I might be moving to Park City, Midway or Heber City, Utah for a new job in the next month or two. The job is at one of the ski resorts where the average snow fall is about 400 inches per year. They are pretty good about clearing the roads out there, but there will always be some type of issue. Is the Prius able to handle my needs in Utah in the Winter? Should I sell once I get out there and get something with 4WD? I've also heard that if I put on snow-rated tires it would help. The Spring, Summer, and Fall are no worries and I know from other threads that the Prius can climb mountains. I will not be commuting from Salt Lake to Park City (which would be a big problem). I will be living probably no more than 20 miles from Park City on that side of the Wasatch Mountain Range....so no crossing the range on the way to work.
I would keep the Prius and put on snow tires in the winter months, personally. But to suggest that you will never have issues would be wrong of me. If you'll need to park outside and could get several inches of snow during the times it's parked outside could give you some serious problems pulling out of deep snow in a parking lot and such. That said, most of the time you'll likely have no issues at all. Also, public transportation in Park City is excellent...you very well may be able to leave the Prius parked at home the majority of the time driving only when you really need to travel longer distances. This is far better for the environment and generally more convenient than driving anyway. I'll add that I'm jealous...I love Park City.
I would love to use public transportation. The job would start at 5:30 am (four, ten-hour days Monday-Thursday), so I don't know if the buses would be able to take me in that early.
Hi Aaron, Suppose you find the Prius (even equipped with winter tires) does not provide sufficient jeep-like capability to deal with the Utah ski resort terrain. In that event, would it be reasonable for you to invest in a beater 4WD for use during the winter - then revert to the Prius when the snow is gone?
My goodness...what will you do with yourself with a 3 day weekend in the gorgeous mountains of Utah...I"m sure you'll be bored out of your mind.
Not a bad idea at all. I could find a used Wrangler (like I used to have) for really cheap once I'm out there.
Hopefully I get this job...still negotiating salary at this point. I'm sick of Ohio and it's horrible economy.
I commuted three years from Salt Lake to Park City in my 2005 Prius.... here's a few thoughts: 1. freeways and major highways are kept clear of snow. 2. the PC area has had a problem in the past.... where to put all the snow collected from the roadways... to be point that some subdivisions had to wait to get cleared 3. traction control and steep icey driveways don't mix... even with Michelin Ice X tires 4. stay away from slow moving cars/trucks on the freeway.... if icey and on an incline, traction control will shutdown the transmission to save it..when in this condition, if you get to 7mph you are toast, pull off and wait; on the other hand.. with noone in front of you, traction control and Michelin Ice X will pull you up straight and quick on the steepest part of parley's canyon, with 3-4 inches of snow. 5. expect a min of 2-3 days a winter as not sutiable for a Prius and probably another 10 days, waiting for the roads to be plowed and sand/salt applied. While I commute in Salt Lake and do not have any problems I actually was better off commuting from Salt Lake than living there, as noted above, the sidestreets and driveways will be your real problem... good luck!
We have an '06 and live in southern Minnesota where, after a heavy storm, the city crews have made a pass by 7 AM and our road is plowed curb to curb by 9 AM. Many Prius owners complain about the traction control, but I have found that a little patience and the traction control and OE tires will work wonders on a slippery driveway. Had occasion to see this demostrated last winter when our driveway, which rises about 8 feet or so from the street over about 40 feet, was covered with glare ice, so slick I don't think I could have personally moved on it with out crawling. Our Prius, left to its own and a very light throttle foot, simply crawled up the drive, very slowly and steadily. I was amaised. If I had floored it it would have gone through the expected lurch and stop routine. But with a slow, light touch it very nicely carried us all up the incline. The electric's have a light touch not available in other cars. Patience, patience, patience. It does wonders.
Are the Michelin Ice X tires above the rest of the snow rated tires out there? There are too many to choose from. I imagine the best route to go would be to just keep the Prius and get some kick-butt snow rated tires. Should I get new wheels (16") to mount the snow tires or should I just use my existing wheels and take them on and off every winter? Can anyone recommend wheels?
Any set of steelies or alloys will do the job. I like to have mine mounted on their own rims so that I don't have to pay $100 twice a year to swap them. At the time I bought some inexpensive alloys from tirerack since steel wheels couldn't be found at any price. For Utah I would recommend a tire that's geared more toward deep snow than for ice. I might be off base but that's what I would expect in the Rockys.
Hi All, The feedback from the gas peddle through boots is nonexistant. You wont even feel the gas peddle when you may be giving the car too much accellerator command for the conditions. I eventually learned to just go by foot position and got the result similar to captnslur, but not on icey sufaces. As you apparently have found out Aaron, snow tires for the touring sized rims are only available from a few tire makers. Michelin X-Ice being one of those tires available in the 195/? -16 size.
