POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Toyota.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Toyota Prius tires problems
moderate Owners of the 2006 Toyota Prius have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the tires, typically surfacing around 17,500 miles at roughly $150 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See tires across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
| Model year | tires complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Prius | 10 |
| 2006 Prius (this page) | 10 |
| 2007 Prius | 7 |
| 2008 Prius | 7 |
| 2010 Prius | 14 |
What stands out
Among the 8 model years of Toyota Prius in our records for tires problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering tires on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TSB: REVISION NOTICE February 12, 2018 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2015 ? 2018 model year vehicles. January 23, 2014 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2013 ? 2014 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. Toyota vehicles are equipped with either conventional or run-flat tires. Sometimes punctures may occur as a result of contact with road debris or other hazards. If a puncture occurs, it may be possible to repair the tire and return it to service. With a conventional tire it is not possible to drive for an extended amount of time with the tire at low pressures as damage to the tire may occur. With run-flat t
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: REVISION NOTICE February 12, 2018 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2015 ? 2018 model year vehicles. January 23, 2014 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2013 ? 2014 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. Toyota vehicles are equipped with either conventional or run-flat tires. Sometimes punctures may occur as a result of contact with road debris or other hazards. If a puncture occurs, it may be possible to repair the tire and return it to service. With a conventional tire it is not possible to drive for an extended amount of time with the tire at low pressures as damage to the tire may occur. With run-flat t
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Toyota vehicles are equipped with either conventional or run-flat tires. Sometimes punctures may occur as a result of contact with road debris or other hazards. If a puncture occurs, it may be possible to repair the tire and return it to service. With a conventional tire it is not possible to drive for an extended amount of time with the tire at low pressures as damage to the tire may occur. With run-flat tires, due to reinforced sidewalls, it is possible to drive for up to 100 miles (160 km) at speeds less than 55 mph (90 km/h) with little or no damage to the tire.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a consistent pattern of tire failure on 2006 Prius models, regardless of brand. Multiple owners purchased tires rated for 60,000 to 85,000 miles and saw them fail or wear out between 12,000 and 40,000 miles—many well before half the promised life. One owner with light duty (13,000 miles per year) and proper maintenance practices got less than half the rated mileage from Pirelli Cinturato P5 tires purchased new.
Sidewall failures appear across stock Goodyear Integrity tires and aftermarket options (Yokohama, Milestar). Owners report sudden blowouts at highway speeds with little warning, visible bulges in the sidewall, internal belt separation showing as lumps in the tread, and in one case, metal holes in the sidewall that destroyed the rim. Three separate failures on one vehicle all involved disintegration at the sidewalls during highway driving. Dealers and manufacturers have denied knowledge of widespread issues or refused warranty claims, often attributing failures to road hazards despite no owner evidence of impact.
One owner also reports the traction control engaging too aggressively on a steep uphill incline, causing wheels to lock and the vehicle to lose all propulsion at low speed. Additionally, the TPMS light activates seasonally without any actual pressure loss.
Same Toyota Prius tires reports on nearby years: 2005
Failure modes owners describe
Premature tread wear
Tires wear out well before manufacturer mileage rating, with owners reporting getting less than half the promised tread life under normal driving and maintenance conditions.
When: 27,000–40,400 miles on tires rated for 60,000–85,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tires worn out after 3 years with light usage (13,000 miles/year); Significantly reduced tread life despite regular rotation, balancing, and alignment
Repairs/costs cited: New tires required; Pirelli Cinturato P5 owners replaced tires; Milestar MS 932 Sport and Goodyear Integrity also affected
Sidewall failure and tire separation
Sidewalls crack, bubble, or fail catastrophically, sometimes with metal belt separation visible as lumps in the tread. Owners report sudden blowouts at highway speeds with minimal warning.
When: 12,000–70,000 miles; some failures at highway speeds (35–70+ mph)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden blowout without warning; Visible bubbling or bulging in sidewall; Tread area lumps indicating internal belt separation; Sidewall cracks or holes; Loss of vehicle control during failure
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement required; Goodyear Integrity (stock tires), Yokohama Avid, and Milestar MS 932 Sport affected; one owner reported rim damage alongside tire failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota and Goodyear deny awareness of similar problems; dealer declined warranty coverage on one sidewall bubble, claiming owner hit an object despite no evidence of road hazard
Inaccurate treadwear rating
UTQG treadwear ratings printed on tires do not reflect actual performance, with one owner citing a 460 treadwear rating on Goodyear Integrity tires that wore out at 17,500 miles.
When: 17,500 miles on Goodyear Integrity tires
Symptoms owners cite: Tires completely worn out well before rating would suggest
Repairs/costs cited: Owner calls rating fraudulent; new tires required
Traction control-related loss of traction on incline
Vehicle loses traction on steep uphill terrain while decelerating, with traction control system appearing to over-engage and halt wheel rotation, leaving vehicle immobile without external push.
When: 5,000 miles; incident during low-speed uphill deceleration
Symptoms owners cite: Wheels stop spinning during uphill deceleration at 5–10 mph; Complete loss of vehicle control; Vehicle becomes immobile and requires push to resume operation
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle required manual push assistance; no repair details provided by owner
Low tire pressure sensor malfunction
TPMS light triggers seasonally without actual pressure loss, occurring in fall when humidity is high and temperature drops.
When: Seasonal; fall season with high humidity and low temperature
Symptoms owners cite: Low tire pressure warning activates despite correct tire pressure; Recurs every fall season
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota acknowledges issue; listed as default selection in online service request system
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had tires trouble with your 2006 Toyota Prius?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the tires problem on the 2006 Toyota Prius?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $150 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most tires failures cluster between 12,406 and 59,000 miles, with the median around 17,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,406; a quarter make it past 59,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $150 for tires repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Toyota/Prius.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.