I thought the tires on these cars were cheap?

[53Driver]

Originally Posted by enwave

I have a three used in storage (~5k in miles) if you want to buy them ultra cheap. Or even just one. PM me a price and I'll send you some tread shots if you're interested. I replaced all four with Michelin PSS after I got a nail too close to the sidewall too.


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Originally Posted by Idriveft86

I just sold 2 of my tires to fellow frs owner... same problem you had nail to the tire. I would sell 1 to you for $80 with 1000 break-in period miles.

Thanks guys, appreciate the offers but already ordered a new tire through Sam's Club. My plan is to get through the summer with these tires and then order some aftermarket wheels and better tires during the winter when I'm not driving the car very often.

The real crappy part is this is the third nail/screw I've picked up in 2 months, the other 2 happened on my xB. I had to replace one tire on the xB ($132, OEM tire, mounted and balanced) and one I was able to get repaired since it was right in the middle of the tread pattern.

[53Driver]

Originally Posted by LadyFRZ

The stock tires might not be the cheapest tires in the world (thinking of getting PSS myself), but compared to other cars on the road (looking at you, Mustang and Corvette), they are cheaper. At least there are other alternatives.

Are you sure about that? I know the Corvette tires are Pricey but my 2008 Shelby GT500 was not that bad. I replaced the fronts once and the rears twice (loved launches in that car) and the OEM tires from the dealer were costing me just shy of $250 mounted and balanced. Of course, this was a few years back so maybe prices on rubber have increased dramatically but looking at Tire Rack the 2 tire options (one is a Michelin) they have for 2008 GT500 are around $200 a tire...

[torqdork]

Originally Posted by LadyFRZ

The stock tires might not be the cheapest tires in the world (thinking of getting PSS myself), but compared to other cars on the road (looking at you, Mustang and Corvette), they are cheaper. At least there are other alternatives.

Apples and oranges. The OEM twin tires are also spec'd for Prius. It's a LRR (low rolling resistance) tire designed for max fuel economy first, handling and longevity second. I've run quite a few Prii in the fleet and 22K-24K is about average for Primacy and their wet grip is dreadful, dry grip marginal.

You'll be amazed with the improvements to the car with the PSS's. It's the tire the car should've come with. From what I've experienced, the only downside is road noise over rough surfaces. Otherwise, it's well worth the tradeoff.

[cycleboy]

I've got all four of the OEM tires w/ plenty of tread left on them on the OEM wheels. I'll sell them off as soon as I get a chance to take photos showing the tread left.

The Pilot Sport A/S 3 were ~$185 and 45K warranty. They are amazing.

[LadyFRZ]

Originally Posted by torqdork

Apples and oranges. The OEM twin tires are also spec'd for Prius. It's a LRR (low rolling resistance) tire designed for max fuel economy first, handling and longevity second. I've run quite a few Prii in the fleet and 22K-24K is about average for Primacy and their wet grip is dreadful, dry grip marginal.

You'll be amazed with the improvements to the car with the PSS's. It's the tire the car should've come with. From what I've experienced, the only downside is road noise over rough surfaces. Otherwise, it's well worth the tradeoff.

Well I'll be damned, I was wrong. Sorry about that. Title under name has changed accordingly.

Oh, definitely. I don't even have the car, I've been reading up in member's journals how they like different tires, and PSS definitely is #1. Got the mod bug and I don't even have a twin yet! That's how powerful it is..

[paulca]

I believe the tyres are actually the same as the Prius Sport sup'ed up hybrid sold in Japan and not the bog standard Prius at all.

They are deliberately chosen to make the car "playful" and have low grip. Not due to the compound per-say, but the size.

It's one of the things I see repeated about this car that makes me frown. Toyubaru went out of their way to break the mold of "More power, more grip" and said, "Hell lets make a car with LESS grip and LESS power and MORE FUN!", back to the old school fun of the AE86 et. al. and the good old 1980s sports cars on 185 cross ply remolds. Then people get them and slap big stickies on them and complain about low power so they up that too. I wonder if they bought the right car!

I watched a video on youtube of some Australian tuners shop who modded their GT86 with big stickies, dropped springs, engine remaps, exhaust, etc. etc. etc. Then in the video he's complaining that it won't hold a drift on a skid pan and is a bit crap. Total FAIL imho.

