Tires - what’s difference in load index and speed rating

The 87 or 89 is the load rating (how heavy a car it can handle). A T-rated tire is safe at a sligthly faster speed than an S-rated tire (118 MPH vs 112 MPH). I buy H-rated tires for my cars which tend to be stronger and safer tires, but cost a bit more.

JeffD

 

If you like going into sharp freeway turns at over 80mph then a better speed rating might make a difference. But in those driving conditions your aspect ratio of 65 is kinda dumb as you need a low profile tire of at least a 60 or lower if want to feel like your driving a sports car rather then the Prius version, which is more pretend than real.

As for the the rest of us who rarely drive our Prius outside of the slow lane because we like max MPG, then it makes no difference other than an Ecopia or Michelin Energy Saver pumped up over 40psi will give you the best gas mileage.

 

I find that the H-rated Nokian WR series tires get great MPG as well and also handle bad weather better than the OE tires that came with my Prii.

JeffD

 

Stiffer, more puncture resistant side walls. As long as you've got a spare onboard - you really don't need to worry about it much. I prefer 91 or better, but my Prime is a bit heaver and didn't come with a spare.

 

Any comparison to an OEM tire will make most any after-market tire look great. OEM tires cost the car maker next to nothing because they buy so many at once and the quality of those tires is almost always a compromise in price over performance. Low Rolling Resistance (LRR) tires are essential if you want your Gen3 MPG to be closer to 60 than 50...

 

The Nokian WRs are LRR tires.

JeffD