New Matrix XR 2WD in snow - slip sliding away

"Andrew Stephenson" wrote
> "Tomes" writes:
>
>> When the Prius needs tires I will be thinking of these first -
>> unless anyone has a reason not to use them on that car?
>> <---hint - looking for opinion on that
>
> A Prius advice manual put together by users has this to say on
> tyres (heavily cut for inessentials):
>
> LRR HSD Prius comes with standard tires. There are not LRR (Low
> Rolling Resistance), as many people believe. If you desire, you
> may switch to LRR tires. That will maximize MPG, offering a
> minor improvement over most standard tires.
>
> Treadwear 460 is the treadwear rating for the standard HSD
> Prius tires. That's what many typical family vehicle tires come
> with. 800 is what you'll find on the ultra-long-life tires. So
> there is an obvious upgrade opportunity, if you want a set
> tires to last as long as possible.
>
> The rating number represents the wear resistance of the tire.
> It does not correlate directly with the amount of mileage
> you'll be able to drive. Don't rely exclusively on this value
> when selecting a tire. Check the warranty, it will usually
> state an approximate distance expectation. [...]
>
> Size 185 / 65 R15 is the standard size tire for HSD Prius.
> [...]
>
> Original Tire Goodyear Integrity
> HSD Prius comes with these tires standard. They are sometimes
> referred to as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) tires.
> [...]
>
> Upgrade Tire Michelin HydroEdge
> These are premium-grade, high-traction tires that can be used
> on a HSD Prius. [...]
>
> Upgrade Tire Goodyear TripleTred
> These are premium-grade, high-traction tires that can be used
> on a HSD Prius. (Unfortunately, they are not available in the
> standard size. So you have to use an alternate instead.) [...]
>
> Upgrade Tire Michelin Harmony
> [...]
>
> Upgrade Tire Goodyear ComforTred
> [...]
>
Thanks. I went out and check and mine has the Integrities on it. This is
what Tire Rack says about it at
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Integrity
Goodyear Integrity radials are Passenger All-Season tires designed for
family cars, minivans and light duty trucks. They have become a popular
choice among new car manufacturers by providing a smooth, quiet ride and
year-round traction, even in light snow.
On the outside, Integrity radials feature a symmetric tread design with
circumferential tread grooves to evacuate water out from under the tire's
footprint to enhance wet traction and resist hydroplaning. Their premium
all-season tread rubber compound is molded into a highly siped tread
design that features open shoulder grooves and independent tread blocks to
enhance foul weather traction while a continuous center rib reduces noise
and promotes treadlife. Internally, the Integrity features twin steel
belts that stabilize the tread area to provide strength and enhance
treadwear, and a polyester cord body to provide a smooth ride.



Now this has me thinking and going to search out some more options (me,
with the car less than a month....)

