Is it possible the new tires are larger in diameter since they're not worn, giving you more miles for that same gallon?

My '05 Rav4 was horrible for road noise, so opted for undercoat when I bought my FEH and it isn't too bad now. Too bad the stock muffler wasn't quieter, sure is loud for a limited. I'm embarrassed to drive with friends when it's below zero, the exhaust noise is deafening.

 

There is no comparison to the noise the stock '05 FEH that John and I have to the much quieter '09 FEH. You hear the engine more because there is not much road noise. The '09 does have a new exhaust system design and the engine produces more HP, but these 4 bangers all work at higher RPM and make more noise.

GaryG

 

Got the Tours mounted on the spare rims, ready to go. Still have the Ice-X's on the FEH. Probably be changing in another month. The Ice-X's are a LOT quieter and smoother than the Conti's ever hoped to be. Hope the Tours are!

We aren't a luxury car family either: '94 F150, '99 S10, '96 Nissan Pickup, '99 Escort, '65 VW Bug.

 

I use an air compressor, which has its own gauge, to inflate the tires on my Prius. I also use a digital tire gauge (which talks) to check TP. My question is: which is more accurate - and is a difference between the two of a couple psi important?

 

A couple psi is not a big deal.

In fact, when you check your tires, best to do it at night.
During the day, if two tires are in the sun, and two tires are in the shadow, the two tires in the sun will read 3-4 psi higher.

Black absorbs heat. Hot air - higher psi.
I've seen this time and time again, and it is surprising!

 

Thanks for the info. . .

I usually fill my tires in the garage, so that's not a problem.

 

Well, after a tire "break in" period, I can say with confidence, the Michelin tires HAVE IMPROVED FUEL ECONOMY.

Last September, just as it was getting colder, I added a 38 pound hitch to my car. The new tires are ~2 pounds lighter each, so that saves me 8 pounds, so the hitch is adding only 30 pounds now. With the colder temps, my MPG went way down.

Past few days I have had 60's to near 70 degrees. My MPG is up... WAY UP.
And I don't mean seasonal up. I mean record breaking MPG up.

I'm beating my "best scores" by 9-10% now. Hard to believe, but I've done it long enough to rule out wind or weather, and made many round trips that had 9-10% higher MPG.

Once my engine is warm, I can reset the MPG on the NAV and SG and drive around all day in stop and go conditions. City, with lots of stoplights.... and I have been able to keep the Nav above "Max" for 2 hours of driving... and the SG varies between 59.7 and 61.5 MPG for some of my 25 to 50 mile trips.

I've been able to keep "mid-50's" for long intervals before, but never exceed 60 MPG for long round-trips before the new tires.

Counting several "cold starts" plus backing out the driveway 6 times, etc... my tank is at 48.7 MPG now.

If I did a "marathon" and drove the entire tank without cold starts, I could get, I'm sure, 800 to 850 miles on one tank of gas. Not practical, just possible... like one of those hypermiler "stunts".
I'm quite happy with 48+ MPG going to work, the store, and going out to eat.
( and no, of course I can't do this every tank either, I actually drive with snow 5-6 months a year, and summers are too hot for those kinds of numbers )

Oh, I have 40 psi in all four tires. ( cold )
I ran 44-45 psi in my old tires, and they did wear more on the center.
Not much more, but maybe 1mm more in 50,000 miles.
So I think I'm going to compromise and keep the new ones at 40 psi year-round.

 

Given the winter weather we get up here in Canada, I'm really glad that back in October I put a set of Goodyear Triple tred Fortera tires on the FEH. And those tires have been great, super traction in snow and on ice.

 

I also use the Goodyear Triple Tread tires on my Escape during the winter months with positive results. I will soon be removing these tires/rims and replacing with the stock EcoPlus tires which provide improved fuel efficiency.