Top 10 Best Tires For Toyota Prius: Test & Review 2024

Lauded as one of the highest-quality hybrid vehicles from Toyota, the Prius promises strong road grips and extreme fuel efficiency for urban commutes. Nevertheless, their handling characteristics are not entirely exclusive from tire quality, so do not be surprised if subpar tire models leave significant smears on your Prius’ overall momentum and riding performance.

A list of the 10 best tires for Prius has been established based on real-life testing. Scroll for further details!

A. How to Choose Tires for Prius

1. Understanding The Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius is a hybrid compact car that prioritizes fuel efficiency and smooth, quiet rides for comfortable city driving. You should opt for tires with stable on-rib centers, large shoulders, and optimized contact patches for consistent traction across all on-road weather and terrains. 

Most Toyota Prius models are equipped with the FWD (front-wheel drive system), which mostly works well with paved or non-challenging roads due to the major power pooled onto the two fronts. Hence, off-road or rugged paths are not its strength; avoid off-road or all-terrain tires altogether while browsing.

On the other hand, a few other lineups go with AWD (all-wheel drive system), which promotes excellent performance and spirited road dynamics on uneven surfaces. As such, performance-focused models with well-distributed pressure and striking balances between comfort and handling characteristics should be your priority in these cases. Tires specialized for snow and ice grip are also recommended if you prioritize stable performances in winter than in summer.

Like most hybrid cars, the Toyota Prius is not up to extreme loading/towing (only about 800-950 lbs of payload), so you’d better pick tires of at least 75 in load index. 

2. Choosing The Right Toyota Prius Tire For You

a. All-Season Touring Tires

Do you opt for consistent traction all year round during daily driving? Then, standard touring all-season tires will be the best choice for you, combining great traction and good/decent riding comfort at generally very affordable prices. 

And what if you are a generous-budget driver who wishes to retain all the riding comforts of a standard tire – but with better cornering and steering responses on-road? In that case, a set of grand touring all-season tires should be on your consideration list. 

b. Performance Tires:

Do you seek agile cornering and sharp responses for diverse steering techniques and experiments across high-speed endeavors? Then, performance tires will handle this job well for you.

• If your performance demands are mostly for summer seasons, a set of max-performance summer tires will be ideal. However, note that these seasonal tires are not meant to last long.
• Ultra-high-performance tires, on the other hand, will be perfect for year-round usage. But to what extent it can perform in harsh snow or ice depends on your chosen brands and pricing ranges; set your priorities straight. 

c. Dedicated Winter Tires: 

These tires are exclusively tailored for your snowy rides, though some premium models also offer decent/good traction once the winter is over. Just like summer tires, they are usually not meant for year-round or long-term usage.

B. How Did We Test and Pick The Best Tires for Prius

196 best-selling tires were tested and shortlisted during the first round of our COR Wheels Tire Test. 

The remaining tires in the second round were then installed on our Toyota Prius 2022 LE (using the 195/65R15 tire size version) to further narrow our final list to only the ten best performers. Customer feedback was also cross-referenced during our evaluation/scoring process.

C. Best All-Season Tire For Toyota Prius

1. Michelin CrossClimate2

Best uses: all year round, spirited leanings, casual rides, light/deep snow, moderate traveling distances on ice, light towing, long-term usage

The aligning block has been one of the strongest forces behind CrossClimate2’s aggressive confidence. You will find no trouble settling the initial shakes under the contact patch or growing more tuned into Prius’s momentum throughout the ride. Casual driving rates below 50 MPH could barely choke the footprints out of the line, and the way the car balances its sidewalls to fall right behind your speed acceleration input also feels very assuring. Hence, in favorable conditions (and preferably limited cargo), attempting low-angled leans and tight corner dives is totally possible for you!

These behaviors are just as sharp once your Toyota moves into wet roads, owing much of its power to the 3D SipeLocks that punch well through the water layers and into the road patterns. Its steep angles also do a spectacular job channeling rainwater at high speeds, ensuring you can handle basic steering situations with just as much sensitivity and support as in any other regular driving condition. Graded surfaces and wet bridges are likewise a non-issue.