Out of interest. In Europe all tyres are required by law to have a euro label now. It shows the tyres tested performance for fuel economy and wet weather grip. The Primacies get an "E" for fuel economy which is poor and an "A" for wet weather grip which is rare. The PSS's have BETTER fuel economy rating, and a "B" for wet grip (in some sizes). I imagine it's the dry weather performance you buy those for though.

[paulca]

Originally Posted by torqdork

Apples and oranges. The OEM twin tires are also spec'd for Prius. It's a LRR (low rolling resistance) tire designed for max fuel economy first, handling and longevity second. I've run quite a few Prii in the fleet and 22K-24K is about average for Primacy and their wet grip is dreadful, dry grip marginal.

You'll be amazed with the improvements to the car with the PSS's. It's the tire the car should've come with. From what I've experienced, the only downside is road noise over rough surfaces. Otherwise, it's well worth the tradeoff.

Interesting. Not according to the European tyre testing labs.

Primacies.... "E" for rolling resistance, "A" for wet weather grip.
http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rsh...n&typ=D-113237

PS3s
"E and "A". Granted these are the PS3s and not the PSS, which don't come in the right size in the UK, but are actually worse with a "C" and a "B" in some (few) sizes.
http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rsh...n&typ=R-234078

PSS (Switch to "Sizes and labelling classes" tab)
http://www.michelin.co.uk/tyres/mich...ot-super-sport

Finally the noise level is also tested. Primacies, 70db, PSS, 71db.

For what it's worth the Prius has 195/55/R16's. It is the Prius Plus 1.8 VVT-i Hybrid that has the 215/50/R17s.

[torqdork]

@paulca, it would be interesting to look at EU tyre labeling testing methodology. My unscientific opinion came from using both tires on the car on road and track in dry and wet conditions combined with millions of other user reviews on the popular tirerack.com site:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....yes&tab=Survey

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...=true&filter=y

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....del=Primacy+HP

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...ay.jsp?type=GT

[paulca]

Originally Posted by torqdork

@paulca, it would be interesting to look at EU tyre labeling testing methodology.

Well, yes, there is that. They are not exactly "general driving" tests.

http://www.blackcircles.com/general/...g/tyre-testing

[enwave]

Completely anecdotal and personal opinion, but I stayed stock size on my PSS, and I feel like they have just the right balance of stickiness and playfulness for my interests.


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[DC2R]

Originally Posted by paulca

I believe the tyres are actually the same as the Prius Sport sup'ed up hybrid sold in Japan and not the bog standard Prius at all.

They are deliberately chosen to make the car "playful" and have low grip. Not due to the compound per-say, but the size.

It's one of the things I see repeated about this car that makes me frown. Toyubaru went out of their way to break the mold of "More power, more grip" and said, "Hell lets make a car with LESS grip and LESS power and MORE FUN!", back to the old school fun of the AE86 et. al. and the good old 1980s sports cars on 185 cross ply remolds. Then people get them and slap big stickies on them and complain about low power so they up that too. I wonder if they bought the right car!

I watched a video on youtube of some Australian tuners shop who modded their GT86 with big stickies, dropped springs, engine remaps, exhaust, etc. etc. etc. Then in the video he's complaining that it won't hold a drift on a skid pan and is a bit crap. Total FAIL imho.

Out of interest. In Europe all tyres are required by law to have a euro label now. It shows the tyres tested performance for fuel economy and wet weather grip. The Primacies get an "E" for fuel economy which is poor and an "A" for wet weather grip which is rare. The PSS's have BETTER fuel economy rating, and a "B" for wet grip (in some sizes). I imagine it's the dry weather performance you buy those for though.

are you saying the pss are actually better for fuel efficiency?

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[paulca]

Originally Posted by DC2R

are you saying the pss are actually better for fuel efficiency?

Apparently in 225/45/R18 95 ZR(Y) size. The other sizes are the same or worse.

[Muaddib]

Originally Posted by DC2R

are you saying the pss are actually better for fuel efficiency?

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If you are running factory size (215/45/17). I do not think you will be able to tell the difference.

[Davey]

You can find a lot of summer performance tires in the stock size which are much cheaper than the stock tires, and lots grippier. Some aren't even much heavier, for example... the Pilot Super Sport or the Yokohama AD08.