Save $110 On New Tires For Your Toyota Prius Using This Simple Strategy

When it comes to buying tires for your Toyota Prius, there are plenty of options. You may be tempted to get the cheapest tires possible to save a buck, and that is your call, but I would not do that. For best results with Prius, you need to have a tire that the vehicle was designed around.

So what tire do you choose that fits your Prius while not feeling like you have to mortgage the house? Excellent question. I will reveal how I select the right tire for my Prius and get stores to give me the best price possible.

Choosing The Right Tire For Your Prius
I have worked for a major tire company in my earlier years. I worked for them for a solid six years. At that time, I became very educated in the good, better, best realm of tires. I can tell you that every once in a great while, a tire company will put out an entry-level or "good tire" that is phenomenal. It also lasts about a year until they have realized what they have done, and it is pulled from shelves. So it can be hit or miss getting a decent entry-level tire. My advice, opt-out from the get-go.

I can tell you that entry-level tires are just that, entry-level. This means to the consumer you are getting the cheapest tires money can buy. This also means you are losing out on promised features that you will find in higher grade tires. These features include but are not limited to better tire siping, a quieter better-designed tread pattern, longer wear life (or better performance), and also cool technology like low rolling resistance linings, which are critical for Prius.

Many consumers get duped into thinking that the entry-level option is okay, and sometimes it is for your budget, but frequently you are just shortchanging yourself. Most cheap tires wear much quicker than the higher quality ones, and you will end up spending more money and downtime going that route.

Of course, this is not always true, but in my years of experience, this happens a lot more to people than I probably want to admit. People who chose the low-grade tire also complained of harsher ride quality and more road noise. Prius already struggles with sound deadening, so it does not help to have a cheap, noisy tire.

Then there is the matter of safety. Most people are not aware that you need to change your tires when they hit the minimum. When your tire tread is shallow, your stopping distance increases significantly. Thus increasing your chances of a severe crash, and all because you thought you were getting a good deal. If nothing else, consider what you are doing when you choose tires next, but I know you will do the right thing once you see what my secret weapon is.

How To Save Big And Get The Best Tires For Your Prius
The company that I worked for was Discount/America's Tire company. They have one of the largest networks of tire dealers all across the States. They have massive buying power, and when it comes down to it, they will win your business because they can. Keep this in mind; I want to get you to put the pieces together.

The second company I want you to think of is Costco Wholesale. Have you ever heard of them? If you have not, then you are probably living in the woods with squirrels as your neighbors, but hey, who am I to judge. Anyway, Costco is a wheeler-dealer as well, and they want you to buy tires (and everything else) from them. Are you starting to see the picture here?

You need to get these two companies in a bidding war, and it is easier than you think. All you need is a quote from one to take to the other. It is just a matter of who is running the best deal at the time.

The Better Deal
Right now through mid-April, Costco is running a deal on Bridgestone tires. The deal is $110 off the tires and installation. Here is how this translates into savings in your pocket.

I am going to be buying tires for my 2008 Prius here soon, and I want to get the 185/65R15 Bridgestone Ecopia 422. I want them for several reasons. They are a "best" quality tire, they have all the features I want, including being a low rolling resistance tire, and they have the desired comfort/quietness I am looking for too.

Discount tires price is currently higher than Costco, but that does not matter. Knowing that Discount will beat any price out there, all I have to do is get a quote, take a screenshot, or show them what the deal is. The cost generally at Discount/Americas Tire company is over $60 higher than Costco right now. Look at my screenshots I have uploaded here for you.

If I want the better deal, I only have to choose the best of the two and get the other company to beat it for me. I save big, I get the best tire for my car and look like a rockstar doing it. Be sure you get quotes for the installed price, so you have all the taxes and fees included. No mistakes. That way, there are no hidden surprises when you go to pay.

Conclusion
I love a good deal, and even more so, I love a great deal on a great product. Be sure you do your searching and digging for what tires are best for your Prius. These Bridgestone Ecopia tires will be a great fit for my 2008 Prius with the 15" wheel. You may have a 16 or 17" wheel on your Prius. Be sure you are comparing apples to apples when you are looking for the best deal.

Just remember these businesses want to win you over, so make them work for it. A price war is easy to do, and it can help you save big. With all this saving, you can but some extra toilet paper (if you can find some) for all this crazy COVID-19 garbage we are plagued with right now.

Good luck, take your time and see you in the next story. Fix Your Toyota Prius Hatch Release Button The Right Way For Cheap.

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Peter Neilson is an automotive consultant specializing in electric cars and hybrid battery technologies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Service Technology from Weber State University. Peter is also an Instructor of Automotive Technology at Columbia Basin College. Peter can be reached on Linkedin and you can tweet him at The_hybrid_guy on Twitter. Find his page on Facebook at Certified Auto Consulting. Read more of Peter's stories at Toyota news coverage on Torque News. Search Toyota Prius Torque News for more in depth Prius coverage from our reporters.