What’s the first image that comes to your mind when you think of a hybrid car? For most people, that picture is of the Toyota Prius. This car has become synonymous with hybrid vehicles thanks to its sky-high fuel efficiency, practical design, and highly-efficient powertrain.
Sure, the Prius isn’t the most agile passenger car on the road. Neither is it the sort of vehicle you’d stake your money on rough pavement. But for a person who uses their car for everyday driving and family trips, there aren’t many options that can rival the qualities of the Prius.
To get the best out of this automobile, you need to pair it with the right tire partner. Which is something easier said than done. Due to Prius’s popularity, every tire manufacturer offers multiple models for this vehicle. The result is thousands of tires you can install on this car.
Choosing between the sheer number of options won’t be easy. The reason we know that is because we have scoured through the multitudes of models on the market. We did that to provide you with the ten best tires for Toyota Prius that will enhance this car’s performance.
#1. Michelin Energy Saver A/S – Best Overall
The Michelin Energy Saver A/S ticks all the right boxes for Prius drivers. An eco-friendly all-season tread compound has made it one of the best tires for gas mileage, meaning you can count on this model to enhance the already excellent fuel economy of your Prius.
The tread compound isn’t solely to credit for this tire’s high fuel efficiency. Michelin’s EnergySaver Construction, which prevents heat build-up inside the tire, also helps improve the tire’s gas mileage. The result is up to 400 USD worth of fuel savings over the tire’s life.
Tread life is another area where this tire shines. The Energy Saver A/S is one of the few tires that wear evenly and predictably, meaning you won’t just wake up one day to find that this model’s expiry date is afoot. There won’t be many unforeseen expenses with this tire.
A 55,000-mile mileage warranty means that you can easily get 3, 4 years out of this model, or perhaps even more if you aren’t a frequent driver. Sturdy internal construction saves it from premature deformation and grooves reduce the risk of hydroplaning.
That’s where the good news ends. The Energy Saver A/S’s snow traction is nowhere near good enough as that of Michelin’s other all-season models. As such, don’t count on this model to safely carry you from point A to point B in harsh weather conditions.
Pros
- Up to 65,000 miles treadwear warranty
- Incredibly fuel efficient with little to no rolling resistance
- Surprisingly short braking distances in wet weather
- Offers plenty of traction and grip year-round
Cons
- Poor performance on snow
#2. Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus – Best Runner Up
The Bridgestone Ecopia EP 422 Plus is another excellent tire for Toyota Prius. Year-round usability, above-average treadwear warranty, and excellent hydroplaning resistance – you can expect all of this from this tire. That too at a price that won’t blow a hole in your pocket.
An exclusive NanoPro Technology helps this model offer the best of both worlds. On the one end, this technology increases this model’s road grip for better traction, especially in wet conditions. The added grip lowers rolling resistance and, by extension, fuel economy.
All these aren’t just words trotted out by Bridgestone. Internal tests conducted by the tire manufacturer report the EP422 Plus posing 23 percent less rolling resistance than its predecessor. The result is an additional 20 miles in gas mileage with every full fuel tank.
That isn’t to say that the EP 422 Plus is as fuel-efficient as our top pick. The Michelin Energy Saver A/S delivers the best mileage per liter of any tire in this review. Still, given this model’s low asking price, its impressive fuel economy helps it give serious competition.
That is especially because the EP422 Plus is backed to last more miles (70,000 vs 55,000) than our top pick. Another reason why this model is a direct competitor of the Energy Saver A/S is because both have the same flaw – the duo is equally poor in harsh weather.
Pros
- 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Above-average fuel efficiency
- Reliable levels of traction and grip
Cons
- Not for extreme wintry conditions
#3. Michelin Premier A/S – Best Touring All-Season
The Michelin Premier A/S offers everything you may look for in a touring tire. An all-season tread compound enables this model to stay useful-year round, including in light snow. In doing so, it has made this model meet the definition of all-season tires.
For superb wet performance, Michelin’s EverGrip Technology has teamed up with circumferential grooves. The technology increases the tire’s grip for assured wet traction, while the grooves ensure quick and effective water evacuation for a lower hydroplaning risk.
Comfort Control Technology has polished this model’s road manners. It has done that with the aid of the computer-optimized tread design, which absorbs vibrations and deflects road noise. As such, you can expect this tire’s road to be plush and noise-free.
Best of all, this model is also equipped with emerging grooves. These grooves only appear once their built-in counterparts have worn off, helping this tire offer consistent traction throughout its life.
There is however one area where this model could do better. A 60,000-mile treadwear warranty is nowhere near enough for an all-season tire that isn’t the Energy Saver A/S, which can at least justify its 55,000-mile warranty with above-average fuel economy.
Pros
- Offers comfortable and quiet ride
- Provides excellent traction on wet surfaces
- Can handle mild wintry conditions with ease
Cons
- Relatively small treadwear warranty for a premium touring tire
#4. Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack – Best Grand-Touring Tire
The Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is another excellent option for Prius drivers. This model offers the kind of dry/wet performance that helps premium tires justify their high asking price. Plus, it will keep your Prius’s ride quiet and comfortable for an extended time period.
