Driving through snow and ice

Search around, this topic has been covered ad nauseam.

GenIII Prii have less aggressive traction control than the GenII and my GenII has no problems climbing the Rocky Mountain passes. I have a season ski pass and am up there all the time, usually driving through a blizzard so I can get first powder.

It is all about driver style. I can drive the Prius up the mountain with no issues while other people in 4x4 battering rams of death spin out of control into the ditch. The Prius is capable of being a mountain goat, but it is only as good as its weakest link. The driver and the tires on the car and the 2 big ones when it comes to Prii.

 

This will be my 14th Winter driving a Prius in Minnesota. I've experienced everything the cold season can dish out.

So, I'm not sure what to say at this point. In fact, it drives much better than my mom's 2004 Corolla on snow & ice. So, there's really nothing to prove. It works fine.

The key is to enjoy the slower speeds required for safer driving. MPG shots up as a result. It's a win-win situation. Heck, you'll look at commute congestion quite differently. That nightmare of wasting gas is replaced by silent satisfaction.

 

Our Prius is the best handling vehicle we have ever owned.

We drive on ice [frozen ponds, etc] and it handles great.

 

no problem in these alaska winters that last a long time. however, i wont leave home w/o my studded snow tires.

 

I shifted to studs last week. The ground was beginning to freeze. Fog coming off the rivers will form black-ice on the pavement soon. So studs are needed.

I have seen a few conversations where new tire technology is getting close to being as good as studs. But not as inexpensive as studs.

 

Do you have snows on all four wheels? Studded tires?

 

Two Prius in 8 years in Wisconsin winters, tires that came on cars, no problems, just use common winter driving sense.
If your concerned put on winter tires they do help.

 

Im over in Seattle and to be honest, it hasnt been too bad. I take trips up to Stevens Pass annually and I have yet to have much difficulty. Although at one point, we did have to use chains. Also have to deal with the jerk-off drivers in their hummers giving you a hard time. Nothing a middle finger cant fix. Tires definitely make a difference. Im on the Michelin Defenders so we will see how it goes this year.

 

Don't bother with the finger. One of those morons will ram you or something.

The payoff with those guys is seeing them in a ditch 25 minutes later because they think a big 4WD truck can corner and stop like a Ferrari at the track.

 

The big advantage studless snows have is they are far better on dry or wet surfaces than studded tires. Since most people don't actually drive on snow and ice for the majority of the winter, this is a good trade off.

 

GOOD POINT! haha

 

Look, I love my prius but it does not Excel in the snow and ice. The traction control can help prevent "dummies" from getting into accidents, but it can keep a good driver from getting through or getting out of a parking space.

The low clearance doesn't help either.

Sure, snow tires and studs help but that is true with any car.

I much prefer to drive my iMiev in the snow. The well distributed Battery weight is a big plus, also it is high off the ground for a small car.

 

Very good with 4 winter tires here in Vermont. I generally run out of ground clearance before traction is an issue.

 

This will be our third winter with ours. We live on rural roads that are covered in hard packed snow all winter, which isn't much better driving on ice. It's decent in the snow with snow tires, better than our old Civic. I just put some new XI3's on so it should be better than the old Winterforce tires. My wife has got it stuck in our driveway after a big snow fall. The car got hung up on the floor boards, she pulled it out of the garage and just wouldn't move. I also have a 4x4 truck with winter tires, which many 4x4 owners don't think they need and end up in the ditch. The truck is obviously much better but it's also 4 wheel drive. For a FWD car, it is very good overall.

 

Try good brand snow chains. I swear by Rud chains. I always run out of floorpan clearance before I get stuck for lack of traction. Good modern chains like Ruds are "easy-on, easy-off".

 

Has anyone ever used cooper built arctic claw winter tires? It's my first winter with my 2010 prius. Any suggestions on winter tires, moderately priced?