Questions about winterizing the Prius

So far I’ve only boughten the pipe insulation to create a grill airflow blocker/heat retainer.

I live in MN so temps will be below freezing to 40 degrees from here on out for the seasonal changes all the way into spring next year, I want enough ground clearance to manage driving over blizzard like unplowed snowy streets no matter what so my questions are:

Looking at the steel 16 inch wheels from RockAuto I see they won’t fit unless I get a wheel hub adapter device (do not know what’s it’s called)?

I want to get beefy winter tires for those 16 inch wheels any recommendations and if not what would you recommend for just stock 15’s for beefy winter tires?

trying to add ride height just from wheels and tires, unless there’s a better route?

 

Thanks, those wheel code numbers are for just those black steel wheels right? Are they wider or something or just cheaper? Thanks for the tire recommendation unfortunately I can not afford to stay home and wait till the morning when it gets plowed because I’m a janitor and road plowing sometimes get slept on until the morning which totally fucks me over the days it’s one foot of unplowed snow at midnight when I’m done wit my shift, I just sleep at work I guess.

what is that you insulated inside of your engine bay?

here’s my grill block I just finished, didn’t use wires or anything to secure it I think this is called the “Schaefer Method”?

will upload pictures once I add the media

 

Edited with photo

 

yeah I figured the rule of thumb for tire size change is one inch down or one inch up to keep the speedometer correct never thought of it affecting abs and traction control, I guess I’ll just buy some cheap 15'' steel wheels and a pair of snow tires, not concerned about ice as I’m always in eco mode and braking long before normal braking conditions all year round due to regen/kinetic braking already in effect. I’m more worried about being able to drive over a foot of unplowed snow to make it to work, I work from 8pm-12am 7 days a week (yes I’m psycho) but that’s usually the time snow plows aren’t plowing and wait until 4am sometimes for the sake of the morning commuters road conditions so I’m fucked being a night worker along with a Prius that is lower to the ground that normal cars, I would like to not sled over the snow but drive over it when those scenarios occur where the snow plows are all waiting for morning to plow due to the snow falling for days at times they tend to reserve active snow plowing measures till at least a foot has fallen when we get consecutive days of snow fall.

 

I meant “what” is being “insulated” but looks like the frame edge of the engine bay?

Also I seen a picture of someone putting wall insulation on there engine like a blanket, will that work or is it dangerous to lay clothe like material on top of the engine?

 

LOL catch a ride with the shoveling crew maybe

 

LOL catch a ride with the shoveling crew maybe

 

LOL catch a ride with the shoveling crew maybe

 

LOL catch a ride with the shoveling crew