Bridgestone’s QuietTrack Technology has made this tire quiet at speeds at which its competitors growl, meaning you won’t have to roll up the windows to block outside noise. As for comfort, this model offers the kind of plush ride that could put its passengers to sleep.
The credit for the noise- and vibration-free driving experience goes to Bridgestone’s QuietTrack and Comfort Cruise Technologies, respectively. However, the latter technology does one thing extra, it expands this tire’s road contact for improved fuel economy.
An 80,000-mile treadwear warranty further makes this tire a fan-favorite and inspires confidence in this tire’s ability to stay on your Prius for the next 6 to 7 years. During that period, the four circumferential grooves won’t let this model slip or skid in the rain.
On the flip side, the tire’s astronomical asking price might prove to be a deal-breaker. Another thing that might go against this model is its average wet traction.
Pros
- 80,000-mile treadwear warranty
- One of the quietest tires on the market
- Offers excellent dry performance
Cons
- Average wet braking distances
#5. Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max – Best Fuel Efficient
Most mid-range tires on the market offer poor fuel economy. They also offer a firm ride, poor traction in wet conditions and lackluster performance on snow and ice. Fortunately for you, the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max is different. Here’s why we’re so sure.
Per Goodyear, this model poses 27 percent lower rolling resistance than rivals, helping you enjoy up to 2,600 miles worth of fuel throughout its lifespan.
A dual-tread zone all but guarantees supreme dry and wet performance. The Dry Tread Zone, which is the outer one, is where you’d find the shoulder ribs which Goodyear has made stronger to help this model stay stable and offer excellent amounts of grip in the summer.
Down the middle is the Wet Tread Zone. Populated by dual aqua-channel grooves and lateral sipes built into the tread, it evacuates water away from the tread area for a lower risk of hydroplaning. This section is also responsible for the tire’s traction in wintry conditions.
A 65,000-mile treadwear warranty might look average when you compare it with that of premium tires. But it’s excellent for a mid-range tire that offers such high fuel savings as the Assurance Fuel Max.
Pros
- 27 percent lower rolling resistance than rivals
- Dedicated tread zones for dry and wet conditions
- Surprisingly stable at higher speeds
Cons
- Smaller treadwear warranty than premium rivals
#6. Michelin Defender T+H – Best Summer Tire
The Michelin Defender T+H is one of our favorite tires from this tire. That is mainly because of this model’s 80,000-mile warranty, which is bigger than what you normally get on other Michelin tires and which inspires confidence in this tire’s ability to last up to 7 years.
Comfort Control Technology also helps keep things quiet inside the cabin by deflecting road noise before it can reach the passenger’s ears. The technology also helps the rubber absorb vibrations before they can hit the steering, thus giving a comfortable driving experience.
An asymmetric tread pattern increases road grip and traction regardless of weather conditions. It is helped in that by Michelin’s IntelliSipe Technology, which keeps the T+H stable at high speeds. Both these design elements have turned this model into a competent summer performer.
Wet traction is another area where this model shines, thanks to the circumferential grooves which make water evacuation look effortless. What’s more, the sipes on the tread block enhance its snow and ice traction, though this model isn’t as capable as a dedicated winter tire.
The only thing that might deter you from purchasing this tire is its astronomical asking price. However, once you factor in the 80,000-mile treadwear warranty and the resulting 6, 7 years of road life, the high price tag seems justified.
Pros
- Excellent treadwear warranty (80,000 miles)
- Performs reliably in light wintry conditions
- Offers a quiet and comfortable driving experience
Cons
- Astronomically expensive
#7. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady – Best All-Weather
The Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady demonstrates why all-weather tires are so popular these days. This model offers superb performance in dry, wet, and mild wintry conditions. Its road manners are pretty decent, too, and the price tag is one you can easily afford.
A Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) emblem indicates that this model can perform reliably in mild-to-moderate wintry conditions. Unlike the M+S logo, which isn’t standardized, the 3PMSF symbol is awarded by EU authorities and is thus more trustworthy.
Dual Aqua Channel grooves ensure quick and effective water evacuation, improving this model’s wet traction while also lowering aquaplaning risk. The similarly-named Evolving Traction grooves, however, have nothing to do with rainy or wet conditions.
Instead, these channels are designed to come out when the tire’s built-in grooves start losing their aggressiveness. In doing so, they help solve a problem that affects almost every tire in its last few years on the road – a significant and dangerous loss of traction.
Despite all these qualities, the WeatherReady could do more. This model’s 60,000-mile treadwear warranty seems pretty average when compared with premium all-weather tires.
Pros
- Comes with the 3PMSF emblem
- Offers excellent traction on wet roads
- Resists hydroplaning quite brilliantly
Cons
- Relatively small treadwear warranty
#8. Michelin Pilot Super Sport – Best Summer Performance
Excellent steering feedback? Check. Superb cornering performance? Present. Bearable road noise? Yup. Reasonable treadwear warranty? Absolutely. The fact that it possesses all these qualities is why the Pilot Super Sport deserves a place on your Prius.
