FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Could we? Sure. Will we? No. Let me tell you why. When we first set out to design a lift for the Prius we aimed for 2.5" of lift, and we quickly found out that the suspension, steering, and drivetrain components were all stressed well beyond factory tolerances. The ball joints, tie rods, CV axles, etc. demonstrated excessive wear and were even subject to failure. This also provided a harsher ride greatly detracting from the daily comfort of the Prius.  So we went back to the drawing board and stepped it down to 2" and were still unhappy with the angles and strain placed on the components. So we stepped it down again and found the sweet spot right at 1.5". This tends to give the most bang for the buck in regards to ride height, ride quality, and overall safety and longevity. And believe it or not, 1.5" makes a HUGE difference in drivability both on and off road. Typically when you think of lifted vehicles you think of trucks and SUVs, both of which the Prius is NOT. Think...RATIOS. A 1.5" lift on a Prius is comparable to a 3"+ lift on a modern full size pickup. The goal is to get the most amount of useable lift without sacrificing reliability, handling characteristics, ride, or safety. While also keeping it subtle and tasteful. We have tried lift heights ranging from 1" to 3" and 1.5" really is the happy median for all of these things. We will not compromise these things in order to gain a little more height.  

On average, add 2" diameter to the OEM tire size for the maximum that will fit after the lift is installed. The MAXIMUM tire size DOES NOT mean this is what we RECOMMEND. Bigger isn't always better and finding the right tire for your needs is paramount. Running the largest tire will have the most negative impact on fuel economy, handling, etc., and also leaves very little space for things like tire chains. Also keep in mind that every tire manufacturer has a slightly different standard of measurement so a 215/70R15 might not be the same overall diameter between brands. Be sure to check your specific tire make/model for exact measurements and be prepared for the potential of minor trimming in order to get the MAXIMUM tire size to fit with some makes and models of tire. 

Between fuel economy, on/off road performance, road noise, diameter, width, etc. there are countless factors that determine the “right” tire. A tire that does well off-road, is quiet and comfortable on-road, and delivers the best fuel economy DOES NOT EXIST. Prioritize what matters most to you and accept that everything comes at a cost. There is ample information regarding this online and we suggest that each person do their own research in order to narrow down their best option.  PRIUS OFFROAD WILL NOT PROVIDE TIRE SUGGESTIONS. Tires we have enjoyed so far are listed below. Keep in mind your fuel economy WILL BE AFFECTED by tire selection. General Altimax RT43, Yokohama Avid Ascent GT, Michelin CrossClimate 2, BF Goodrich Advantage TA Sport, Yokohama Geolander AT, General Grabber AT2, Toyo Open Country ATiii, BF Goodrich AT K02, General Grabber ATX

Backspacing, offset, diameter, width, weight, etc. Just like tires, the possibilities are endless and everyone's preferences and priorities are different. In our opinion, the factory wheels are great just as they are. Finding an aftermarket wheel that is lighter, stronger, and with the correct backspacing/offset/width/diameter is next to impossible. If you are considering purchasing aftermarket wheels the one suggestion we will provide is to consider a 16” wheel based on the fact that this increases the number of oversized tire options available while also balancing out the increase in tire diameter with tire sidewall when running an oversized tire. PRIUS OFFROAD WILL NOT PROVIDE WHEEL SUGGESTIONS.

Contrary to popular belief, our lift does not reduce fuel economy. The majority of our customers have not seen a reduction to fuel economy with our lift alone or have stated if there was a reduction it wasn't noticeable (.5-1mpg) There have even been several “hyper-milers” that have seen a slight increase in fuel economy (.5-1mpg). Their belief is that with the increase in ground clearance they are forced to slow down for bumps and dips less often allowing them to maintain more momentum. However, this is not something that we have extensively tested or promote. Keep in mind that increasing tire size or changing tire type will result in a reduction to fuel economy. We suggest leaving the factory tires on and enjoying the increase in ride height without a reduction in fuel economy prior to making a decision on which tires to buy.  

 We charge $300 for installation, however installation costs vary GREATLY depending on where you're located, the type of shop, and how familiar they are with the Prius. Typical prices range from $350-$500 but once again this can vary GREATLY. We suggest calling your local Prius specialist since they will be much more apt to handle the installation than an off-road shop that will most likely laugh at the thought of lifting a Prius. Installation is no different than a strut replacement so technically any auto repair or brake and alignment shop is capable of the install. If they are unable/unwilling to do the installation ask them if they have any recommendations on who might be able to handle the installation in your area. As a last ditch effort you could also look for a mobile mechanic.  If you plan on doing the installation yourself we have several detailed videos on our website outlining this process step-by-step as well as written instructions. 

If you're planning on installing our lift and have over 100k-150k miles on your struts AND are noticing poor driving/handling characteristics, now is an ideal time to consider replacing them since you will be removing them in order to install our lift. We ONLY RECOMMEND using KYB complete strut assemblies since this is what your vehicle and our lift was designed around. www.amazon.com  www.ebay.com  www.shocksurplus.com www.tirerack.com are great options for purchasing. We do not sell shocks/struts. 

POPULAR KYB  PART NUMBERS ARE LISTED BELOW:

2003-2009 PRIUS

FRONT RIGHT: SR4223 FRONT LEFT: SR4224 REAR RIGHT: SR4513 REAR LEFT: SR4514

2010-2015 PRIUS

FRONT RIGHT: SR4245 FRONT LEFT: SR4246 REAR RIGHT/LEFT: 349035

2012-2017 PRIUS V

FRONT RIGHT: SR4520 FRONT LEFT: SR4521 REAR RIGHT/LEFT: 349218

This is one question we don't have a definitive answer for. With hundreds of kits on the road and cumulatively over a million miles of testing we have yet to see any parts fail and need to be warrantied. We also have numerous dealerships installing our lifts on brand new vehicles before leaving the showroom floor so our gut says warranty shouldn't be an issue. In all honesty, we feel it would ultimately boil down to the dealership and the part in question. If you install the lift and your window motor fails no dealership in their right mind would refuse replacement. On the other hand if you snap a ball joint at your local OHV park theres a good chance the dealership is going to have some questions. All in all it's a risk we're willing to take and so far so good. 

We have yet to find a way to accurately calibrate the speedometer after larger tires have been installed. Although increasing your tire size will affect your speedometer, this is typically very minimal even going with the largest tire you can fit (ie: 3-4 mph off at 70mph). Seeing as there were multiple tire sizes available for the Prius from the factory your current speedometer is likely 1-2mph off as it is. after installing a 2" larger tire your speedometer will likely be 1-2mph off in the other direction. There are many online calculators that can calculate this for you like www.tiresize.com

There are three main components to alignment; camber, caster, and toe. Any time the ride height of a vehicle is adjusted, either up or down, the alignment needs to be corrected. The Prius does not come from the factory with a means to adjust camber or caster, which is why we have built in both camber and caster correction to our lift spacers. Toe on the other hand can only be adjusted physically through your tie rods. After your lift is installed an alignment will need to be preformed in order to get the toe back within factory spec. Typically this translates to .5 degrees of toe. Choosing to forgo an alignment will result in excessive tire wear to the inside edge of your tires.  

If you break our lift kit and live to talk about it, just send it back and we'll replace it free of charge. Thats right! We've made sure to cut no corners, leave no stone unturned, and produce the best lift kit for the Toyota Prius on the face of planet earth. We're so confident in the quality of our products we offer a LIFETIME GUARANTEE. If you're unsatisfied with your purchase you can return the NEW and UNUSED item for a refund within 30 days. Buyer responsible for return shipping cost and 10% restocking fee.*