the ONLY All-Terrain, on and off road tire, that Tire Rack recommends in this size. GREAT CHOICE! That's exactly what I would have chosen, if I could put that size tire on my vehicle.

Please tell me how to get my car raised up. My car is way too low to drive over the snow in the winter, and over the rocks in the road. I would sacrifice a few mpgs to raise my car up too. Not all Prius owners live in the city. I live in the forest, down a steep winding hill, with fallen rocks, a speed bump, and lumps in the driveway.

- Peg
(An Aerospace Engineer) MSAE

 

Check out this thread, it may point you in the right direction:

Heavy Springs And Lift Upgrade | PriusChat