Unbelievably poor performance on snow

Perhaps in his haste to share his universally applicable, and uncontrovertable
opinion with those of lesser minds, the recent newcomer made a simple spelling
error when meaning to write:

ludditelou.

And it would appear using the technicolor fonts is as close to using crayons as you
can get on this forum.

Oh, lest it go unremarked; Welcome to PriusChat.

 

I have another traction control data point for our 2006 Prius. Christmas Eve we went to a party, which was located up an icy and snow covered road. The slippery conditions stopped us dead on the uphill, and the Prius was so quiet that it sounded like the wheels had stopped. They hadn't. I could turn the steering wheel either way and walk the car sideways across the hill. The wheels were turning slowly and steadily even though we weren't moving at all. This proves conclusively that the newer Prius can and will spin its wheels in snow. It won't spin them fast enough to burn through to dry ground, or make the classic spinning sound, but they do spin.

Tom

 

The 2008 I test drove will also allow minor wheelspin, and overall the TC is far more refined than on my 04

 

Thanks so much for the tire information. My 2008 has the same problems in the snow and ice. I thought that I would have been able to disconnect the vehicle stability control so I could get out of the ruts, but I was told that it can't be temporarily disconnected.

jtg
Magnetic Gray 2008 package #5
Northern New Jersey

 

Vehicle stability control has absolutely nothing to do with traction on ice, ruts, and other low traction situations. I suspect you are thinking of the traction control system. Even if you could disconnect the traction control system, it wouldn't help you get out of ruts. Traction control on the newer Prius allows for controlled wheel spin (see my above post). Without traction control your wheels would just spin faster and you would still be stuck. Friction is friction, and without it you aren't going anywhere in your Prius.

Tom