Start with the steering feedback and cornering performance. An aggressive tread pattern and multiple shoulder blocks are responsible for both these qualities, with a twin steel belt ensuring that even when regularly pushed to its limits, this model doesn’t deform.
Next comes the issue of road noise which Michelin’s Acoustic Technology has all but solved. It has done that with the help of a noise-absorbing foam lying inside this model’s tread area. The form is the reason why this tire can deflect road noise much better than rivals.
Then there is the 30,000-mile warranty, a beyond-excellent number for a summer tire. The warranty seems even more impressive when you compare it with this model’s asking price, which Michelin has been forced to slash because of the simple reason this model is a decade old.
Bear in mind, though, that the Pilot Super Sport is a summer performance tire. Its wet traction is somewhere between non-existent and poor.
Pros
- Excellent warranty for a summer-performance tire
- Superb cornering performance and steering responsiveness
- Costs much less than newer performance tires
Cons
- Wet grip could have been better
#9. Goodyear Eagle Sport All Season – Best All-Season High Performance
If you intend to push your Prius to its limits, the Eagle Sport All-Season is a must-have. This all-season high-performance tire offers great high-speed stability, steering feedback and cornering performance. Plus, unlike the above Pilot Super Sport, it can hold its own in rainy weather.
An all-season tread compound that has been injected with polymers helps this model strike an optimal balance between performance and ride comfort. As a result, while this tire is firm than a standard A/S model, its drive is more comfortable than its high-performance rivals.
An aggressive tread design deserves your praise for this tire’s above-average steering feedback, high-speed stability, and cornering performance. Furthermore, a sturdy internal construction saves it from premature deformation, the major nemesis of HP tires.
Add its 50,000-mile treadwear warranty to the equation, and the Eagle Sport All-Season might seem like a faultless tire. Which isn’t the case since this tire can get audibly loud at high speeds, giving the relatively-quiet Pilot Super Sport a comparative edge.
Still, if you can tolerate loud road noise, there aren’t many reasons why you might want to give the Goodyear Eagle Sport All Season a pass.
Pros
- 50,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Offers excellent steering responsiveness
- Comes with industry-standard treadwear indicators
Cons
Gets loud at high speed
#10. Bridgestone Blizzak WS80– Best Winter Tire
The Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 is one of the best winter tires on the market. A winter-specific tread compound that won’t become rigid in sub-zero temperatures, aggressive biting edges that help it plow through snow and ice, and MultiCell Technology are reasons why.
Its NanoPro-Tech tread compound has been designed to offer improved traction on hard-packed snow and ice, as well as slush and covered pavement. The compound is the reason why this tire stays flexible even when temperatures outside drop below the freezing point.
Compared with earlier models of this tire, the WS80 features an increased number of block edges. The result is better traction on snow. In addition, this model’s 3-D zigzag sipes and unique tread bite particles further help it safely carry you from point A to point B on snow.
Bridgestone claims that all these design elements help the WS80 stop 22 percent sooner than Michelin X-Ice XI3, another winter tire you can install on the Prius. This improvement is surprising (in a good way) as the WS90 is much more affordably priced than its competitor.
The only thing we didn’t appreciate about this tire is its fuel consumption, which is low even for a winter tire. Other than that, this model has no apparent flaws.
Pros
- Offers excellent traction on snow and ice
- Comes with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake emblem
- Doesn’t require you to insert studs
Cons
- High fuel consumption
Best Tires for Toyota Prius
All-Season Tires
Three qualities make all-season tires the ideal option for most Prius drivers. The first of which is their fuel consumption, which is much lower than the likes of performance, winter, or all-terrain tires. As such, you can count on these models to supplement your Prius’s excellent mileage.
Secondly, the best all-season tires offer excellent road manners. Even on speeds at which your average tire growls, these models don’t let as much as a squeak. Have doubts about this claim? Then you must check out what users have to say about the A/S models recommended above.
The final major quality of A/S tires, especially for Prius owners, is their extended treadwear warranty. Unless your budget is too tight, you can easily get a 50,000-mile backing on an all-season tire, which would mean 3, 4 years of road life with daily driving.
Performance Tires
One of the most common issues Prius owners have with this car is that its acceleration is a little sluggish, especially when compared with its rival sedans. So, if you want your Prius to be a little perkier on the highway, performance tires deserve your attention.
Thanks to their asymmetric tread pattern, low rolling resistance, and various other design elements, performance tires will undoubtedly increase your Prius’s pick. With a quartet of these tires on your Prius, you’d be in an excellent position to make quick passes on the highway.
Bear in mind, though, that performance tires will take aim at this car’s fuel economy. Before that, their asking price will blow a tire-shaped hole in your pocket. Even if neither of these issues bothers you, these models’ smaller tread life (vis-à-vis A/S tires) should.
Conclusion
Toyota Prius is one of the most fuel-efficient cars on the planet. It also provides you with a quiet and comfortable driving experience. The best tires for Toyota Prius should complement these qualities while also making its acceleration a little less sluggish.
