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ECO mode and winter driving.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Fujisan, Jul 31, 2009.

  1. Fujisan

    Fujisan Blizzard Brigade #309

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    Having had a fairly good search around and found plenty of threads mentioning Winter tyres and some threads on the improved Traction Control system, I only found one post commenting on using ECO mode during winter conditions.

    I know that so far very few people have driven their Gen III on any kind of snow or ice covered roads but what do people think about using the ECO button in such a situation.

    The theory being that ECO mode moderates throttle responsiveness and from my limit experience of snow / ice driving, a gentle foot on the throttle is the way to go, therefore using ECO mode and a gentle action should be very helpful in such situations.

    Not that I should be that worried, in most of the UK, on average we only get a week or so of such bad weather conditions each winter....but even then it some how seems to bring the country so a grinding halt! :(

    Oh, and if you asked tyre dealers about winter tyres, they would look at you has if you were daft! :eek:hwell:

    Anyway, just a theory, any comments. :)
     
    #1 Fujisan, Jul 31, 2009
  2. kkascha

    kkascha Junior Member

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    I think that driving in eco mode would help control the amount of tire spin in the winter IF there wasn't traction control, but since there is traction control preventing the wheels from spinning too much, I think driving in eco mode will help only slightly.

    I live in Cleveland where we get about 3 or 4 months of snow and I'm worried that the traction control will be too aggressive and cut power to the spinning wheels before the car can get moving.

    I think the slower the traction control is to respond and prevent wheelspin, the more effective driving in eco mode will be.
     
    #2 kkascha, Jul 31, 2009
  3. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    FWIW - I had a 2004 and had traction control problems (spin and freeze) a few times just from turnouts and gravel/sand on the road. I have had zero problems with the 2010. It's my understanding they have made steady improvements in the traction control (starting in 2006) and were aware of this issue in the gen II cars, so made a special effort in that area for the new car.
     
    #3 ggood, Jul 31, 2009
  4. Fujisan

    Fujisan Blizzard Brigade #309

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    In a way that was the point I was trying to make, that if by a combination of ECO and gentle footwork, hopefully the human can keep more control of the car and so prevent the wheels spinning before the iron fist of traction control decends!
     
    #4 Fujisan, Jul 31, 2009
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah... ECO mode can double as SNOW mode (so to speak). It does help decrease the sensitivity so that you can get the right amount of power to the wheels without spinning it (or activating TRAC).
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Jul 31, 2009
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