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LRR Tires for a Touring

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by mbaran, Oct 10, 2012.

  1. mbaran

    mbaran Junior Member

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    Been reading for a few days now, cannot seem to decipher which I will be best with on a touring. Had I known the touring would limit my choices, I would have definitely not picked one up so quick!

    195/55/16 (2004-2009 Touring OEM tire size)
    Continental ProContact (Grand Touring All-Season)
    UTQG= 540 A A, 51psi, 10.5/32, 18lbs, 851, $103

    Bridgestone Turanza EL470 (All Season)
    UTQG= 260 A A, 51psi, 18lbs, $139

    Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02 (Touring All-Season)
    UTQG= 260 A A, 51psi, 9/32, 19lbs, 854, $118

    Bridgestone Ecopia EP100 (Grand Touring Summer)
    UTQG= 400 A B, 51psi, 10/32, 19lbs, 857, $96

    Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 (All-Season)
    UTQG= 400 A A, 51psi, 10/32, 19lbs, 853, $100

    Yokohama dB Super E-Spec (Grand Touring Summer)
    UTQG= 460 A A, 44psi, 10/32, 19lbs, 850, $155

    Read more: http://priuschat.com/threads/new-tires-for-16-touring-rims.112852/#ixzz28vGVYL00

    I've seen the list of the current LRR touring tires, but am not sure which is best for me?

    I am in SoCal, so light rain, no snow or ice. I drive ~30k a year, mostly highway. My inclination is the EP422, but I know that the A/S (unavailable in my size) offers better MPG.

    Is the EP422 going to be my best bet for MPG?
     
    #1 mbaran, Oct 10, 2012
  2. mbaran

    mbaran Junior Member

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    It also seems that the Goodyear Assurance FuelMax is available in the touring size as well... decisions decisions...
     
    #2 mbaran, Oct 10, 2012
  3. Jaquimo

    Jaquimo Paraglider, Prius glider...

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    #3 Jaquimo, Oct 10, 2012
  4. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Go to 205/55/16 for more choice and cheaper too.

    In the UK the OEM size for the gen2 Prius is 195/55/16 on all models. Going up one size improves handling greatly and if you choose a good LRR tyre will not decrease MPG.

    This size makes the speedo more accurate but it still reads slightly fast. You can use 205/50/16's to keep the diameter of the tyre as the 195's but again I think there is less choice and price is higher.

    I run Hankook Kinergy Eco tyres very LRR but most of the Hankook's are listed as LRR.
     
    #4 Britprius, Oct 10, 2012
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  5. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    I should have added there are no clearance problems going to 205/55/16's they also have the advantage that they help protect the wheels from damage by kerbing.

    You will also find the MFD fuel consumption against calculated is virtually spot on instead of being optimistic. You have to add 2.8% to your oddo mileage before calculating your mpg.
     
    #5 Britprius, Oct 10, 2012
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  6. mbaran

    mbaran Junior Member

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    Debating the 205/55/16 to correct the revs per mile. I noticed that the suggested fix for 2004-09 is 831 and the stock size (195/55) would put me at 853 or so. Im debating between the EP422 in those two sizes. Nothing else seems to really come in that size that's reasonably priced in USA.
     
    #6 mbaran, Oct 10, 2012
  7. staze

    staze Junior Member

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    I cannot recommend highly enough the Ecopia EP422's. They're awesome. I have a 2007 Touring, and they've been nothing but amazing. Gave me 2MPG better than the stock, and probably 5MPG better than the crappy Potenza G019's I had before these Ecopias.
     
    #7 staze, Oct 10, 2012
  8. mbaran

    mbaran Junior Member

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    Which size did you go with? I was quoted $519 OTD for a set of 422's ,best I've been able to get so far.
     
    #8 mbaran, Oct 10, 2012
  9. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Yes those are the exact figures I came up with when I made my choice. My car had 195/55/16 Bridgestone Turanzas on as OEM, a truly terrible tyre.