For a non-winter tire, Michelin CrossClimate2 is a total crowd-pleaser in wintertime, thanks to the innovative Thermal Adaptive Compounds that withstand temperature extremes very well. Even ice traction is easy to gauge for you when kept below 45 MPH; no wonder this all-season tire totally deserves every bit of its premium pricing range. 

Needless to say, this impressive adaptability will give you little to no worry regarding the tire’s riding comfort and noise. Aside from slightly mute feedback through ascents and extended tight-spaced curves, it will stay your best assistant regardless of road textures and driving habits. 

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2. Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3

Best uses: dry paved roads, sharp turns, water below 10 inches, casual winter rides,  long rides, long-term usage

With its large shoulder blocks and well-distributed pressure, the P7 AS Plus 3 leaves little to worry about when traveling dry roads. We started at 40 MPH, quickly settled and grew stable despite the lack of strong steering input, striking a notable harmonious tandem between tire flex and footing solidity that made our follow-up accelerations go very smoothly. 

You will also be very impressed with the punctual, very sharp steering feedback not yet seen even in some other premium tires from Pirelli, paving the way for sure-footed, confident corner dives without major plummeting. Even mid-way changes or hard, unexpected brakings will not result in any significant choke for your Prius!

Furthermore, minus very deep stagnant water beyond 10 inches, we didn’t suffer from any safety compromise in wet seasons. The deep sipe combinations gave our car the strong base support it needed, smoothing out occasional traction losses under the patch to turn each heavy thud into gentler, cleaner cuts during back-to-back switchbacks and slightly more complex twists. Aided by the wide circumferential grooves, hydroplaning issues are the last thing you should worry about at any driving rate below 60 MPH!

The tire also feels quite controlled in snowy conditions (slightly fumbling on deeper blankets of 8 inches onwards, but these stutters are hardly dangerous) and composes its tire flex decently on moderate ice buildups. There is not much glaring drawback to complain about, though some of our members did feel the steering feedback grew slightly less consistent in colder temperatures.  

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3. Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive

Best uses: year-round usage, dry roads with even surfaces, high-spirited accelerations), water below 9 inches, light snow, ascents

Equipped with Treadlock Tech and Evolving Traction Grooves, Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive easily breezes the Toyota Prius through paved roads and slightly rougher surfaces alike with aggressive, sure-footed footprints at any driving rate below 70 MPH.

You will likely not experience many issues with its braking distances, either – hence the non-dramatic and very smooth lane merges departures on both regular roads and highways. And while cornering ribs could have received more intermediate support around the flanks, they are generally composed enough to afford low-radius approach angles and occasional understeering accidents around tighter crooks.

During wet weather, occasional slippages are inevitable through sharp turns and wide skids. But even then, it is hardly dangerous nor intrusive: Assurance ComfortDrive keeps its ground well at casual driving rates thanks to the large in-built sipes and well-blended soybean oil into the compounds. Its AquaChannel Grooves also distribute water fairly consistently, resulting in well-controlled stutters/hydroplaning mostly in deeper water beyond 9 inches.

For a middle-pricing tire, Assurance ComfortDrive does not disappoint in winter conditions. Sure, you will have to gradually lower your speeds as the snow/buildup thickens, but the snow bites still bond quite well with the roads and do not experience major stalls/long feedback delays the way we often see with other non-winter tires. 

Riding quality and tread life are good, though you might prefer better noise refinements on slippery surfaces or during rough descents.

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4. Vredestein Quatrac Pro

Best uses: diverse steering techniques on dry/wet roads, rugged surfaces, deep dives, light loading, light snow

Vredestein QuaTrac Pro has its inside ribs and inboard shoulders very well-tuned compared to predecessors, so we could enjoy predictable and sure-footed tractions on paved and rugged surfaces alike during our test rides. The well-built outboard shoulders also contributed significantly to the rib’s overall support, leaving ample margins for our Toyota Prius to experiment with diverse techniques when diving into low-radius chicanes or carousels.

