Best Tires for the Toyota Prius [TOP 7 REVIEWS FOR 2021]
Choosing replacement tires for your Toyota Prius can be confusing. Not only do you need to select from the wide range of brands available, but there’s also the issue of tire types, varying tread patterns, tread warranty, and of course your available budget.
If your head is spinning, you’re in the right place. In this simple yet in-depth review roundup, we have selected 7 top-rated tires for Prius drivers to bring you the definitive low down on what you should buy in 2021.
For our findings at a glance, just head to the table below. For detailed reviews of each of our picks, plus full specifications and an in-depth buyer’s guide, keep on reading.
Top 7 Best Toyota Prius Tires
NAME |
IMAGE |
AVG TREAD WEAR |
|
|---|---|---|---|
EDITOR'S CHOICE: Sumic GT-A All-Season Radial Tire |
 |
45,000 Miles |
|
Hankook Kinergy ST H735 All Season Radial Tire |
70,000 Miles |
||
SUPERMAX TM-1 All Season Radial Tire |
40,000 Miles |
||
PREMIUM PICK: Yokohama Avid Touring S All-Season Radial Tire |
65,000 Miles |
||
Michelin Energy Saver A/S All-Season Radial Tire |
CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE |
55,000 Miles |
|
BEST BUDGET Milestar MS932 All Season Radial Tire |
50,000 Miles |
||
Cooper Evolution Tour All Season Radial Tire |
60,000 Miles |
Toyota Prius Tires Reviewed
The following tires have been selected based on construction quality, tread design, function, and price point.
Our testing method involves a combination of the above criteria, plus recent customer reviews and feedback on performance, as well as analysis of how each product fares against others on the market.
1. EDITOR’S CHOICE: Sumic GT-A All-Season Radial Tire
Our number one choice tire for Toyota Prius owners in 2021 is the Sumic GT-A all seasonal radial.
Balancing superior performance with good value, this tire has the quality construction you need at an affordable price point.
Features abound, the Sumic GT-A has a symmetrical 4-Rib pattern. This design feature helps to provide a more comfortable ride with greater stability and traction too.
Being an all-season tire you need it to perform well in wet weather. Here Sumic does not disappoint; the advanced tread compound enhances traction in the rain, with the circumferential center channel and lateral grooves helping to flush the water from the underside of the tire.
The result, less chance of hydroplaning and a more stable connection with the road surface.
In dry weather, the Sumic GT-A also performs well. The rigid construction aids handling at high speeds, with the tread block sipping ensuring better noise reduction.
Bottom Line
The Sumic GT-A is a top-quality tire for Toyota Prius owners. Providing high-level performance no matter the weather or season, this is a tire you can rely on. Highly recommended and our number one choice for good reason.
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2. Hankook Kinergy ST H735 All-Season Radial Tire
Another quality all-season tire to make our list is this offering from Hankook. Called the Kinergy ST H735, this aims to provide long mileage with a treadwear warranty of an impressive 70,000 miles.
As a touring tire, this really does excel. The dual-filler system provides low rolling resistance which of course leads to extended tread life, (hence the warranty).
An optimized tread block stiffness also increases the durability and life span of the tire.
Not only that, the more rigid center rib helps improve grip and handling, as well as brake response time in both dry and wet weather conditions.
Similar to our top pick from Sumic, the Kinergy features circumferential 4-channel wide grooves designed to assist with traction in the wet, while ensuring more consistent water evacuation.
The all-important sipe is formed in a manner to reduce road noise while adding to a smooth, more comfortable ride.
The Hankook Kinergy ST H735 is offered with a “680/A/A” UTQG rating. As well as the aforementioned 70,000 Mileage Warranty program, the manufacturers also provide a 30-Day Free Trial, and Road Hazard Warranty too.
Bottom Line
Hankook was very nearly awarded our top pick all-season tire for Prius owners this year. Superior performance coupled with those extensive and generous warranty additions makes this a great overall buy.
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3. SUPERMAX TM-1 All Season Radial Tire
Supermax TM-1, another all season option designed to excel in both wet and dry conditions.
And for the price, a very good job it does too. Sure, Supermax is not as well known as some of the other brands in our top 5 (here’s looking at you Michelin and Yokohama), however, this does not mean to say the quality isn’t there.
Features such as the reinforced rib pattern help increase overall stability while ensuring that treadwear during long touring days on the highway is kept to a minimum.
A solid centerline is all present and correct; much like other tires reviewed here, this design element aids with traction in the wet (as well as provides greater water evacuation) resulting in more pronounced handling ability and a safer ride.
The Supermax is a relatively quiet tire too, making it a good choice for Toyota Prius drivers that want to clock up the miles in comfort.
