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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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#67 of 86 Re: 2007 Prius Needing One Tire- Touring [michaelcozens] by riposte May 11, 2009 (12:37 pm)
Replying to: michaelcozens (Feb 13, 2008 8:31 pm) Maybe they're being replaced with this new model?   http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/02/bridgestone-int.html   Bridgestone Introduces LRR Ecopia EP100 Tire at Chicago Auto Show 11 February 2009   Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BTAO) officially launched the Ecopia EP100, a low rolling resistance tire which provides drivers with improved fuel economy without sacrificing wet handling performance.   The Ecopia tire line targets fuel efficient vehicles, including hybrids and electric vehicles and will be used in original equipment and replacement applications. The new Ecopia EP100 is the first aftermarket product in the Ecopia tire line for the North American market, and is a summer replacement tire fitment for popular fuel efficient, hybrid and electric vehicles including the Mini Cooper, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Nissan Versa, Toyota Corolla and a selection of other conventional vehicles.   Available in H- and V-speed ratings, the Bridgestone Ecopia EP100 has a UTQG of 400AB and will be offered in six different sizes ranging from 14-16 inch. The tire will be available in March in the first phase of a two-phase rollout in 2009.   The Ecopia EP100 incorporates Bridgestone’s NanoPro-Tech materials technology which controls the interaction between polymers, filler materials and other rubber chemicals used in the manufacture of the tire. (Earlier post.)   Design elements in the Ecopia EP100 include 3D Cut Circumferential Ribs to help reduce irregular wear and lessen road noise. Consistent Surface Contact, through a special tread block design, improves wet and dry handling and reduces irregular wear. Interconnected Rib Blocks enhance wet performance and help reduce energy loss. High Angle Lateral Grooves are incorporated into the Ecopia EP100 to help avoid hydroplaning. Replies to this message: danabeach (Oct 05, 2009 1:26 pm) snead_c (Oct 06, 2009 2:47 pm)
#68 of 86 Re: 2007 Prius Needing One Tire- Touring [riposte] by danabeach Oct 05, 2009 (1:26 pm)
Replying to: riposte (May 11, 2009 12:37 pm) I just purchased new tires for my 2007 Prius, BF Goodrich Traction TR 185 / 65R15 88T. Gas milage dropped from an average of around 52 mpg to around 45 mpg for a typical tank. Formerly, driving 60 mph the car got 55 mpg or so. Now it gets 48 mpg. I'm looking for suggestions for another set with lower rolling resistance. Thanks Replies to this message: snead_c (Oct 06, 2009 2:47 pm)
#69 of 86 Re: 2007 Prius Needing One Tire- Touring [danabeach] by snead_c Oct 06, 2009 (2:47 pm)
Replying to: danabeach (Oct 05, 2009 1:26 pm) Some drop can be caused by the new, stickier tread which will improve with age. Was the previous tire size 55 or a wider 65?...wider could also impact. Finally, check your air pressure...it could be too low...try f42/40 or f40/38 if the sidewalls and your comfort allow. PriusChat.com also has lots of info that might help.
#70 of 86 What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? by bioman Oct 15, 2009 (4:06 pm)
I am the happy owner of a 2010 Prius 4. Yesterday I noticed that the car was missing one of the 4 plastic wheel cover that cover the alloy wheels. Now that the wheel cover is missing I had a good look at the alloy wheel and it looks nicer, IMO, than the wheel without the plastic cover. Since the wheel cover costs anywhere from $60.00 to $90.00 each, I was wondering what do this wheel covers do? If they are there for "beauty" they do not hold a candle to the "naked" alloy wheels. I can see purchasing 4 center caps and removing the three remaining plastic wheel covers. Of course if the wheel covers serve a functional purpose that might change my thinking. I've Googled the issue and have found little evidence to support the functional hypothesis. Any thoughts/knowledgeable replies greatly appreciated. Other that this issue we love the car. It meets and exceeds all of our expectations. Replies to this message: bioman (Oct 15, 2009 4:10 pm) 210delray (Oct 15, 2009 7:15 pm) bytrain1 (Oct 18, 2009 3:54 pm) bioman (Oct 20, 2009 5:18 am) 210delray (Oct 20, 2009 7:01 am) and 1 more... 63pro (Oct 29, 2009 12:34 pm) bioman (Oct 30, 2009 4:18 am) 63pro (Oct 30, 2009 6:58 am)
#71 of 86 Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman] by bioman Oct 15, 2009 (4:10 pm)
Replying to: bioman (Oct 15, 2009 4:06 pm) Sorry I meant "than the wheel with the plastic cover"!!   Bioman
#72 of 86 Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman] by 210delray Oct 15, 2009 (7:15 pm)
Replying to: bioman (Oct 15, 2009 4:06 pm) Because the Prius has relatively small tires, it's easy to scrape the wheels against even a low curb when parallel parking. The plastic covers protect the most vulnerable part of the wheels: the rims.   If you can assure yourself you'll never scrape a curb, you can remove them without losing any functionality.
#73 of 86 Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman] by bytrain1 Oct 18, 2009 (3:54 pm)
Replying to: bioman (Oct 15, 2009 4:06 pm) A Toyota engineer told me that the covers represented an aerodynamic benefit resulting in about a two percent increase in fuel economy. Thus, I don't agree that their only functionality is to protect the allow wheels. Replies to this message: bioman (Oct 20, 2009 5:18 am) 210delray (Oct 20, 2009 7:01 am) pf_flyer (Oct 20, 2009 11:11 am)
#74 of 86 Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bytrain1] by bioman Oct 20, 2009 (5:18 am)
Replying to: bytrain1 (Oct 18, 2009 3:54 pm) Thanks for the replies. I'm going to test the hypothesis that the covers provide an aerodynamic benefit. My wife came up with a solution to our problem. We lost one wheel cover. So, I purchased one new wheel cover from www.Centercaps.com. Their price was $15.00 cheaper than our local Toyota dealer and included shipping. In addition, I purchased four center caps because we like to look of the alloy wheels without the plastic covers. Over the next couple of weeks/months I will be observing mpg with and without the wheel covers to see what the data says. I guess I can "splurge" on the center caps using the money I'm saving driving the Prius relative to the Explorer the Prius replaced!!   Thanks guys,   Bioman Replies to this message: 210delray (Oct 20, 2009 7:01 am) pf_flyer (Oct 20, 2009 11:11 am)
#75 of 86 Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [bioman] by 210delray Oct 20, 2009 (7:01 am)
Replying to: bioman (Oct 20, 2009 5:18 am) If the covers provide only a 2% benefit in fuel efficiency, I think you'd be hard pressed to measure the difference. Replies to this message: pf_flyer (Oct 20, 2009 11:11 am)
#76 of 86 Re: What Do the Plastic Wheel Covers Do? [210delray] by pf_flyer HOST Oct 20, 2009 (11:11 am)
Replying to: 210delray (Oct 20, 2009 7:01 am) It may be difficult to measure because of variations in driving conditions, etc., but I sort of doubt the number. A 2% increase in mileage, applied across the entire population of cars would amount to a very large amount of fuel saved per year. I really don't think something as simple as a solid wheelcover is going to make that much of an aerodynamic difference. It certainly will make some difference (my gut is telling me a fraction of a percent) but 2% seems highly optimistic.   In a wind tunnel on a dyno, MAYBE, but even then it doesn't seem to intuitively make sense. Let me know the next time you do any extended driving in those conditions

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