Hi!! What I can recommend, living in the Appalachian Mountains, which get no where near 400 inches of snow per year, is keep the Prius and get a 4x4. Here, when we get a fresh snow fall, we may have to drive the 4x4 for the first day, maybe two, but after that everything is plowed and we're back to the Prius. I certainly feel like you will be able to get very good use out of it there. We get probably 100+ inches of snowfall per year here, so about 1/4 of what you'll be getting. Here ya just gotta have a truck. Actually, a 4x4 truck. There's usually firewood to haul and snow covered roads to traverse. I do not live in an urban environment, but I work in one. The Ford Ranger we used to have got excellent mileage but we traded it when we traded our Xterra for the Prius. Good luck!! and I recommend holding on to the Prius and seeing how it does where you'll be living. There may only be 2-4 weeks per year you can't use it, in which case you're better holding on to it. RangerD
Hi Aaron, Since you are open to buying wheels, then I suggest you consider buying 15" wheels which allows you to purchase winter tires in the 185/65R15 size. This allows you a cheaper selection of winter tires. Also, the narrower profile tires are likely to be more effective in the snow. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?displayResults=10&width=185%2F&loadRank=2&minLoad=S&RunFlat=All&minSpeedRating=S&sortValue=1&autoModClar=&diameter=15&speed_rating=S&speed_rating=T&speed_rating=U&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&speed_rating=%28Y%29&autoYear=2004&ratio=65&resultsNumberSelected=Y&filterType=all&startIndex=30&vehicleSearch=true&autoModel=Prius&goWhere=%252Ftires%252FCompare1.jsp&sortCode=37550&compare=true&filterGoWhere=Compare1&autoMake=Toyota&compareList=&search=true&startIndex=0&performance=W&x=49&y=5
I used to live in SLC, Kimball Junction, St George, and briefly in Cedar City. For Park City, I was always amazed at the urban trash trying to get around in a pricey rear wheel drive BMW, on the summer tires. At the time I had a Honda Civic with studded Nokian winter tires, and would just zip around them no problem. Also had a 1990 4Runner with studded Nokians, easily drive around in 2wd unless the snow was over a foot Some of us have Prius cars with extra-sensitive Traction Control mine being one of them. This SPring I test drove a new 2008, and the TC behavior was far different - far better - than my 2004 I'd run aggressive studded snow tires for winter, in 185 65 15 size, on steel rims. Ignore the TPMS warning. I managed to "cure" most of my TC complaints by running aggressive Goodyear Nordic studded snow tires from Canadian Tire. This tire is exactly the same as the Goodyear Ultra Grip 500 sold in Europe Goodyear Eur-Winter Tire-UltraGrip 500 If you click on Profile, a Flash loads that explains the tire testing and construction. I highly recommend this winter tire, it's half the price of Nokian but just as good on ice and in deep snow. The aggressive tread hums on dry pavement, I can live with that. You also lose 8 mpg running this tire, but if you slide into a ditch then you're getting 0 mpg anyway On ice, the studded tires on my Prius provide *much* better traction than the highly rated studless Toyo Open Country G-02 Plus I run on my FJ Cruiser. The two tires are similar in snow, but the Nordic has a huge edge on polished ice at intersections. IMHO the Toyo "microbit" studless compound is better than the Blizzak, but to suggest they offer close to the traction of studded tires is a stretch. I'm now looking for studded winter tires for my FJ as well Nokian is pretty popular in the Wasatch. Consider the factory studded Hakkapeliitta 5 Nokian Tires Once the snow is over a foot, especially two feet, it has been my experience the TC will completely shut down my 2004. I can't even "rock" it out then. I didn't take my test drive 2008 off roading, but I would guess the TC behavior has been changed to the point you should be able to rock it out if you bog down
If you're going to stay with a studless tire, I'd consider the Toyo Observe. BIL of Sweden tested various studded and studless winter tires a few years back, and concluded that modern studded tires are still superior over studless tires in most winter conditions. The original link appears dead, but I had it saved to my hard drive
I drove my Prius through most of last winter and it was fine for 90% of the conditions I encountered, but as others here have commented, icy or snow-packed grades, or finding oneself parked in several inches, even just two or three, of snow on even the most slight of inclines, quite often means that you won't be going anywhere. I find the traction-control feature of the car to be the one thing I truly dislike about it. Don't try driving up a significant hill on a gravel surface either! Snow tires certainly help, but only to a point. I am probably going to garage my Prius for the months of December through February and drive my 4wd Tacoma.....and look forward to spring!
Front-wheel drive is perfect in the snow. I drove a VW rabbit for years up into the canyons from Brigham to Provo on all-season radials, carrying a set of chains for when the snow too deep. Narrow, studded tires are okay, but the noise, ride, and handling sucks on otherwise dry roads. Unless you can get 35+ MPG in a 4X4, I suggest sticking with the Prius and carry chains.
Heading towards Whitefish stage Rd on Evergreen (going west) last year it got a little slippery on the ice. It's the only time the Big 'O' studs gave way. Had to pull the leather seats out of my rear, I puckered to much. Being a risk taker though I won't learn 'till it's too late.
