Note that the products discussed on our site are independently selected by (obsessive) editors. At no extra cost to you, things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.
Most folks do not pay much attention to the quality of tires when purchasing a round of replacements. Have the Toyota dealership slap some new ones on… They are all the same anyway, right? Wrong. By putting a little extra thought into the details, you will reap the rewards of better handling, traction, longevity, low roll resistance, and potentially increased fuel mileage. Check out our comparison table of the best tires for Prius owners, followed by our review section and buying guide.
Comparison Table: 10 Best Tires for the Toyota Prius
Fortunately, these top tires are available on Amazon. That’s a win-win, you pay a lower cost than you would at major brick and mortar retailer + take advantage of Amazon’s free shipping (if you’re a Prime member). Then simply make an appointment with a nearby tire installer. We’ve found prices as low as $10 a tire for a technician to complete the install. Mounting new tires to wheels is a bit tricky and we recommend leaving it to a properly trained technician.
Michelin is a brand that has been at the top and is accepted by many as producing the highest quality tires. The Energy Saver – A/S (All-Season) is another one of their amazing tires. Michelin has incorporated the Green X technology. This optimizes the resistance of the tires against rotation, equating to even better gas mileage for the driver which is gravy for Prius drivers who own one of the best MPG vehicles available.
Apart from this, the treads on the tires are of very high quality and very durable. The treads also have an energy-optimized design which allows you to have an even better experience driving your vehicle. These are tires that allow you to drive smoothly, quietly and with control. These are features that can be quite difficult to get in other tires and are certainly features that would do great for your Prius.
One thing that many people want is a suitable fuel economy when using the Prius. This is normally achieved through the use of high-quality tires. However, there are certain companies that are not able to make their tires fuel economy friendly without compromising on comfort. This is however not a problem for Continental PureContact Radial tires. The reason why they are one of the best tires for Prius is the fact that they have great fuel economy that does not rob away from the comfort one gets when driving the vehicles.
The tires are also very quiet when on the road and they have a quality thread that is very durable. The tires are very light and have a rolling resistance that is very low and greatly improves the performance of your vehicle. These tires are also great for all seasons. They are however not as great in winter compared to the winter-specific tires but they are great for all other seasons whether dry or wet.
Bridgestone-Ecopia EP2-All-Season Radial tire is an amazing tire for the Prius. It is an all-season tire which means you can use it in any weather conditions. The great thing about these tires is the fact that they were specifically made for the Prius. This means you can expect them to function similarly to how your vehicle performed when it was new. It is the main reason why it is at the top of the list of best tires for Prius. The rolling resistance on this vehicle is very low and the traction is at minimal levels as well. Although these tires are perfect for the Prius, they have certain drawbacks.
First and foremost, if you are looking for tires that have durable threads, these are probably not the right fit for you since the treads are not very long-lasting. The other disadvantage of these tires is the fact that you might require replacing your wheels in order to have them placed in your old Prius. This is because they only come in one size. Apart from these two things, these tires give a very good performance and are great for Prius.
The Yokohama Avid-Touring S-All-season tires are great for the Prius owner who is looking for affordable and fuel economic tires. The best thing about these tires is the fact that they offer you incredible performance during the wet and dry seasons even though they do not have the best traction. Another thing to like about these tires is the fact that they have treads that are highly durable. This means you get to use the tires for a long time in perfect condition. The tires are however not great for the winter compared to winter-specific tires.
The Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus Radial Tire is another example of the best tires for Prius. These tires have amazing features that make them suitable for the Prius. First and foremost, the tires have durable treads. This is a great feature for those who use their vehicles often.
The other great thing about these tires is the fact that they have great fuel economy that is brought about by their low rolling resistance. The Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus Radial Tire is also great for the driver who is in search of affordable but high-quality tires. The only downside of these tires is the fact that they can get quite loud when the vehicle is moving at a very high speed. This, however, does not rob away from the driving experience.
Sumic delivers the #1 Best Selling tire of its class on Amazon, and this is it. With an H speed rating and 4-Rib pattern, you’ll get speed, precision, and stability with this lower price-range tire. The tread compound is also designed to help water evacuation, to prevent skidding and allow for traction in climactic weather.
