Rim and tire size w/ 1.5” lift?

Ideally, You'd have a set of tires for hiking season... But if hiking is more often than that, the lift kit is more than good enough and just pick the best tires for MPG on the roads that get you to the roads that get you to the trailhead... You can add some traction boards and a winch if you want to upgrade your lift kit, but off road tires on a Prius sounds sketchy to me.

 

I say look at these pictures and keep your 17's. Get you some All-Terrain tires and you'll be set. Personally, I always buy from America's Tire because outside of California they are Discount Tire, the road hazard has already paid for itself. I've had three tires now replaced for free plus taxes. When I was in Colorado before the drive to Alaska they put on two fresh ones for less than $50!

My Prius came with 15's, 16's didn't do it for me and the Corolla 18" Jetfighter wheels can fit an All-Terrain tire, just not as chunky of a tire as what I have now. With the winch and traction boards, combined with the tires, I've been able to get myself out of some stuff. Like the time I had to pull my Prius off the shore

Personally don't believe what that offroad guy says or internet know-it-alls when they say "don't go 17's" or "don't lift a Prius more than 1.5". I've proven the majority of their theories wrong and pushed the Prius further than they have even imagined... have you seen the video I made from the Baja trip?

or the video of the transition from the paved road to the sandy road video?