Tomes
 >> Stay informed about: New Matrix XR 2WD in snow - slip sliding away 

"Tomes" <askme DeleteThis @here.net> wrote in message
news:sc9Ah.629$_73.376@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> "Andrew Stephenson" wrote
>> "Tomes" writes:
>>
>>> When the Prius needs tires I will be thinking of these first -
>>> unless anyone has a reason not to use them on that car?
>>> <---hint - looking for opinion on that
>>
>> A Prius advice manual put together by users has this to say on
>> tyres (heavily cut for inessentials):
>>
>> LRR HSD Prius comes with standard tires. There are not LRR (Low
>> Rolling Resistance), as many people believe. If you desire, you
>> may switch to LRR tires. That will maximize MPG, offering a
>> minor improvement over most standard tires.
>>
>> Treadwear 460 is the treadwear rating for the standard HSD
>> Prius tires. That's what many typical family vehicle tires come
>> with. 800 is what you'll find on the ultra-long-life tires. So
>> there is an obvious upgrade opportunity, if you want a set
>> tires to last as long as possible.
>>
>> The rating number represents the wear resistance of the tire.
>> It does not correlate directly with the amount of mileage
>> you'll be able to drive. Don't rely exclusively on this value
>> when selecting a tire. Check the warranty, it will usually
>> state an approximate distance expectation. [...]
>>
>> Size 185 / 65 R15 is the standard size tire for HSD Prius.
>> [...]
>>
>> Original Tire Goodyear Integrity
>> HSD Prius comes with these tires standard. They are sometimes
>> referred to as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) tires.
>> [...]
>>
>> Upgrade Tire Michelin HydroEdge
>> These are premium-grade, high-traction tires that can be used
>> on a HSD Prius. [...]
>>
>> Upgrade Tire Goodyear TripleTred
>> These are premium-grade, high-traction tires that can be used
>> on a HSD Prius. (Unfortunately, they are not available in the
>> standard size. So you have to use an alternate instead.) [...]
>>
>> Upgrade Tire Michelin Harmony
>> [...]
>>
>> Upgrade Tire Goodyear ComforTred
>> [...]
>>
> Thanks. I went out and check and mine has the Integrities on it. This is
> what Tire Rack says about it at
> http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Integrity
> Goodyear Integrity radials are Passenger All-Season tires designed for
> family cars, minivans and light duty trucks. They have become a popular
> choice among new car manufacturers by providing a smooth, quiet ride and
> year-round traction, even in light snow.

These are what have come on my Corollas - the Integrities. I *hate* them.
They are horrible - I repeat, horrible, in snow! (Really, truly, awful
IMO.) And they don't hold the road particularly well in dry weather,
either. I get rid of them as fast as I can. Which I hate doing - there
goes almost $400 down the drain, right away. But I really can not stand
those tires. (Can you tell?? <g>)

Cathy


I get rid of
> On the outside, Integrity radials feature a symmetric tread design with
> circumferential tread grooves to evacuate water out from under the tire's
> footprint to enhance wet traction and resist hydroplaning. Their premium
> all-season tread rubber compound is molded into a highly siped tread
> design that features open shoulder grooves and independent tread blocks to
> enhance foul weather traction while a continuous center rib reduces noise
> and promotes treadlife. Internally, the Integrity features twin steel
> belts that stabilize the tread area to provide strength and enhance
> treadwear, and a polyester cord body to provide a smooth ride.
>
>
>
> Now this has me thinking and going to search out some more options (me,
> with the car less than a month....)
>
> Tomes
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: New Matrix XR 2WD in snow - slip sliding away 

In article <7rudnV3kVvMwvEzYnZ2dnUVZ_qmpnZ2d.RemoveThis@giganews.com>
clfr.RemoveThis@adelphiadot.net "Cathy F." writes:

> These are what have come on my Corollas - the Integrities. I *hate* them.
> They are horrible - I repeat, horrible, in snow! (Really, truly, awful
> IMO.) And they don't hold the road particularly well in dry weather,
> either. [...]

Guessing madly: is it possible that certain tyres "fight" certain
vehicles' ways of applying braking, or wheel geometries, &c? Ok,
I tend to drive in a way that is liberal with the conservatism so
maybe don't "test" the tyres that much but (so far: fingers, toes
and eyes crossed) my Prius has behaved, even in sudden-ish stops.
--
Andrew Stephenson
 >> Stay informed about: New Matrix XR 2WD in snow - slip sliding away 

Tomes <askme.RemoveThis@here.net> wrote:
>
> Thanks. I went out and check and mine has the Integrities on it.
> Tire Rack [reviews] it at
> http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Integrity

Check out the Michelin Energy MXV Plus, which has lower rolling resistance
and fairly high ratings in a not-so-recent Consumer Reports survey.
 >> Stay informed about: New Matrix XR 2WD in snow - slip sliding away 

"Andrew Stephenson" <ames RemoveThis @deltrak.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1171367775snz@deltrak.demon.co.uk...
> In article <7rudnV3kVvMwvEzYnZ2dnUVZ_qmpnZ2d RemoveThis @giganews.com>
> clfr RemoveThis @adelphiadot.net "Cathy F." writes:
>
>> These are what have come on my Corollas - the Integrities. I *hate*
>> them.
>> They are horrible - I repeat, horrible, in snow! (Really, truly, awful
>> IMO.) And they don't hold the road particularly well in dry weather,
>> either. [...]
>
> Guessing madly: is it possible that certain tyres "fight" certain
> vehicles' ways of applying braking, or wheel geometries, &c? Ok,
> I tend to drive in a way that is liberal with the conservatism so
> maybe don't "test" the tyres that much but (so far: fingers, toes
> and eyes crossed) my Prius has behaved, even in sudden-ish stops.