Another reason these are one of the best tires for Prius is the limited warranty that covers up to 45k miles. For the price, that is a superior product guarantee. With all of these great features and the thick rubber that comprises them, this Sumic tire will do the job right for you and your Prius.
You might think that we chose this brand of tires for Prius’ because of the name, but it’s all about the quality. While audibly similar, Toyo Tires isn’t made just for Toyotas, but they sure work well with them. The Extensa All-Season is high performance in rain or shine and will give you and your passengers a smooth and quiet ride. The tread life is exceptional, and will likely outlast many other tires around its price range.
Some tires are one size fits all, Milestar has a more varied approach, making it easy for the consumer to be able to custom fit the tire for their vehicle. The MS932 is the best tire for Prius owners that Milestar has to offer. It’s a more sporty tire, that’s often used on crossovers and sport coups because of the top-notch combination of treadwear, traction, and temperature.
These Milestar Prius Tires come backed by a 50K mile warranty, so you will be able to get on the road without concern. The lateral siping helps with consistent traction in rain, snow, wind, and ice – making it a safe choice for families, road trips, and year-round driving.
If you’re looking for a smooth and quiet ride from your Prius tires, look no further. The Hankook Optimo delivers with their Pitch design technology, which reduces tire noise immensely. The Center rib block on the tread improves handling and stability when changing directions. What does this mean? It means whatever your precious cargo may be, it will be safe and sound without unnecessary jostling.
This is a strong, and lightweight tire, which helps not only with fuel efficiency but also with its lifespan. Because of this, the Hankook Optimo H724 is a more sustainable choice- which is something all Prius owners can get behind. Again, this is a lower-mid-priced tire, so it is well worth what you are paying for it.
There is no better way to sandwich our list than with another Michelin tire. Rounding out our list of Best Tires for Prius owners, we’ve got the MXM4 Touring Radial Tire. Michelin has infused the tread with Sunflower oil – yes that’s right, sunflowers. This increases traction at lower temperatures, making this a great cooler climate tire, and giving your vehicle more control in the snow than ever before.
This tire is suitable for any luxury vehicle, so why is it worth it for a Prius owner? If someone would trust it on their luxury sedan, you can sure as heck trust it on your Prius. It’s got edges made for All-Season grip, and the technology and research that Michelin puts into their tires means you will be dealing with less headache than some other brands after a few thousand miles of driving. We personally find that to be well worth the investment.
Buying Guide Part I: Top 5 Things to Consider Before Buying Prius Tires
It’s important to put a little thought into your tire purchase. A driver in California is going to have different needs than a driver in North Dakota. Sports car owners may want performance tires, whereas minivan owners typically want some daily drivers.
When you make a decision to buy new tires for your Prius, it is very important to consider several things:
1. Price
One of the age-old debates among car owners is whether to buy a cheap tire and replace it more frequently, or buy an expensive tire and get it rotated often. We usually recommend somewhere in the middle. For Prius owners, a tire that offers low roll resistance, low road-noise, and decent handling performance is ideal. If you enjoy driving and/or do a lot of it, you may want to tilt toward a tire that’s a bit more sporty. It will offer better performance, but cost you more upfront.
2. Size
How to Read Tire Specs
Sizing is pretty straightforward nowadays, with the help of size selector tools found on many websites. If you’re curious about tire specs though, it is not too difficult to make sense of it yourself without the help of such tools. Viewing the image above, you’ll see the first part of the label is P 205/55 R 16. That part refers to the tire sizing measurements like width and diameter. At the end there you’ll see the 91 S. That 91 is the load index and the S is the speed rating. Load index refers to how much weight the tires can support while speed rating refers to the maximum speed these tires can safely handle.
Tire Size Diagram
3. Weather
Nearly all car tires fall into three broad categories: all-season, winter, and summer. All-season tires do decently well across all metrics, whereas summer tires shine on clear road conditions and winter tires provide the best traction in snowy conditions. Based on your environment and where you live, you’ll want to choose your new set of tires accordingly.
