A 2024 Prius Owner Calls the Factory 19-Inch Wheels “Hopeless,” Spends $1,270 to Downsize to 16s, and Says the Ride Quality Improvement Was Immediate

There was a time when the Toyota Prius existed mainly as a cultural shorthand, a car more often discussed than driven, usually by people who had not spent much time behind its wheel. That reputation has grown increasingly stale. 

The current Prius is a sharp, well-sorted piece of transportation that rewards smooth inputs, carries real composure through corners, and makes the everyday act of driving feel thoughtfully engineered rather than merely endured. 

Yet even a car built on good sense can stumble, and in this case, the misstep is literal, arriving in the form of oversized factory wheels that leave little room for forgiveness when pavement quality deteriorates.

One person went to Reddit to talk about it:

“As an update to my post from yesterday and for future awareness, since there's only a couple of posts from people doing this before on this subreddit

I decided to make the switch to 16" wheels instead of sinking more cost into these hopeless 19" wheels that shouldve never come on this car. I was already considering getting smaller wheels, so I figured this was a good time. I got wheels for around $100 each, and 205/65/16 michelin tires for about $170 each, bringing the total cost of this change to $1270 with the other misc. Fees from Discount Tire

I got the TPMS switched over from my tires, disposed of them since they were on their way out anyway, and now I have 3 OEM wheels to sell over time. I already have a spare tire, which saved my car from getting towed after hitting a pothole.

Since it's the AWD model, the calipers are bigger than the non-AWD model,l so not all 16" wheels fit as nicely, but the MB Wheels Crux did with minor room to spare between the wheels. Only drove it for a little afterwards, but already it is indeed a better ride on tires that have sidewalls to them.”

I decided to make the switch to 16" wheels instead of sinking more cost into these hopeless 19" wheels that shouldve never come on this car. I was already considering getting smaller wheels, so I figured this was a good time. I got wheels for around $100 each, and 205/65/16 michelin tires for about $170 each, bringing the total cost of this change to $1270 with the other misc. Fees from Discount Tire

I got the TPMS switched over from my tires, disposed of them since they were on their way out anyway, and now I have 3 OEM wheels to sell over time. I already have a spare tire, which saved my car from getting towed after hitting a pothole.

Since it's the AWD model, the calipers are bigger than the non-AWD model, so not all 16" wheels fit as nicely, but the MB Wheels Crux did with minor room to spare between the wheels. Only drove it for a little afterwards, but already it is indeed a better ride on tires that have sidewalls to them.”

Anyone who has spent time around cars recognizes this narrative immediately. Large wheels photograph well, signal modernity, and suggest performance even when the mission brief does not require it. In practice, they ask a lot of public roads that are rarely prepared to give it. What reads in the Reddit post is not anger so much as pragmatism. This is a driver who looked at the cost of continuing down one path and chose instead to realign the car with its purpose.

Toyota Prius: Efficiency, Hybrid Performance, and Comfort Overview

• The Prius emphasizes aerodynamic efficiency through a low, tapered profile that supports fuel economy but slightly constrains rear visibility and headroom.
• Its hybrid powertrain prioritizes smooth, predictable operation over performance, delivering consistent efficiency in both city and highway driving.
• Interior controls are arranged to support everyday usability, with clear instrumentation and physical inputs retained for frequently used functions.
• Ride tuning favors comfort and stability, making the vehicle well-suited for commuting, though handling remains oriented toward efficiency rather than engagement.

The Prius XLE AWD already walks a careful line. It must deliver efficiency, stability, and year-round usability while still meeting modern expectations for style. Nineteen-inch wheels complete the visual statement, but they do so by shaving away the sidewall that could otherwise absorb broken pavement and sharp edges. By moving to a 16-inch wheel and a tire with a real profile, the car gains compliance almost immediately. The owner’s first impression was not subtle, describing a ride that felt better within the first few miles.

The community response reinforced the decision with a refreshing lack of drama. One commenter pointed out that the car would ride better and that replacement tires would cost less, calling it a win on both counts. Another noted that smaller wheels typically bring an efficiency benefit as well. These observations are neither controversial nor theoretical. They are the accumulated wisdom of drivers who understand that comfort, cost, and efficiency tend to move in the same direction when sidewall returns to the equation.

There is also a technical nuance worth noting. The all-wheel-drive Prius uses larger brake hardware than its front-drive counterpart, which means not every 16-inch wheel will fit. The owner’s solution required careful selection, ultimately landing on a wheel that cleared the calipers with little room to spare. It is a reminder that this was not a cosmetic whim but a considered mechanical change, one that respected the car’s engineering rather than working against it.

Questions about road noise followed naturally. Taller tires generally do a better job of muting impacts and filtering harshness, and while the post stops short of formal measurement, the expectation is grounded in decades of tire behavior. For a vehicle designed to be quiet, efficient, and low-stress over long distances, that improvement matters. It aligns with what the Prius does best instead of distracting from it.

What makes this story compelling is not rebellion but restoration. The Prius emerges not diminished by the change but clarified by it, closer to its ideal form as a practical, engaging tool for daily travel. Spending $1,270 to undo a factory choice might sound counterintuitive, yet the result speaks for itself. Sometimes the most satisfying modification is the one that gives a car back its balance, reminding us that thoughtful design is not about excess, but about harmony between machine, road, and driver.

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.