Need tire advice (poll)

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by pdq, Mar 25, 2013.

?

What should I do?

Poll closed Apr 1, 2013.

  1. 1) get extra (standard) rims for winter tires, and summer tires for current rims

    5 vote(s)
    55.6%

  2. 2) get winter and summer tires, and switch (on current rims)

    1 vote(s)
    11.1%

  3. 3) just get all-season set

    3 vote(s)
    33.3%
Multiple votes are allowed.
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  1. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Maybe it was the roses

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    Sears is always a bit problematic....Have stories, won't bore you.

    If you don't mine having them shipped, DiscountTiresDirect is having a great Promo right now: Black Friday in March - Discount Tire Direct

    Also, if you have a Discount Tires/America's Tire store around, you may have better luck. I'd advise calling first....
     
    #21 cyberpriusII, Mar 27, 2013
  2. exbauer

    exbauer Active Member

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    If you are a member with Costco you might want to check out the Bridgestone Ecopias 422. They have a $70 coupon that ends 4/10 I think. From FL8 they are a good LRR tire and pretty good in the snow as an all season tire. I have a touring also and they make them in 195/55/16. I got a quote here in SoCal and it is about $500 out the door. Maybe less where you are depending on taxes. Give them a call and see.
     
    #22 exbauer, Mar 27, 2013
  3. pdq

    pdq New Member

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    cyberpriusII - thanks for the tip- I had not seen that.
     
    #23 pdq, Mar 27, 2013
  4. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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    Voted for two sets of wheels, then I read the thread, ignoring the thread...
    Use the existing rims for summer 16" rubber, wider, better traction on dry roads, worse mileage...
    Get 15" rims for the winter tires(thinner, taller), studs would be optimum, but an aggressively tread'ed winter tire will do, no sense switching tires twice a year, to much sidewall damage, to much time spent at the tire place, just get a jack.
     
    #24 ursle, Mar 27, 2013
  5. pdq

    pdq New Member

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    So here's what I did - I got Michelin Defenders (205/55/16, $70 rebate, also top-rated by CR, long tread life) at a reasonable price from a local dealer, who happily mounted them on my standard 16" touring rims for summer, and bought some 185/65/15 Michelin X-Ice2 on clearance from Tire Rack for winter ($300 total, including shipping, and after $70 rebate!) giving myself 7 months or so to find some inexpensive 15" rims. After I get someone to mount and balance those, I'll probably rotate/change them myself thereafter, 2x/yr with the change of seasons.

    Man, I've never thought so much about tires in my life! I hope the results will be favorable.

    Now, does anyone know about gas water heaters? Cause the pilot light on ours has been going out lately......
     
    #25 pdq, Apr 1, 2013
  6. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Change the thermocouple.

    John (Britprius)
     
    #26 Britprius, Apr 1, 2013
  7. pdq

    pdq New Member

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    John-

    Did that. Still going out. It's going on 20 years old, so don't know how much more I'm going to fuss with it, but I've got a few things left to check/do before I call the plumber (check vent, clean pilot light orifice, try turning main burner on/off and see if that's blowing out pilot...)

    Thanks again for the 205/65/16 advice.
     
    #27 pdq, Apr 1, 2013
  8. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Ok you can't win them all. Please let us know how you find the wider tyres. We do not get the defender in the UK so I have know idea what they are like.
    The wider tyre has one other advantage, it helps stop kerb damage to the wheel covers.

    John (Britprius)
     
    #28 Britprius, Apr 1, 2013
  9. HaroldW

    HaroldW Active Member

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    Glad to see you went with 185/65/15 for your winter travel. H
     
    #29 HaroldW, Apr 1, 2013
  10. pdq

    pdq New Member

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    Well, yes - I hope so. I've never gotten tires on-line before - as I mentioned, I got the summer ones locally - so hopefully, I won't run into any gotchas.

    Anyway, people here seem to like the X-Ice tires; couldn't be much worse than what I was driving (sliding) on before.
     
    #30 pdq, Apr 1, 2013
  11. HaroldW

    HaroldW Active Member

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    They will give great traction on ice and snow.:) H
     
    #31 HaroldW, Apr 1, 2013
  12. koolingit

    koolingit Member

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    The thermocouple is starting to fail. You can change it yourself. Remove the old one and take it to a plumbing supply. They'll give you one that fits. It should be around $10.00.

    The thermocouple generates a small electric signal (when the bulb sitting in the pilot flame gets hot enough) that tells the gas valve 'it's okay to open.' If the bulb doesn't get hot enough or if the thermocouple is starting to fail, the gas valve closes.

    Don't worry about causing a gas leak. You're not working on any gas connections.
     
    #32 koolingit, Apr 2, 2013
  13. pdq

    pdq New Member

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    You're right - it was around $10. I put a new one in about 6 weeks ago, and it didn't seem to solve the problem. But I totally agree with the plan. I'm now trying to figure out if the pilot is blowing out when the burner shuts off (watching it, it goes FOOOSH as it shuts off, and the pilot wavers and yellows, but I haven't seen it blowing out yet) or if I'm getting a backdraft or something down my vent.

    I do not know - if you don't have enough to do in your life (and you're bothered by spare money sitting around), get a house. That'll fix THOSE problems.
     
    #33 pdq, Apr 2, 2013
  14. koolingit

    koolingit Member

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    Make sure the bulb is positioned in the flame. The flame should be wrapping around it. If it's not getting hot enough the gas valve will close.
     
    #34 koolingit, Apr 3, 2013
  15. hb06

    hb06 Member

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    Costco installation pkg also includes free maintenance for the life of the tire, balancing, rotation, pressure, flats, and 60 mo hazard warranty. It's hard to beat Costco, $117/ea at this time. I'm going with the Ecopias on my '07 Touring. Some of the local tire shops also will include the most of the maintenance items and will price match tires.
     
    #35 hb06, Apr 5, 2013
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