One would have thought that Toyota might have thought this through....

My wife (who is the one who regularly drives the Prius) says that it is
not good on the snow and is telecommuting tomorrow as a result (snowstorm
tonight).
Tomes
 >> Stay informed about: New Matrix XR 2WD in snow - slip sliding away 

"Bill Tuthill" <ccreekin RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:45d1f7ec@news.meer.net...
> Tomes <askme RemoveThis @here.net> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks. I went out and check and mine has the Integrities on it.
>> Tire Rack [reviews] it at
>> http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Integrity
>
> Check out the Michelin Energy MXV Plus, which has lower rolling
> resistance
> and fairly high ratings in a not-so-recent Consumer Reports survey.
>
Thanks, I will consider this.
Tomes
 >> Stay informed about: New Matrix XR 2WD in snow - slip sliding away 

On Wed, 14 Feb 2007 03:21:24 GMT, "Tomes" <askme.RemoveThis@here.net> wrote:
>"Andrew Stephenson" <ames.RemoveThis@deltrak.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:1171367775snz@deltrak.demon.co.uk...
>> In article <7rudnV3kVvMwvEzYnZ2dnUVZ_qmpnZ2d.RemoveThis@giganews.com>
>> clfr.RemoveThis@adelphiadot.net "Cathy F." writes:

>>> These are what have come on my Corollas - the Integrities. I
>>> *hate* them. They are horrible - I repeat, horrible, in snow!
>>> (Really, truly, awful IMO.) And they don't hold the road
>>> particularly well in dry weather, either. [...]
>>
>> Guessing madly: is it possible that certain tyres "fight" certain
>> vehicles' ways of applying braking, or wheel geometries, &c? Ok,
>> I tend to drive in a way that is liberal with the conservatism so
>> maybe don't "test" the tyres that much but (so far: fingers, toes
>> and eyes crossed) my Prius has behaved, even in sudden-ish stops.
>
>One would have thought that Toyota might have thought this through....
>
>My wife (who is the one who regularly drives the Prius) says that it
>is not good on the snow and is telecommuting tomorrow as a result
>(snowstorm tonight).

So tomorrow while she works from home you can go get a set of real
snow tires and a second set of rims to mount them on, right?

If you wait till after she gets it sideways and stuffs the car into
an immovable object, what's the point?

--<< Bruce >>--
 >> Stay informed about: New Matrix XR 2WD in snow - slip sliding away 

Tomes <askme.DeleteThis@here.net> wrote:
>
> One would have thought that Toyota might have thought this through....

I suspect Toyota intended the Prius mostly for warm-weather markets,
especially coastal California. The Goodyear Integrity is an OK tire with
average treadwear, good handling, and moderately low rolling resistance.

> My wife (who is the one who regularly drives the Prius) says that
> it is not good on the snow and is telecommuting tomorrow as a result
> (snowstorm tonight).

That's what my mom says, too -- the Prius is not good in the snow.
She doesn't know what kind of tires hers has, but I suspect the same.

An (old!) November 2005 rating of winter tires in Consumer Reports
top-rated the Michelin X-Ice, which was the only one to have excellent
(all-red) ratings for snow traction and ice braking.

In their November 2005 rating of all-season tires, the Kelly Navigator
Platinum TE was excellent (all-red circle) for ice braking, but only
average (empty circle) for snow traction.

