Recommended Pressures For Gen 3 15" Tyres?

October 10, 2009

According to my handbook, for a (Gen 3) Prius with 15" wheels (195/65R15 tyres) the recommended pressures are different depending on the spare tyre type:

36 psi front / 35 psi rear - compact or no spare

32 psi all tyres - standard spare

My T3 has a compact spare so I assume I should be using 36 front/35 rear but I don't understand why 32 would be appropriate if a different spare is onboard.

I will be checking with the dealer but I wondered if anyone here can explain why two figures are quoted and confirm the correct ones to use?

BTW I checked the tyres for the first time today (had the car nearly 2 weeks now) and they are inflated to over 40 psi (assuming the gauge on my pump is accurate?) - reading other threads it looks like they may be at "delivery" pressure and the dealer didn't adjust them before handing the car over to me (even though it's on their checklist!).

October 12, 2009

Well I've spoken to my dealer and I'm still a bit confused...

They checked, phoned me back and quoted 32 psi all round, even for my model which has a compact spare. Since speaking to them I've re-read the handbook and checked my car and have to disagree but the one useful thing that came out of the conversation was to check the sticker on the driver's side B-pillar and that shows 36 front and 35 rear (the diagram shows 5 passengers + luggage in the car but as there is no other figure quoted I assume it means the pressure doesn't need to be changed based on load).

So I reckon I know what I should be using even though my Toyota dealer said different.

I did wonder whether the 32 psi figure was for T Spirits with the solar roof. But according to my Prius brochure have they only have a tyre repair kit (i.e. no spare) and if anything I would have expected higher pressures to be recommended for a higher load.

Do you have a Gen 3 T3 with 15" wheels? What pressures are you using? If you can help me achieve "closure" on this issue I'd be most grateful :)

October 12, 2009

Well I've spoken to my dealer and I'm still a bit confused...
They checked, phoned me back and quoted 32 psi all round, even for my model which has a compact spare. Since speaking to them I've re-read the handbook and checked my car and have to disagree but the one useful thing that came out of the conversation was to check the sticker on the driver's side B-pillar and that shows 36 front and 35 rear (the diagram shows 5 passengers + luggage in the car but as there is no other figure quoted I assume it means the pressure doesn't need to be changed based on load).
So I reckon I know what I should be using even though my Toyota dealer said different.
I did wonder whether the 32 psi figure was for T Spirits with the solar roof. But according to my Prius brochure have they only have a tyre repair kit (i.e. no spare) and if anything I would have expected higher pressures to be recommended for a higher load.
Do you have a Gen 3 T3 with 15" wheels? What pressures are you using? If you can help me achieve "closure" on this issue I'd be most grateful :)

Must check this myself - not looked since the TSpirit was delivered 2 weeks ago :o However, experience on the Volvo V50 I had before the Prius was that pumping up the tyres for a full load improved fuel consumption by a couple of MPG. so I'm inclined to follow the recommendation for 5 passengers + luggage!