I'm having repeated problems with the tires on my 2001 Prius. I searched the archives and found several very detailed and helpful posts about poorly aligned tires and tire failures on the 2001 Prius. However, these posts were several years old. I'm looking for an update. I bought an original, right-off-the-boat, shrink-wrappped Prius in 2001. I haven't had any problems with it, except for the tires. I replaced two tires last year after one ripped on the freeway and one was clearly about to go. The tire failure was blamed on poor alignment and I blamed the whole incident on myself (user error). I made sure to have the new tires properly aligned. Then this summer I replaced the other two tires and got all 4 realigned (at my cost). However, today, another one ripped on the freeway. Because the tire is less than a year old, it is warrantied, but Discount Tire reports that the 2001 Prius uses only Bridgestone tires and that they are backordered. Has anyone had any recent experience with tires other than Bridgestone? The 2004 post mentioned Sumitomo, so I'll try to find that one. Has Toyota responded to the reports of tire failures, all blamed on poor alignment? Thanks in advance, June ~~ Mom to Sparkky ~~ Original 2001 Silver Toyota Prius

If you run a search for tires here on out Prius group website it should give you the information you are looking for. As far as the original LRR Bridgestone tires (LRR low rolling resistance) for the classic Prius, owners have found that if the tires are rotated every 5,000 miles and by running 42 psi in the front tires and 40 psi in the rear tires that it greatly increases the life of the tires. You might check with Tirerack.com. This is where I purchased my OEM replacement tires and they were delivered within two days. I paid $55 per tire plus shipping for all four tires was $35 for a grand total of $255 for 4 OEM Bridgestone Potenza RE92 175/65 R14 XL LRR tires. Some owners of the classic Prius have used Michelin X-One 185/65 R14. This is not a LRR tire and your milage can be effected by 2 or 3 MPG. Another choice is the Nokian NRT2 175/65 R14. This is a LRR tire, but it is not the same size as the oem factory tire, but they will work. Good luck!!! Pete/IN

Sincere thanks to both of you for taking the time to post and for your thorough answers. I'll definitely follow up. I'll also start checking the toyota-prius (with a hyphen) group. Many thanks, June

don't get upset but if by chance you decide to not repair your Prius let me know, there are parts i will buy. let me hear from you, vivian

You know I have a 2002 and I bought the car a year and a half ago and the tire are still in great condition I drive about 25,000 miles a year and I haven't had any problems with mine and I don't think that my tires are bridgestone I dout it.

congratulations on buying a used Prius and yes there are many on the road that have no trouble. one was mine, also a 2002, but about a year ago, i had some major problems, i believe caused my mechanic neglect. my left front wheel came of the car while i was preparing to exit the freeway. what a shock... and the repairs were wierd... a new small battery? it didn't make sense but i was so glad to be alive it took me a few days to fight back with Toyota national. vivian PS next were my 2 front tires from neglect also, the mechanic hadn't really checked the tires. so i had to buy 2 new front tires but since i bought a lifetime alignment from Firestone, i went there, they were the ones to find the damage to the front tires when i went in for a tire air leak.