In the market for tires. Trying to keep MPG

51 psi isn't something I'm willing to mix with well over 100-degree highway surface temperatures.

Though I am now (currently, for the last few months) running 41 front and rear. Perhaps this is why the road noise seems even higher at over 75 MPH?

 

That's unbelievable mileage! Way to go Sir.

 

What would help my fuel economy?

 

I just mentioned in another thread that our mileage dropped 18% when we tried 195/65R-15 Michelin Defenders for several weeks and over 500mi. after the original Dunlop Enasaves were replaced at 42kmi (4/32 remaining tread). Mileage immediately returned to normal when the Defenders were exchanged for a new set of Dunlops. Over 50 yrs we've had far better satisfaction with Michelins than with other brands and had looked forward to switching to them, but 18% mileage was too big a hit to accept.

 

Wonder what the measured sidewall tire height was

 

Michelin revs per mile: 832
Dunlop revs per mile: 836

Michelin tread depth 10/32
Dunlop tread depth 8/32

Michelin weight 18 pounds
Dunlop weight 16 pounds

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Defender+T%2BH&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=965HR5DTH&tab=Sizes

tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=Enasave+01+A%2FS&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=965SR5ES01ASV2&tab=Sizes

So if I have my tires chosen correctly, he traded weight, quality, tread depth (which boosts wet traction / decreases hydroplaning) for a lighter-built tire (I have a had time believing that they are exactly 18 pounds and 16 pounds each) with less tread depth.

 

I've tried many different tires. No change in mpg.
A well conditioned battery on the other hand I do see better mpg.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

That was supposed to read: "I have a hard time believing that they are exactly 18 pounds and 16 pounds each"

 

Exactly, that's the trade-off. Of course, the Michelin tread depth is deeper only until worn to 8mm. However the two sets of Dunlops have held dry and wet roads well (heavy rain, higher speeds) and despite some bad Forest Service roads, at 66kmi total Dunlop experience (now on our second set), we haven't managed to wreck one. In other words, they appear to be reliable until worn out.

Overall cost per mile of running Dunlops vs. Michelins, factoring in expected tread life (longer for Michelins) is about a wash, though at current gas prices the Dunlops might be favored a bit. There's also the wear and tear cost of running the engine/ driveline/battery that much harder, this is difficult to pin down but could be a factor over a long life. Petroleum usage (figured as pounds of gasoline + rubber) favors the Dunlops. If this car saw snow we'd put Michelins on for the winter, but we live in CA and have another car with Michelins for ski trips.

 

It will take you decades to recoup the money you spend on ‘lightweight’ rims with mpg savings That’s dumb.

Prius wheels are already very light, and far more durable than aftermarket trash.

regardless, no matter what tire you go to it’s likely to be heavier than whatever you have now, because you’re currently missing tread from wear and the slight change of overall radius is making it seem like you’re getting better mileage than you actually are. Don’t expect better mpg with any new tire.

Anything low rolling resistance will be loud, have poor traction and be worthless in snow but get better mileage over time. If you live in an area that sees whether you will need separate tires for winter.

OR just get decent all seasons and don’t stress over it.