Replaced Ecopia's with Michelin Defenders

[TomT]

You can use anything that is the appropriate size.

Does anyone know if you are required to use "eco" tires if you replace your tires on a leased Leaf? I read that on another forum and have not been able to confirm. Apparently someone got charged when they turned in their Leaf because they didn't have special "energy efficient" (or "eco") tires, like the Ecopia.

[minispeed]

You can use anything that is the appropriate size.

Does anyone know if you are required to use "eco" tires if you replace your tires on a leased Leaf? I read that on another forum and have not been able to confirm. Apparently someone got charged when they turned in their Leaf because they didn't have special "energy efficient" (or "eco") tires, like the Ecopia.

Another recent post had the Nissan lease return guide. http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.p ... 6&start=30
Guide is here. http://www.nissanusa.com/pdf/owning/Wea ... _Guide.pdf


From that here's the quote on tires.
"If you need to replace any tires, be sure they are a matching set that matches the type,
quality, size and rating of the vehicle’s original factory tires."

I'd say that LRR is a "rating". I have heard of people being dinged for the "quality" before when they buy 4 no name brand new Chinese main brand tread copy tires and are told all 4 have to be replaced. I'm guessing if someone else reported they got charged for having non LRR that it was probably only part of what was wrong with the tires. If you put on 4 brand new continentals/Michelins/Dunlop etc... that are non LRR I doubt they would mind. Lease returns are all about how the car looks on the auction block or dealer lot. People don't want to see Wanaxwing super grip XXR5000 tires on a car in a Nissan lot, they also don't want to see mis matched tires.

Your best bet is used, go on craigslist or other similar sights and look for something LRR (most all season Michelin). The guide also says 4/32 tread depth, or 40-50% of the avg tire. I've paid as low as $150 a set (on steel wheels) for name brand tires around there.

[hillzofvalp]

I'm trying to understand why the energy savers are better than the defenders for high mileage drivers...

[TomT]

Virtually anything you put on it will be better quality than the OEM Ecrapias... Rating refers to size, weight capacity, traction and temperature rating, and speed rating. LRR is not a rating. Nor is the tire life a rating.

I'd say that LRR is a "rating".

[minispeed]

I'm trying to understand why the energy savers are better than the defenders for high mileage drivers...

IMHO it's because the energy savers will allow you to do more miles per charge. Over in the prius forums the energy saver were considered the best. Yes the defenders have a higher tread wear rating butthe energy savers aren't bad.

http://priuschat.com/threads/michelin-e ... z3L4TMdANS
Read the whole thing his initial handling impression changed as they wore and he got use to them. Second post an owner is at 60000 miles and expecting over 70000.

If you're only concern is the tread life then yes the defenders should last longer but if you make money driving your millage per day can limit you.

[kilimats]

Just ordered my michelin defender from costco, $560 after all fees installed, not bad. Cant wait to replace the two diff set of tire the prev owner had.

[binks]

I know this is an old thread but I just got 4 of these tires for my leaf.. Can't be worse than stock tires. Ratings online are very good

[johnlocke]

I know this is an old thread but I just got 4 of these tires for my leaf.. Can't be worse than stock tires. Ratings online are very good

I have Defenders on my 2016 and initially lost .4-.6mi/KWH. After 20K+ on them I'm still down .2mi/KWH from the stock tires. In terms of handling and wet grip the Defenders are worlds better the stock tires. I thought that such high wear tires would have lower rolling resistance but I was wrong. Nonetheless, I still like them because of the improved handling.

[DougWantsALeaf]

I replaced my ecotopias with a Falken tire set which were reported as being eco friendly. Similar to the reports here, I lost what felt like 10% of my range compared to my highly worn stock tires (which with granny driving were 80% gone after 27K miles). The difference in winter driving was huge, and hence don't regret the range loss too much.

E+ due to arrive in a day or two, so will report back what the new car experience brings in terms of efficiency and grip.

[alozzy]

New tires definitely have higher rolling resistance, so depending on how you drive it will take a month or two before you get decent kWh/mile efficiency.