Need tire info

What!

Fuel efficient vehicles are all the more sensitive to variations in rolling resistance. That said, Low Rolling Resistance and long lasting often go hand in hand. I'd suggest to navigate over to TireRack, say you're looking for tires, list all that are available, and then start playing around with the exclusion filter. Personally, I'd exclude all but low rolling resistance, then look for some that also show good tread life (high UTQG value).

Here's TireRack's page for 2006 Prius:

Tire Search Results

(Currently set to only show LRR, the exclusion settings are down the left side)

I see you can also sort by UTQG, best (of LRR choices) to worst descending here:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireS...Prius&autoModClar=&sortCode=37550&tireIndex=0

 

Check out Michelin Energy Savers, Hydro Edge and they have MP4? all give high mileage and are LRR design. I am a fan of Good Year Assurance Fuel Max. They are how-ever a All season which may not appeal to you being in Florida? Hal

 

Which Yokahamas did they put on. They make a ton of different tires. And please don't just say Avid since there are 11 of those.

Extreme Performance Summer
ADVAN Neova AD07
ADVAN Neova AD08

Max Performance Summer
ADVAN Sport
ADVAN Sport ZPS

Ultra High Performance Summer
A008
A022H0
ADVAN A046
ADVAN A10A
ADVAN A10F
ADVAN A13C
AVS ES100
AVS S1
Parada Spec-2
S.drive

Ultra High Performance All-Season
ADVAN A82A
ADVAN S.4.
AVID ENVigor (W)
AVID W4S

High Performance All-Season
AVID ENVigor (H&V)
AVID H4S
S32A

High Performance Summer
ADVAN A11A
ADVAN A680
ADVAN A83A

Grand Touring Summer
dB Super E-Spec

Standard Touring All-Season
AVID TOURING-S
AVID TRZ
Y376B
Y376M
Y376R

Passenger All-Season
AVID C33
AVID S33
AVID S33B
AVID S33D
AVID S34B
AVID S34D
AVID S34F
AVS EF1 E-102
AVS EF1 E-Spec E105
Y372

Track & Competition DOT
ADVAN A048

 

duplicate

 

At least he won't be worried about snow or ice with those Assurance Fuel Max tires.

I'm more a fan of Yokohama Avid ENVigor or General Altimax HP which you can get cheaper.

To the OP, be sure you look on tirerack.com and figure out the right size to get based on revs per mile. You want something close to 850 (lower is OK if you use high PSIs).

The correct 15" Altimax HP for a Gen II Prius would be 195/60R15 at 850 RPM.

The correct 15" Avid ENVigor for a Gen II Prius would be 185/65R15 at 850 RPM.

I'd just call around to all the tire shops in your town and get prices for those including mounting, balancing, tire stems, tax and such and compare pricing.

But if you see another tire you like feel free to consider it as well. LRR tires are fine in the south since you don't have to worry about snow/ice.

edit: I haven't gotten used to it but the highest rated tire in this price range is the Hankook Optimo H727. You'll want the 195/65R15 which is 831 RPM (Revs Per Mile) with sidewal max of 44 psi. Tirerack says $74 per tire and it's the best rated "Standard Touring All-Season".

I'm a fan of running higher PSI so I like that the Avid ENVigor and Altimax HP are 51 PSI marked but the Optimo H727 is very highly rated on tirerack so I guess I should get used to mentioning it.

 

No you don't have to go to the dealer for replacement tires, especially when they last 20k.
Yes you should buy a Michelin tire, a hydro model as you are in a wet at times state, get a quote from tire wrack and then compare it to some local tire dealers, labor is 50$ or so for installation and look for a road hazard guarantee, make sure to inflate to 42f 40r and rotate them a few times a year.

 

If you buy from Discount Tire, you get lifetime free rotations. Just saying. Is it about the same price as Tire Rack when you add shipping. I am about to change my 2006 to Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max.