help me decide on wheels
 

2001 "Classic" Prius

I'm getting new tires today (or tomorrow)

and I'm trying to decide which wheels to mount my new "all season" tires to
and which set to put my "Snow" tires on

the VW wheels look like they should be more "Aerodynamic"
but they are a hair heavier, and half an inch wider

I will be putting more miles on the "all season" tires (7-8 months) than the Winter tires (4-5 months)
but not by much




NOTE: ALL WHEELS AND TIRES ARE ALREADY PAID FOR


Stock Prius Wheels
Cast 14x5.5
weight 13 lbs / KG 5.8967012

2001-2003 Toyota Prius 14" 69453 - All Factory Wheels
http://www.allfactorywheels.com/prod...88528_zoom.jpg
Le_Castellet.jpg
VW "le casselettes" Wheels
FORGED 14x6
15.4lbs

mine don't have "VW" center caps, they are smooth caps

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/HPIM4512.jpg




BEFORE:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...51991483_n.jpg

AFTER:
https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...03328084_n.jpg

I think my Winter tires are Blizzak WS50's 185/60-14

new All Season tires are General AltiMAX RT43 175/70R14

I think you'll give up the aerodynamic advantage of the VW wheels in added weight and width.

If you have some low-buck steelies you can mount tires on, go with the narrowest tires that will safely hold the car shiny side up, mount some smooth wheel discs and go from there.

For that matter, cheap steelies for the winter tires, too. And more smoothies.

Thanks
But, I don't have an extra $2-300 for a set of Steelies (or another $100 for smoothie wheel covers)

sell them and get, gen 1 insights on the stock lrr's. 11lbs each, 28lbs total with tire.

or pizza pans on the prius.

Stock for summer. Vw for winter is my vote. Make cheap aero covers for the stock rims too ;)

VW/winter, stock/AS. In poor winter weather when you need snows aboard, you may be spending more time at slower speeds and give up a bit less due to increased width. And I might be talking into my hat.

Tires and Wheels are installed
 

I went ahead and put the VW wheels on with the new A/S tires
and put the winter tires on the stock Prius wheels (they are kinda beat up)

after driving home, the gauges indicate I may have lost about half a mile/gal
but the car feels alot better, and is notably more quiet inside.

I have seen some folks claiming to use snow tyres NARROWER than their all-season ones.

new tires will reduce mileage slightly until they get a few hundred miles on them, but you may also be seeing the effect of 2.4 extra pounds per wheel.

just like going from road tires to mountain bike tires on a bicycle, it takes a lot of energy to spin up that extra weight.