In November 2006, Consumer Reports rated "performance" all-season tires,
whatever that means (high priced?). None were any better than the
Michelin Energy MXV Plus I'll buy when our Goodyear Integrities wear out.
However the Dunlop SP Sport 5000, which I could not find on TireRack.com,
is worth mentioning because it was highest rated for dry & wet braking.
 >> Stay informed about: New Matrix XR 2WD in snow - slip sliding away 

"Bruce L. Bergman" <blnospambergman.RemoveThis@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
news:k9b5t21uotesmrl5166fdk92l23vtq9he8@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 14 Feb 2007 03:21:24 GMT, "Tomes" <askme.RemoveThis@here.net> wrote:
>>"Andrew Stephenson" <ames.RemoveThis@deltrak.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>>news:1171367775snz@deltrak.demon.co.uk...
>>> In article <7rudnV3kVvMwvEzYnZ2dnUVZ_qmpnZ2d.RemoveThis@giganews.com>
>>> clfr.RemoveThis@adelphiadot.net "Cathy F." writes:
>
>>>> These are what have come on my Corollas - the Integrities. I
>>>> *hate* them. They are horrible - I repeat, horrible, in snow!
>>>> (Really, truly, awful IMO.) And they don't hold the road
>>>> particularly well in dry weather, either. [...]
>>>
>>> Guessing madly: is it possible that certain tyres "fight" certain
>>> vehicles' ways of applying braking, or wheel geometries, &c? Ok,
>>> I tend to drive in a way that is liberal with the conservatism so
>>> maybe don't "test" the tyres that much but (so far: fingers, toes
>>> and eyes crossed) my Prius has behaved, even in sudden-ish stops.
>>
>>One would have thought that Toyota might have thought this through....
>>
>>My wife (who is the one who regularly drives the Prius) says that it
>>is not good on the snow and is telecommuting tomorrow as a result
>>(snowstorm tonight).
>
> So tomorrow while she works from home you can go get a set of real
> snow tires and a second set of rims to mount them on, right?
>
> If you wait till after she gets it sideways and stuffs the car into
> an immovable object, what's the point?
>
An excellent perspective there Bruce. It is why we have the TJ. I was
already out playing in the snow with that today.
Tomes
 >> Stay informed about: New Matrix XR 2WD in snow - slip sliding away 

"Bill Tuthill" ...
> Tomes ...
>>
>> One would have thought that Toyota might have thought this through....
>
> I suspect Toyota intended the Prius mostly for warm-weather markets,
> especially coastal California.

Could be, but I have it here

> The Goodyear Integrity is an OK tire with
> average treadwear, good handling, and moderately low rolling resistance.
>
>> My wife (who is the one who regularly drives the Prius) says that
>> it is not good on the snow and is telecommuting tomorrow as a result
>> (snowstorm tonight).
>
> That's what my mom says, too -- the Prius is not good in the snow.
> She doesn't know what kind of tires hers has, but I suspect the same.
>
> An (old!) November 2005 rating of winter tires in Consumer Reports
> top-rated the Michelin X-Ice, which was the only one to have excellent
> (all-red) ratings for snow traction and ice braking.
>
> In their November 2005 rating of all-season tires, the Kelly Navigator
> Platinum TE was excellent (all-red circle) for ice braking, but only
> average (empty circle) for snow traction.
>
> In November 2006, Consumer Reports rated "performance" all-season tires,
> whatever that means (high priced?). None were any better than the
> Michelin Energy MXV Plus I'll buy when our Goodyear Integrities wear
> out.
> However the Dunlop SP Sport 5000, which I could not find on
> TireRack.com,
> is worth mentioning because it was highest rated for dry & wet braking.
>
Thanks Bill, much appreciated. I have always been a Michelin guy since I
was a kid and my dad used them regularly. Perhaps I might get off of the
Michelin X rut (?) I have been in and try these Michelin Energy MXV
Pluses. I got a while to wait tho.
Tomes (filing this post away for the future)
 >> Stay informed about: New Matrix XR 2WD in snow - slip sliding away