Interesting article. I've noticed that on every new Toyota car I bought in the past, the factory tires (regardless of brand) always had a low tread wear rating number. Usually around 260 to 280. I only got 18,000 miles out of my Bridgestone tires on my previous two Camrys. My new Prius Three model has a 300 tread wear number. Check your tire sidewall. Earl Stewart On Cars: Why New Car Tires Wear Out So Fast
Lower tread wear rating reduces braking distances. I may not be in the majority of Prius owners, yet I for one think that accident avoidance and handling is more important than miles per gallon There are compromises in choosing tires including noise, ride comfort, lateral load. Not all tire choices are to increase fuel mileage which would be with skinny, hard rubber, thick sidewall tires. Autocross tires wear out in 30 minutes for example. Many sport car tires wear out at 5000 miles. 15 to 20 thousand miles I think the OP did OK not knowing the suspension alignment or travel/ road surface paths.
no doubt that many oem tyres are chosen by cost, and for prius, mpg. all our oem toyota tyres typically last over 40k, but a lot depends on how you drive, tyres pressure and alignment. maybe even climate, idk.
My OEM Toyo tires have a 300 treadwear number. So I'm hoping I get at least 25,000. Normal driving. If that article is true and accurate, it's interesting that the car manufacturers would specify a softer rubber compound in order to make you think you have a nice smooth ride. And I must admit, my factory Toyo's have a nice soft/smooth ride. (a bit loud, but smooth.) Perhaps the new independent wishbone suspension helps in that regard, too.
Ours were Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 215/45R17, with UTQG 300AA. Just coming up on 60,000 kms, with remaining tread depth around 7/32" on all. The tires are off the car every winter, for maybe 2500 kms, so maybe 50,000 "net" time on the car. No complaints.
bisco, When I was looking at the 2015 & 2016 Camry Hybrids, most of them had Michelin tires. Or Continental.
17" tires are a little different, maybe. The Pilots have a mediocre rep on TireRack, are really expensive, and aren't described as LRR. All that aside, they feel nice and solid, and our current tanks are coming in around 4.5 liters/100km (52 mpg) calculated. They seem to just get better as they age... Hey, like us!
It's all about business! 1. Longer tread wear means deeper treads which reduces mpg rating. 2. Shorter tread wear mean you have to buy replacement sooner. 3. Toyota gets a deal from tire manufactures. Making 1 dollar on each tire sales x millions is lots of $$. For tire manufactures!
Longer treadwear means harder compound in the rubber, which usually leads to less grip and lower rolling resistance, so you get better mpg.
My Gen 2 had OEM Goodyear Integritys replaced at 40k. My Gen 3 had OEM Bridgestone Ecopias replaced at 60k. In both cases the new tires were with Michelin Energy A/S with 480 rating. No problem getting over 90k highway miles on both so I expect the 2016 OEM 15" Bridgestone Ecopia 422+ with a 600 rating to do the same.
That's outstanding mileage. Most of my driving has usually been local, short trips. Even to & from work was a less than 5-mile distance. I think that's why my tire longevity has always been poor. I saw 17" Bridgestone tires on the new Touring models, and they have a 600 rating... but a I didn't know the 15" did as well. Excellent. I will run my noisy Toyo tires until they fall off. (Just to get my money's worth )
