I went ahead and ordered a 2002 Prius on June 1st, so I could be in line while I continued to do my research and make my decision to buy one or something else. This issue of tire wear may well push me off the fence to get something other than a Prius. <br><br>My recently totaled Honda Accord had almost 205K miles on it, and I was only on my 3rd new set of tires - and they still had lots of tread left. At $135 per Prius tire times the optomistic estimate of 32,000 miles for a set given by hbprius, I'd be looking at an extra $2000 for tires over the life of the car (assuming it lasts as long as my Honda did). This is a little more than the gas savings I'd get by buying a Prius instead of a Civic, so the higher tire wear washes out the gas savings. <br><br>Basically it seems the main benefit of the Prius over something like the Civic is the low emissions, which is a big plus but not enough to sway me by itself. Tax credits are not a verified reality yet, and I sense that further improvements in hybrid efficiency are coming in the near future...<br><br>Am I missing something here?

&gt;Basically it seems the main benefit of the Prius over something like the Civic is the low emissions, which is a big plus but not enough to sway me by itself. Tax credits are not a verified reality yet, and I sense that further improvements in hybrid efficiency are coming in the near future...<br>&gt;<br>&gt;Am I missing something here? <br><br>There's a $2000 tax deduction (credit? whatever you call it) that most people think applies to Prius's bought last year and this year (and George W is workin on a hybrid-apecific tax benefit), and there's also the slim slim possibility that CA will change the laws and let SULEV vehicles drive in the HOV lanes with one passenger. But for me personally, the Prius is a kick to drive, and it's still fairly unique -- there are a gazillion Civics on the road, and I didn't want to be "one of the herd". But I've always been a bit strange they tell me...<br><br>-DanC

I don't know what everyone is saying. But the $2,300 FED check is in my bank account. <br><br>hybrid8 (SF) CA (18,500 miles, four new tires and still running strong)<br><br>CA LIC.# HYBRID8

"Am I missing something here?"<br><br>I think what you're missing is if your tires wear out really fast, no way would you spend your money replacing them with the same tire. If the tire wear issue turns out to be real, by the time you're ready, many people will have recommended many good replacement brands/models. So even if your 1st tires wore out instantly, you could probably replace them for $400-$500 with tires that perform the way you want, so that's the absolute maximum $ you'd be out. Not insignificant, but also not $2000. Every mile you do get from the originals brings that down a bit. I'd say factor in an additional $200 for possible early tire replacement and see if the numbers still work for you.<br><br>Robert Snyder<br>NJ-PIKACHU

4 Dunlops cost $253 including road hazard and all.<br><br>Bridgestones will remain on th front 'til July, I plan to retire (get it?) them @ 30K.<br><br>Ever since upping pressures to 45 PSI or so, they've been wearing evenly, @ 26,700 miles tread measures: LF 4/32 (outer)<br> 6/32 (middle)<br> RF 5/32<br> 6/32<br><br>Jeff

Jeff:<br><br>Any difference in MPG with them at 45 PSI?<br><br>How about the ride and handling?<br><br>George

Hi,<br><br>For a car that operates in such a narrow (THS) envelope, there are too many (external) variables<br>for me to pin MPG on tire pressure alone. (especially with this 4-season climate)<br><br>I could give you my "real world" post-hoc-ergo-propter-hoc experience of going from 48 mpg to 53 mpg after installing 2 new Dunlops on the rear.<br><br>But it was temperature and terrain that affected the mpg's, not a demi tire change.<br><br>Higher PSI should yield higher mpg's, but it also allowed me to feel the texture of the road, vibration-wise.<br><br>Most importantly, it stopped the excess outer tread wear.<br><br>Handling and general ride (aside from steering wheel vibrations) were unaffected.<br><br>Disclaimer:<br><br>For me, the Prius has become a throw-out-the-book car.<br><br>Because in my life before Baby:<br><br>I disliked most Japanese cars.<br>I would never be caught dead in a car wearing a bra.<br>I had never considered "lead-foot" driving a MPG aid.<br>Never over-inflated tires.<br>Never went more than 4K between oil changes.<br>Never had a feeling that stop-and-go, slow-speed<br>driving creates less ICE stress than steady, high-speed highway.<br>Never thought I'd spend so much time promoting HEV's.<br>Never thought I'd have a car with nightvision and video.<br><br><br>NEVER say never,<br><br><br>Jeff (Prius teaching this old dawg many new tricks)