You will also be very pleased with the tire’s wet-weather behaviors. The hydroplaning around the borderlines is to be expected through graded surfaces and at slightly heavier cargo (700 lbs onwards), but that is likely the only instance when you have to instill more steering force than necessary. QuaTrac Pro composed itself quite well in other situations and recovered from oversteering accidents pretty fast, ensuring even our lackluster one-palm control could not throw the car entirely off track.

On icy roads, the tire admittedly sends itself into frequent drifting at driving rates beyond 35 MPH; fortunately, it regains some of its usual composure on deep snow and grows significantly more stable once you return to light snowy roads with accompanying snow chains.

Riding/noise control generally plays in your favor. Still, for such an expensive tire, its treadwear rates and evident dents upon thicker gravel trails are admittedly underwhelming. 

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5. Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack

Best uses: dry pavements, moderate-speed endeavors, water of 3-7 inches, light snow, moderate loading, wet sweeping corners

Thanks to the non-chamfered edges, Turanza QuietTrack will bring you an almost divine riding comfort in dry conditions. It grips the paths so tightly without choking over-reactions out of the flanks, resulting in smooth, nearly effortless strikes through pavement grooves and large cracks without major drama. And if abrupt accelerations are not really your priority, loading 700-800 lbs here is totally within reach.

Its punctual and reliable steering/cornering feedback also translates very well into moderate water depth (3-7 inches); you will not find the tire stutter, cough out water, or stall upon sharp turns or wide-radius skids. And even in deeper floods, the round footprints cut through water layers quite well to sidestep unwanted hydroplaning. Sure, you may consider reducing your driving rates to 30-35 MPH for safety reasons if you are a beginner, but average and seasoned drivers can actually navigate just fine with basic push-pull moves.

On another note, Turanza QuietTrack is clearly not meant for snow: it can plow decently through lightly covered roads with low speeds and accompanying snow chains but falls quite flat on any other thicker buildups. Thus, judging by such mediocre resistances against cold temperatures, Turanza QuietTrack’s similarly less-than-impressive treadwear rates are unsurprising.

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6. Continental TrueContact Tour

Best uses: Budget choice, Crisp steering feedback (e.g., overtaking vehicles, tight parking, etc.), flooded corners, light/moderate towing, light snow, comfortable long rides

As one of the best standard touring tires in the market, Continental TrueContact Tour worked well in our dry tests with its stable interlocking blocks and lateral sipes. They took little time to familiarize themselves with the patterns when we started at 40 MPH; we didn’t even feel the brief flanking shakes often observed around wide-radius kids. Even as a beginner, you can stay confident navigating through roadblocks, overtaking vehicles, parking into tight spaces, and all other similarly basic steering situations.

The tire is fairly well-behaved in wet weather; we managed to strike through deep, flooded corners at roughly 55-60 MPH with only the barest hint of slippage when the car was loaded by more than 500 lbs. And while these anti-hydroplaning features do not translate fully into snow, you can still expect stable footings on light snow (below 5 inches) and generally manageable composure on thicker snow and ice buildups.

On another note, while TrueContact’s riding comfort and durability is class-leading, some of you might hope for better integrity in colder rain and snowstorm, especially given the upper-pricing range.

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D. Best Performance Tire for Toyota Prius

7. Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02

Best uses: extreme summer riding, moderate water, moderate loading, high-speed navigating, deep dry corners

Continental ExtremeContact 02 promises one of the best traction capabilities you have ever seen for a max-performance summer tire, relying on its extreme tread blocks and performance-focused SportPlus Technology to grind the car confidently through all terrains in little to no drama. 

Cushioned rides on paved roads are an obvious given, but you will find the tire to chop delightfully even on rugged mountain passes or cobblestone surfaces, smoothing out the jostles in such sleek moves that straight revs from 30 to 70 MPH in seconds could barely stutter the car off its tracking.

Deep stagnant water admittedly mutes out the steering feedback slightly around corners. But chances of plummeting or collisions are still very low here, thanks to the even-pressure footprint that serves both as an anchor and a good water-evacuation channel. Better yet, it achieves all this feat without sacrificing general comfort; minus slightly more pronounced squeaks on thicker water, your rides will hardly get intruded by uninvited vibrations or deafening protesting noises.