    Going up to the 205 Hankook's gained me 3 MPG with great handling and the car is so much quieter I could not believe it.

    Take a look at Hankook tyres look for the one's on there site with the fuel gauge by the side these are the LRR tyres.
     
    #9 Britprius, Oct 10, 2012
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  10. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Whatever tyre make you go with do not be afraid to go up to 205's. In the UK it gives a huge range of LRR tyres not available at 195 also the added bonus of being 25% cheaper like getting one tyre for nothing.
     
    #10 Britprius, Oct 10, 2012
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  11. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    You are on the right track. The 205/55/16 will help correct the speedo error. The EP422 is likely the most fuel efficient and cost effective in that size, especially if you wait until the $70 Bridgestone rebate is offered. Costco and Armericas Tire has the rebate quite frequently.

    The Turanza Serenity Plus, PureContact, ProContact and Primacy MXM4 are vastly superior tires to the EP422 but they are not as fuel efficient and are more expensive. So if you want the best mpg get the EP422. For other concerns get one of the other tires. :)
     
    #11 F8L, Oct 10, 2012
  12. mbaran

    mbaran Junior Member

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    Continental PureContact with EcoPlus Technology

    These are about the same price. What kind of MPG difference are we talking between the 422 and the PureContact EcoPlus? The treadwear is phenomenal on them, 700??
     
    #12 mbaran, Oct 10, 2012
  13. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I'm pretty certain the EP422 will be about 1-2mpg better. However, the Pureacontact will be a better in almost all other ways except mpg and comfort. The PureContact is a damn good tire but it rides a little rough. It will seriously outperform the EP422. Which I why I say you should determine what is most important to you. Since you don't get much rain I wouldn't worry too much about wet traction.

    Check out this test.
    Tire Test Results : Testing Grand Touring All-Season Tires

    Tire Test Results : Eco-Focused All-Season Tires: Do They Deliver on the Promise?

    I am considering getting the EP422 if I go back to a 17" wheel since I don't need crazy wet traction and I don't need a performance tire.
     
    #13 F8L, Oct 10, 2012
  14. mbaran

    mbaran Junior Member

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    I will probably stick with the EP422 to keep the MPG as high up there as possible. 1-2 is a big difference for sure.

    If I have the urge to make a canyon run, I'll just switch to the weekend car.
     
    #14 mbaran, Oct 10, 2012
  15. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    It's a good choice if you want max mpg.
     
    #15 F8L, Oct 10, 2012
  16. mbaran

    mbaran Junior Member

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    What impact might I see from the 195 vs the 205 in MPG? I'm not sure which is more important, the accurate speedo, or the smaller tire = better MPG.
     
    #16 mbaran, Oct 11, 2012
  17. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I'm not sure honestly. The wider tire is likely lower in RR but it is also less aerodynamic. So at higher speeds it may result in lower mpg but at lower speeds it may be better. Taller tires also roll easier so it is better than the smaller OE tire. The drawback here is that right now, you drive 1-2mph slower than you think you are driving. Once your speedo is correct you may start driving 1-2mph faster than you used to. This is assuming you continue to pick a set speed (speed limit) and drive without compensating for the speedo error. I.e. set the CC at 65mph on the speedo with either set of tires and you will actually be traveling faster with the larger tires. To keep things fair in terms of mpg comparisons you would have to drive at 63-64mph with the new tires.
     
    #17 F8L, Oct 11, 2012
  18. Grayson73

    Grayson73 Junior Member

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    I have a 2008 Prius Touring and am thinking of going to 205/55/16 for the additional choices. I researched TireRack and these seem to have the best reviews for LRR tires. Which of these would be the better all-season tire?

    Continental ProContact with EcoPlus Technology
    Yokohama AVID Ascend (H- or V-Speed Rated)
    Michelin Defender
    Michelin HydroEdge with Green X
    Michelin Primacy MXV4
    Michelin Primacy MXM4
     
    #18 Grayson73, Dec 26, 2012
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