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Toyota Prius Tire/Wheel Questions

86 messages,  Last post on Oct 31, 2009 at 12:13 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Tires, Wheels, Hatchback, Sedan

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#46 of 86 Prius tires - and quirks! by demeritt May 14, 2008 (7:49 am)
After researching tires for my 2006 Prius, I replaced the stock Integrities with MUCH higher rated Assurance ComforTreds the day it was delivered. The specs and evals on Tire Rack's site (and others) convinced me I didn't want to risk using Integrity tires. The Comfortreds handle well, but wore down to 4/32 in 40K miles. I rotated faithfully and check air pressure twice per month (42/40). Even wear, but that's 6,700 miles per 32nd, or 53K miles to 2/32 - not a safe limit. (I replace at 4/32 minimum.) SHOULD be 50% better with an 80K mile rating. GoodYear was very amenable about adjusting for premature wear, but I had to push the dealer. The tires drive smooth, but transmit road noise even when new. Will likely try Michelins next time. Gas gauge is not precise, nor is fuel economy meter - just an estimate, due to bladder and mpg averaging computation. I average about 45 mpg, 90% highway at 70 mph. Does better around town - about 51 mpg. Not as advertised, but great! NAV system good, but wasn't up-to-date. Still isn't, even with latest update. Wasted money - should have bought a "constantly updated" add-on instead of CD loaded. I bought a 100K-mile platinum extended warranty from dealer for under $1,000. Just had an HID headlamp go bad, and was covered. Per dealership, "Brakes will last well over 100K due to recharge braking system." But then, hasn't ever replaced an HID headlamp, either! VERY disappointed with lack of dealership Prius savvy. I've had to guide THEM! Better info on Prius forums. Lazy service technicians! Can't tow a trailer, temporary bike rack slashed MPG. Aerodynamic lesson learned. Electric A/C compressor is fantastic, once you learn how to lock the Prius! (I have the SMART keyless entry/ignition proximity system.) Can leave dog in A/C comfort. If I were buying another car, it would be another Prius (but WITH the Touring Pkg), unless I needed trailer-towing capacity. For HIGHWAY USE, the Corolla would have been almost as good a choice. But with today's gas prices, I'm GLAD I bought this PRIUS!!! I tested a Civic hybrid - powerless contender! Prius is QUICK! And believe me, it's bigger than it appears. Replies to this message: railroadjames (Dec 03, 2008 10:30 am) BobWinNJ (Feb 18, 2009 9:21 am)
#48 of 86 tire rotation and traction warning light? by bhelme Jun 24, 2008 (6:01 am)
I just took my 07 prius to the local j-lube for an oil change and tire rotation on Wednesday. Today (almost one week later) the traction warning light came on as my wife drove to work. Same route as she always takes, no new or unusual road conditions, just the normal road bumps she always hits.   Could the tire rotation be related to the sudden occurrence of the light?
#49 of 86 86S tires vs. 86T by gcramer Dec 03, 2008 (7:42 am)
I decided to purchase tires for my 2004 Prius from a tire dealer rather than the Toyota Dealer because this will be my 3rd set of 4 tires with only 81K miles. The Toyota Dealer also quoted $585 and the tire dealer quoted $380. The tires will be P185-65R15-86T. I currently have the same tire except 86S at the end. Does anyone know the difference? Which tire is preferable, the 86T or 86S? Thank you! GC Replies to this message: 210delray (Dec 03, 2008 7:52 am) gcramer (Dec 03, 2008 11:19 am)
#50 of 86 Re: 86S tires vs. 86T [gcramer] by 210delray Dec 03, 2008 (7:52 am)
Replying to: gcramer (Dec 03, 2008 7:42 am) The S and T are speed ratings.   S is nominally good for 112 mph tops, T for 118 mph. So the T is nominally a better tire, all else being equal. Replies to this message: gcramer (Dec 03, 2008 11:19 am)
#51 of 86 Re: Prius tires - and quirks! [demeritt] by railroadjames Dec 03, 2008 (10:30 am)
Replying to: demeritt (May 14, 2008 7:49 am) You sound like a concerned Prius owner and you show a real want to do right for car & safety's sake. I would also point out that "wheel alignment" is a must at about 40 K (give or take) to maintain proper tire wear. I failed this and paid dearly with chatter wear at 22K on new tires. Save money and do it to avoid what I had to confront. About Hd lt bulb replacement...I've had to replace 2 bulbs in nearly 6 yrs. They're a sonofagun to do. I finally had the dealer do it for $10.00. About trailering...There are hitches available for light usage (like Jetskis,small boats, small trailer for motorcycles) I've considered this too but of course Toyota frowns on this. As to the car and its' inovations. I too am impressed after closeing in on 100K miles and trouble free to boot. The shiftless tranny, the AC, the 500 mile plus fill-ups, the running on electric while others are wasting gas in standstill traffic and my favorite...explaining the quality, durability, and the over $10,000.00 in savings on gas I've saved. I'm always happy to see the 2010 Prius still looks just like my '04