Nevertheless, treadwear rates are far from ExtremeContact’s best highlights. They are still much better than many rivaled max-performance summer tires, of course, but not enough to guarantee mindless driving for extended periods.

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8. Vredestein Hypertrac All Season

Best uses: long on-road rides, spirited driving (deep corners, hard brakings, high speeds), casual wet rides, extended curves on both dry and wet terrains, light snow

One of the best ultra-high-performance tires in the market, Vredestein HyperTrac settled all our worries through its competitive outboard tread designs that paved the way for excellent, agile steering. The tire-road connection was established right away and only grew more stable the longer we rode, seemingly unfazed by fluctuating inputs or even intentional hard brakings mid-corners. Hence, the car has no trouble breezing through significant texture transitions and will give you quite a blast through steep ascents or graded surfaces.

Like most tires on this list, there is not that much difference between HyperTrac’s dry and wet behaviors – minus signature hydroplaning at deeper water that is totally expected of most wet rides. Tight corners were totally doable (given good preparations), and some of our team members even afforded consistent pulls around tight curves that ended nicely on the exit.

However, for such an expensive ultra-high-performance tire, HyperTrac is not exactly phenomenal on snow and ice. It is generally rideable (and quite stable when navigating light snow of 3-5 inches), but far from enough to help you tackle mid-way changes, sharp turns, or rough ascents. Higher-speed endeavors beyond 40 MPH also tend to push the car into frequent fumblings. 

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9. Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus

Best uses: extreme rides on-road, deep water, descents, even surfaces, light loading, summer usage

Another Continental tire that makes it into the list, the DWS 06 shines through the noise with excellent steering feedback and unwavering on-center ribs, whose combined power plays a huge part in gumming the Toyota Prius through rougher road textures. 

You will not encounter many traction losses at high speeds (60 MPH onwards) and even less during casual rides, easily compensating for occasional shudders before each lane merge with the stable, grippy macro-blocks that boost the footprint optimization to the highest levels. Even deep water and flooded corners can hardly damper its momentum, aided by the generous high angles to redirect rainwater even faster through the grooves.

Still, the tire’s snow performances leave a lot to be desired (reaching its worst on icy roads) and only become generally decent on light snow of 2-3 inches. The treadwear – while still being generally favorable – seems to increase its rates when subjected to heavy rain, extreme ascents, or deep dives.

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E. Best Winter/Snow Tire For Toyota Prius

10. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

Best uses: all winter terrains, casual summer rides, heavy rainfalls, flooded road sections

There is no doubt about Blizzak’s extreme snow bites across all temperature extremes; we easily struck through dense buildups and thickly-covered roads with very minimal inputs and almost no braking engagements. Even slippery, cracked icy paths turned out to be quite a breeze at 40-55 MPH, allowing you to get more relaxed with your steering control and wrist position.

These plowing bites continue to work well in wet, snowless weather, ensuring hydroplaning is kept at a minimum regardless of water depth and your steering techniques. And while summer tractions might not be as sharp, WS90 still holds its ground well in casual rides without trading off too much impact-handling prowess. 

On another note, the horrid squeakings through water and snow at high speeds might not sit well with you if you are noise-sensitive. Plus, although its treadwear rate is much better than many winter tires, WS90 is still not really meant for excessive all-year usage.

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FAQs

Can I Use Tires From Different Brands On The Back and Front of the Toyota Prius?

You can, but it is generally not recommended due to the ill-distributed pressure, which leads to much faster treadwear rates (not to mention, accidents or tire plummets can easily occur). So, for safety reasons, always use the same tire brands for all four wheels.

How Often Do I Need To Replace My Prius Tires?

According to suggestions from Toyota itself, you should have all your tires replaced/installed every 6 years.

Conclusion

Toyota Prius is generally non-demanding and can go easily with most middle-range standard touring/all-season tires.

Regardless, you must still consider your driving habits and preferences to ensure your budget is spent on the best Toyota Prius tires. Research properly through trustable manufacturer sources or our tire reports (available on the COR Wheels website), and contact us if there is anything in the findings that needs clarification.