Bottom Line
For the budget-minded, the SUPERMAX TM-1 All-Season Radial is a reliable option for Prius owners.
Built to perform in both wet and dry conditions, this tire is proof that you do not need to spend ridiculous sums on a set of tires that provide the performance levels you need.
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4. PREMIUM PICK: Yokohama Avid Touring S All-Season Tire
The first of our well-known, global brand tires in our top 7 list is the Avid Touring S All Season from the ever-reliable Yokohama.
These tires benefit from the engineering know-how of the Japanese manufacturer and have technologically enhanced features coming out of the proverbial ears.
Designed for high performance in both wet and dry conditions, the Avid Touring is also built to hold its own in snowy environments too.
The tire uses Yokohama’s Triplex Tread Compound to help increase tread life for touring, as well as provide that greater traction in tougher driving conditions.
The symmetric tread design is molded using this compound. Other features include a variable tread block on the shoulder of the tire that is designed to reduce contact noise between the tire and the road surface.
Beyond this, you also have a central twin rail stability rib, which also helps reduce noise while enhancing central traction.
The list of design features goes on, (that’s what happens when you have over 100 years in the tire-making game!)
The intermediate tread blocks on the Avid Touring S are constructed as tapered rain channels, this, of course, helps water evacuation in wet conditions. There are also cross traction sipes to give you the much-needed biting edge when driving in snow.
Finally, the internal structure of the tire includes twin steel belts and reinforced nylon belt edge strips; the end result is a tire built to last.
Bottom Line
The Yokohama Avid Touring S All-Season Tire is an engineering powerhouse. Using the knowledge the manufacturer has built up over the years, (and no doubt countless millions of dollars on R&D) you have a tire that has been designed with precision and great attention to detail.
While you cannot doubt the level of performance here, it does come at a price. The Avid Touring S is an expensive tire when compared to others in our top 7. For those with the budget, they come highly recommended.
5. Michelin Energy Saver A/S All-Season Radial Tire (Currently Unavailable)
Our top pick premium tire for Toyota Prius owners in 2021 is the Michelin Energy Saver, another all-season offering from one of the world’s leading manufacturers of tires.
Stated as the most fuel-efficient all-season passenger car tire in Michelin’s current product line-up, the Energy Saver has reduced roll resistance for a smoother, cost-effective ride.
Michelin’s EnergySaver Construction alongside its unique silica-based tread rubber ensures a cooler tire in summer conditions, resulting in less treadwear and of course that greater fuel efficiency.
Another area where Michelin’s engineering know-how comes to the fore is in their comfort control technology.
Here, computer-optimized design and precision manufacturing go and in hand to create a tire that not only provides an ultra-comfortable ride, touring road noise is kept to an absolute minimum.
For increased stability, traction, and again treadwear resistance the tire’s internal structure includes twin steel belts reinforced by spirally wrapped polyamide.
While that may sound like scientific nonsense, the end result is a tire that combines the strength, efficiency, and comfort you need for a more enjoyable driving experience.
Bottom Line
What can we say about the Michelin Energy Saver A/S All-Season Radial? If you’re looking for a tire that will save you money in the long run, (the greater fuel efficiency all adds up) while providing the stability and comfort you need as a Prius owner, this is the tire for you.
Yes, it is the most expensive option in our top 7 selection, however the top quality will always come at a price.
- Related Content: Best Honda Civic tires on the market today
6. BEST BUDGET: Milestar MS932 All Season Radial Tire
Our best budget tire for Prius owners in 2021 is the Milestar a budget tire manufacturer that delivers on quality at an affordable price point.
Their MS932 all_ Season Radial Tire is a good option for Toyota Prius drivers that need an adequate performance in both dry and wet weather conditions without breaking the bank.
Yes, some of the features found in more superior tires are absent here, and you are not buying into brand recognition by any means.
However, with a tread pattern to increase traction in wet, and a tire construction designed to increase longevity in all-season driving conditions there is a lot to like with the MS932.
Essentially it is a tire option for those that are looking for an increase in performance over the factory-provided tires, yet do not require the advanced features of more premium offerings.
Bottom Line
Overall, the Milestar MS932 all_ Season Radial is a great tire for Prius owners on a budget.
The all-season nature of these tires provides that set-and-forget scenario that will suit many people. While they do not balance the budget with quality to the degree of the Supermax tires reviewed above, these are still a worthy addition to our top 7.
7. Cooper Evolution Tour All- Season Radial Tire
The final tire to make our Toyota Prius selection for 2021 is the Cooper Evolution Tour All- Season Radial.
Built with an included 65,000-mile treadwear protection, this is a reliable offering from a brand whose reputation has grown considerably in recent years.
