Opinions Please on Original Wheels on Prius II through V

It might devalue the car, that's true, but I plan to use it up like my other cars, so that's not much of a concern. The steering is an interesting question, there is enough difference that it might be strange. But no stranger than going the other way. (15's to 17's)

The difference looks like it's 2 to 4 mpg rather than .5 difference, but it's a bit of a guess.

 

Even if you can get aftermarket 15" rims, do you know how long it will take for you to "pay off" the cost of the 15" rims??? Let's say difference of 2mpg...damn, you would need to drive your Prius 1 million miles before you make up the cost of the 15"rims!!!! Yeah, not a wise investment IMO.

Read my post on the previous page (#38)...even at 4 mpg difference (which is NOT the case) from 52 mpg to 48 mpg for example, the fuel cost per mile is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Buying a Medium drink at McDonalds instead of a Large drink will save you more pennies!!!

Sit down with pen and paper. Pick a random example: 48 mpg (Prius V) and 52 mpg (Prius II). Calculate how much gas is used by driving 100 miles for example. (Or pick any mile marker you want...12,000 miles for example.)

 

xxxxx

 

Actually, he can get the stock 15" rims + tires for next to nothing and make a killing off the factory 17" + tires as they're in high demand. But you're right, pretty dumb to degrade the look of the car over only $75.

 

Thanks Thai. I've been saying for some time that the MPG hit on the 17" is not even worth talking about. Yet, there are new posts every week asking about it. This should be a sticky.

 

I still think 16" is too small

 

xxxxx

 

That's why I haven't replaced them yet of course, but it all depends on how high gas gets as to if it'll make any sense.

And after all I'm a Prius owner too and it takes years to pay off the extra I spent on it to get higher gas mileage in the first place, so it wouldn't be something all that new to pay a penalty to get better gas mileage...

 

It's money well spent because any other hybrid is inferior to a Prius

Mike

 

Does it have to do with LRR tire size availability?? I am sure that Toyota engineers researched this extensively...remember, tire sizes are very important in a hybrid vehicle. I doubt that Toyota engineers just blew this part of the design....

 

None of the OEM 17" tires are LRR, but that's a good point regarding sticking to 15" for the lower trims.

Someone once asked me "What are 17" wheels doing on a Prius?" so apparently there are people who didn't think it makes any sense to go larger than 15".

 

There are LRR tires installed by Toyota on the V/Fives with the 17 inch wheels. The two OE tires installed are the Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 which are LRR, http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...a&autoYear=2011&autoModel=Prius&autoModClar=V

Or the tires I have on mine the non LRR Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02, http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...a&autoYear=2011&autoModel=Prius&autoModClar=V

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...a&autoYear=2011&autoModel=Prius&autoModClar=V

The 2010 in was looking at first had the Michelins on it I was should have asked them to switch the wheels.

Posted from my iPhone via the Tapatalk app.

 

A HUGE +1 !!!

my car came with the crappy 15" and plastic wheelcovers, I picked up a set of the 17" wheels and tires (with about 500 miles on them) for $800, then sold my 15s for $200.