#52 of 86 Re: 86S tires vs. 86T [210delray] by gcramer Dec 03, 2008 (11:19 am)
Replying to: 210delray (Dec 03, 2008 7:52 am) Thank you very much - that is all I need to know! GC
#53 of 86 Re: Snow Tire Experience Requested [turdfergusson2] by tomm Dec 07, 2008 (5:54 am)
Replying to: turdfergusson2 (Apr 22, 2008 5:22 pm) I only took 45 mins of driving in 1/2" of snow recently ('08 with only a few thousand miles on stock tires) to affirm my decision to order 4 snow tires mounted on rims (and $100 X 4 sensors!) - can't wait for some deeper snow now! Replies to this message: snowboarder4 (Dec 07, 2008 8:04 am) railroadjames (Dec 16, 2008 12:24 pm)
#54 of 86 Re: Snow Tire Experience Requested [tomm] by snowboarder4 Dec 07, 2008 (8:04 am)
Replying to: tomm (Dec 07, 2008 5:54 am) Driving about 80,000 miles per year on surfaces from interstate to forest service roads, I observe an average of five vehicles in the ditch or in a collision each snowstorm. Living at 9,600 feet in Colorado, I drive on snow six months of the year. My strongest impression concerning the drivers in the ditch is not that the wrong tires are on the vehicle, it is that the wrong driver is behind the wheel. Last winter, the interstate closed more than twenty times on Vail Pass and at the Eisenhower Tunnel, including a seventy-vehicle pile-up. The lead driver was killed while taking his wife and two children to Disneyland. Almost every other road closure was caused by driver error, high speeds, tailgating, heavy braking that caused an accident blocking the road.   I do not have snow tires on my Prius. On the interstate, I reduce my speed about ten miles an hour under surrounding traffic most of the time for both safety and fuel economy. My fuel economy due to the low-resistance standard tires is 52 MPG summer and 48 MPG winter. My compromise is traveling a few minutes early to work, rather than rushing at dangerous speeds along curves that take at least thirty hits on the guardrail every winter within one mile of roadway.   If you are going off-roading in winter on forest service traces, then take a different vehicle than a Prius. You are going to need more clearance anyway. However, I have made it up mining road grades with a half foot of powder on ice, experiences some slippage, at slow speeds. I typically leave for work at 4:30 AM, when the roads are not plowed, but still get through because the idiots have not blocked the way yet. I have no place to store tires in my condo, so buying snow tires would put me in an awkward storage situation for six months of the year.   A good snow tire will be made with softer rubber, more tread resistance, and reduce fuel economy. If traction is your priority, then buy a winter tire. If you can be reasonable in driving behavior, you should not experience the need for a snow tire. The vehicles that I pass in the ditch are almost always all-wheel-drive sport utility vehicles operated by over-confident, ignorant, inexperienced, drunk, or hot-headed drivers. Replies to this message: railroadjames (Dec 16, 2008 12:24 pm)
#55 of 86 Re: Snow Tire Experience Requested [snowboarder4] by railroadjames Dec 16, 2008 (12:24 pm)
Replying to: snowboarder4 (Dec 07, 2008 8:04 am) I couldn't agree more with the info provided above by snowboarder. The overall usefullness of a Prius is quite good in snow. I've driven thru 6 winters in NW Indiana and have yet to find a snow that I couldn't negotiate. That's not to say that the Prius is great in snow. It's just reasonably adiquate. A large portion of folks invariably just don't drive at reduced and cautionary levels. Every winter you see the "dummies" that end up Rr ending or off in the ditches because they refuse to slow down (especially 1st snows). I would caution anyone in a Prius to remember ..strong cross-winds are the most significant problem with the hybrid that I've encountered. Winds can be very annoying and troublesome. The car weighs in at just under 3,000 lbs. Stay safe.

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