Balancing innovative fuel-efficient design, with a rigid construction that increases stability, this is a tire where performance and cost-saving benefits come hand-in-hand.
The tire includes Cooper’s proprietary 3D Micro-Gauge™ siping. This extends the entire depth of the tire’s tread, which helps maintain a uniform amount of wear during the lifespan of the tires.
The tread pattern also features a five-rib design. This alongside the wide lateral shoulder grooves all adds up to a tire that is great in the wet.
The resulting high level of water evacuation helps prevent hydroplaning. Combine this with Cooper’s Stabil edge™ technology and you have a reliable tire that will keep you safely on the road whatever the driving conditions.
Bottom Line
Overall, the Cooper Evolution Tour All-Season radial tire is a premium option where some real thought has gone into the design and construction of the product.
For superior performance it is difficult to fault. A quality tire for Prius owners that comes highly recommended.
Best Tires for the Toyota Prius – A Buyer’s Guide
The Toyota Prius has remained extremely popular due, in part, to its excellent Eco credentials.
Featuring advanced Hybrid Synergy Drive, the Prius continues to be one of the most fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles on the road today.
High mpg is a measure of that efficiency, however, to achieve the best possible figure, a good set of low-rolling-resistance tires are a must.
Not only do such tires have lower resistance to the ground when compared to normal tires, (the engine requires less force to turn them in other words), they are often much more durable too.
The fact a Prius is equipped with low resistance tires straight from the factory goes a long way in demonstrating how Toyota considers them to be the best choice for the vehicle.
It must be said, however, that the difference in fuel consumption (and therefore cost to you when it comes to filling the vehicle with gasoline), is marginal.
You probably won’t notice it. However, the mpg will be increased and you are also doing your part of reducing carbon emissions. And that is obviously a very good thing.
Anyway, we have digressed a tad here.
What follows are our tips on what to look for when buying the best tires for your Toyota Prius.
Know the Correct Dimensions
Check the markings on your tire’s sideline. These figures represent the thickness and aspect ratio of the tire. There are also details of the arrangement type, radius, weight load index, and speed rating of the tire. In other words, vital data to help you purchase replacement tires.
Width of the tire
When buying tires for the Toyota Prius, a width of 195 is the most common choice, (205 and 225 will fit, but is not recommended).
Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio will vary, as the choice is wide. Essentially, it is the ratio of the height of the sideline to the width of the tire.
As an example, if your current tire has an aspect ratio of 65, it means that the height is 65% of the width.
For 195 mm width tires, the most common aspect ratio is 55% or 65%.
Arrangement of the Tire
Radial tires are the most common arrangement. This means that the rubber is laid out in layers, in a way that creates the radius of the tire.
Look out for tires that have a radius of 15 or 16 inches. Anything bigger than that and you risk the danger of chaffing the inside of your wheel arch as the clearance space above the tire will be reduced.
Speed Index
The speed index provides information on the maximum speed the tire can reach before it starts to wear easily.
This is denoted by a letter, with the speed rating starting at Q and ending at Y, (omitting the X for some reason). Q is the lowest speed rating, Y the highest.
To give you a practical example of this; a Prius used for general travel and commuting would benefit from a lower speed index tire, say one of S or T.
If the Prius was used for racing or regular high-speed motorway driving, a speed index of W or V would be more appropriate.
Weight Load Index
The weight load index provides information on how much weight each tire can efficiently withstand.
Here a medium-high weight index of 800-1000, would suit a family Prius, with a full load of passengers on a regular basis.
Tread Pattern
The tread pattern you opt for is dependant on the environment you mostly drive-in. A cold, wet climate will need a tread with long deep ribs and sipes. These provide superior grip and are good in water, mud, and snow.
The trade-off, of course, is the longer and deeper the tread pattern, the less mpg you will get when compared to a smooth tire pattern.
That being said, whatever tread pattern you go for, the tire should be optimized for all temperatures, cold and hot.
Look for High-Performance Low-resistance tires
Above, we established that low resistance tires are the best way to boost fuel efficiency and mpg in your Prius.
However, what should be noted is that a lot of low resistance tires are worse than other tires in many areas. Think braking distance, traction, and grip – 3 of the most important variables in a tire.
The key factor here is that a quality set of low resistance tires will reduce this trade-off considerably. In other words, they will match normal tires in all other areas and beat them on mpg.
When determining what are high quality, low resistance tires it is recommended that you read user reviews (when buying online), or get an opinion of the staff at the tire center you are visiting.
Generally, you will need to pay a bit more for superior low resistance tires, however, the aforementioned benefits are definitely worth the higher price tag. They will provide both safety and reduced fuel consumption.