4. Noise
Tire Noise
Bad wheel bearings, uneven wear, and alignment issues are the root causes of tire noise. However, even some brand new tires are just plain noisier than others. The key is the design of the tire treads. More aggressive designs (that do better in snow, offroad) are naturally going to create more noise. Sometimes, the manufacturer just plain gets it wrong with the design of an all-season tire for example, and it creates just as much noise as a winter tire. It is important to research specific models and what users say about the noise level.
5. Treads
Hand-in-hand with weather considerations is the type of treads the tire is designed with. More aggressive tread patterns with chunkier lugs will perform very well in off-road conditions and in hauling applications but aren’t really necessary for commuter vehicles like the Prius (would both reduce gas mileage and be noisy on the road). All-season and all-season performance treads are ideal for maximum MPG and a good balance of handling and traction in rain, etc.
Buying Guide Part II: General Thoughts on Purchasing the Right Tires
One vehicle that a lot of people have an issue with purchasing tires for is the Prius. This is because there are many options one can choose from since there are numerous brands dealing with tires these days. Like with other products, there are a good number of tire brands that do not produce high-quality products. For this reason, it is important to know how to go about getting the best tires for Prius in order to ensure safety and great performance.
Safety is one of the primary concerns for most folks when it comes to tires. Vehicle tires are your interface with the road. It is the only part of the car that actually comes into contact with the road. It is supposed to have high-quality treading and should be well inflated to avoid any accidents. Hybrid car owners generally have a long term perspective and know the value of taking care of their vehicle and doing preventative maintenance.
Ultimately, a better tire means fewer trips to the tire shop to get them replaced. They plain last longer than cheaper tires. The other advantage of spending a little extra on higher quality tires is the fact that they boost the performance of your car. The speed at which you move, stop or turn is very much dependent on the quality of tires you have. Apart from these, quality tires with a low roll resistance will even help improve gas mileage.
Buying Guide Part III: Benefits of High-Quality Prius Tires
There are several benefits a Prius driver gets from choosing high-quality tires for his or her car.
Safety
First and foremost, higher quality tires give most folks more peace of mind. You’re not going to experience a flat or blowout with newer tires — without a spare tire and tools that’ll sideline your plans for the day. With high-quality tires, you are able to stop, turn, and direct your vehicle more efficiently. This is very important because it prevents you from getting involved in accidents. The reason why this is a possibility is that such tires tend to have long-lasting treads that cushion your vehicle allowing you to have a safe ride.
Low Roll Resistance
The smaller the footprint of the tire’s tread, the less roll resistance the tire will exhibit. Engineers have to be a little careful though because if you remove too much of the traction element of the tire, reduced control can become a problem. There are two other ways engineers have reduced roll resistance: minimizing the depth of tread blocks (think beefy off-road truck tires) and tinkering with the tire’s composition. Silica is a new addition to synthetic and natural rubbers that have helped reduce roll resistance. Look at those three factors when shopping for your next set of Prius tires.
Control
The quality of vehicle tires impacts how long it will take for your car to stop and whether or not you can make a turn at high speed. A ‘sport’ tire is worth considering if you have more aggressive driving tendencies. These performance types of tires offer better handling, maneuverability, and better traction in wet and dry conditions.
Weather Proof
The other benefit you get from high-quality tires is great wet and dry traction. It is very important to have tires that have a healthy amount of tread left. This is important because it allows you to have an easy driving experience in different weather conditions. If you have tires that have a soft tread, for instance, you might have a very difficult time driving the car during the summer since the tires will not offer the balance you need to drive especially at high speeds although these kinds of treads work well in mud and snow.
Wear Evenly
Last but not least, high-quality tires offer you a longer-lasting optimal driving experience. By investing in a new set of four tires they will all have about the same lifespan and wear evenly. That means less taking in your vehicle for routine tire rotation and more enjoying your vehicle. Whether you are experiencing long-distance travel or a short drive through the city you’re going to have a very smooth drive. The other thing that enables you to have amazing driving experience with high-quality tires is the fact that they are not noisy even when you are moving at a very high speed. All these play important roles in ensuring you have an easy and enjoyable time driving your car.
