Add new comment

The 2023 Prius is a curious machine. Toyota spent years making it the poster child for fuel efficiency, then suddenly decided it needed a midlife glow-up. The result? A sleek, coupe-like profile with big 19-inch wheels—a setup that looks great on Instagram but, in real-world driving, adds unnecessary weight and rolling resistance. Enter Leo Ikeda, a Minnesota-based hypermiler who isn’t here for the aesthetics. His solution? Ditching the factory bling in favor of function-over-form 16-inch wheels, shedding 11.5 pounds per corner in the name of efficiency.

“Ok. You may say it looks like a$%*¥. I don’t care. I used to drive a 2012 Prius lol,”

he says. Priorities, folks.

“Ride 150 miles so far.  

Initial impression: it seems much quieter but it’s kind of subjective

Ride quality.  Seems softer again sbjective.   I’m sure it is 

Mpg?   Today was kind of windy day , 3!to 10 mph wind.   23 gust of wind.

Temperature 44F to 46F.  In Minnesota.  I get usually 40 to45 mpg In very cold day.  45 F is not too bad however it’s not ideal.   This is no way accurate but after Prime battery depleted I reset mpg on screen And got 59.5 mpg going 65 mph for 21.1 mile.   And city.  Going 25 to 35 mph. Sopping at least 20 to 25 times  at stop lights and signs. I got 65.1 mpg  going about 16 miles.   Again it was 45F temperature out With wind. And it’s not accurate method or enough data point.  

Not sure how many miles I get using battery alone.   It was way too cold to  this morning.   

When temp get a bit higher I can compare how much energy used per mile. That maybe good indicator of efficiency”

Swapping Out The Wheels

Swapping out factory wheels for a lighter setup is nothing new. Racers do it for performance, off-roaders for durability, and in this case, hypermilers for every last drop of fuel savings. Toyota’s 19-inch wheels tip the scales at 47 pounds each, while Leo’s new 16s weigh just 35.5 pounds.

That’s a total reduction of 46 pounds in unsprung mass—enough to make a measurable difference in ride quality, acceleration, and braking. "Ride quality seems softer… much quieter," he notes. Of course it does. A smaller wheel means a taller tire sidewall, which soaks up road imperfections better than the rubber-band-thin stock setup.

How Did It Perform?

But the real question, Did it actually improve fuel economy? After 150 miles of testing in a brisk Minnesota winter, temps hovering at 45°F with winds gusting up to 23 mph, Leo reset his trip computer and started gathering data. The results? 59.5 mpg at a steady 65 mph over 21.1 miles and an even more impressive 65.1 mpg in city driving over 16 miles, stoplights and all. He’s the first to admit this isn’t scientific, “This is no way accurate,” he concedes, but when’s the last time a stock 2023 Prius put up numbers like that outside of a controlled EPA test?

Physics backs him up. A 2022 University of Michigan study found that shedding 10 pounds per wheel can improve efficiency by 1-2%. Leo’s total 46-pound reduction could realistically be giving him a 5% bump in fuel economy. That alone could mean hundreds of dollars in fuel savings over the life of the car. Toyota, of course, knows this. But they also know that big wheels sell cars, even to efficiency-minded buyers. It’s why the Prius ships with 19s while the RAV4 Hybrid, a heavier and less aerodynamic SUV, gets more practical 17-inch wheels.

Toyota Prius History

• The Toyota Prius is widely recognized as the pioneer of hybrid technology, combining an internal combustion engine with an electric motor to achieve exceptional fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
• Its innovative powertrain design employs regenerative braking and an advanced battery system, allowing it to seamlessly switch between energy sources and reduce overall fuel consumption.
• Over multiple generations, the Prius has continuously evolved with improved performance, enhanced safety features, and modern connectivity options, cementing its status as a leader in eco-friendly automotive innovation.

The Reaction Of The Community 

The Prius community, predictably, is split. Some argue that Toyota optimized the car with its factory setup and that any changes risk throwing off the balance of aerodynamics and rolling resistance. Others, like commenter Korben Cherkas-Clark, call it nonsense: “Guy came to my house saying 15s don’t fit. Had an awesome experience with those size and winter tires. All these Prius have the same size brakes, so clearance was no issue.”

In other words, Toyota’s 19s are there for show, not a necessity. Of course, there’s one unavoidable consequence of this swap: It doesn’t exactly improve the Prius’ curb appeal. The stock wheels, love them or hate them, gave the car a modern, almost sporty edge. The 16s? They make it look like it rolled off an early-2000s economy lot. 

What’s Next

But for guys like Leo, that’s irrelevant. His mission is pure numbers, fuel savings, efficiency, and reliability. And if a smaller wheel with a meatier tire gets him there, who cares if it looks like a glorified roller skate?

So what’s next? More data, more testing, and eventually, a verdict on whether this is the ultimate Prius efficiency hack or just a well-intentioned placebo effect. But one thing is already clear: Toyota’s obsession with “sporty” hybrids might be leaving real-world efficiency on the table. And in a car built for MPG supremacy, that’s a trade-off worth questioning.

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.