anyone drive there car in deep snow yet .I,m wondering if i m going to need snow tires but i m hoping not .
I live in Canada and we have at least 4 months of snow in the winter. I just have my winter tires installed. I wouldn't drive my PriusC4 in the winter without snow tires.
I agree with the above comment. We had a light dusting of snow last week and the standard tires were spinning quite a bit, even with the traction control system. I have winter tires in my garage, and will install them as soon as it cools down again.
You asked the question about driving in deep snow. If you will be driving in deep snow, then you need snow tires (you did not indicate where you live/drive). I will be driving my C4 on Bridgestone Blizzack 185-65-15 tires this winter. Based on my experience with a 2010 Prius Gen III, you will need snow tires if the snow depth is more than 4 inches.
What about snow chains? I don't live where it snows but I go up to the mountains to snowboard. Would you guys recommend snow chains?
If you live where it is cold enough to snow and stay frozen then you should be using snow tires or at least winter tires. All-season tires lose pliability under 45F and braking distance can increase dramatically. Lateral traction is also reduced. Why roll the dice? Get the most appropriate tire for your conditions. It's not just your life you are risking.
I didn't drive in any snow with the stock tires so I can't compare the tires but the new ones are very good in the snow.Michelin X-ice Xi2 175/65R15 tires mounted on 15x6.5 Sport edition F2 Silver Painted wheels.I paid around $680 total online, sounds like a lot of money but you feel confident that you will stay on the road. View attachment 44221 View attachment 44221 View attachment 44222
I have the same rims on my gray C II, but went with Blizzaks. It will be interesting to see how the vsc/traction control works in the snow, a first for me.
Just put Nokian WRG2 all-weather tires on my baby but haven't had a chance to test them in inclement weather. They do roll really nice and they instill confidence - very good cornering. Drove in some packed slushy snow when the stock tires were still mounted and the back end moved around a bit, so my concern is whether I will need weight in the back end.
I'm in Minnesota, and still waiting to test my all season factory tires in snow. Haven't felt the need to use snow tires since the sixties. They plow the roads up here. Looking at the black plastic piece hanging below the front bumper, snow tires aren't my first concern in four inches of snow.
Deep snow, say over 8", will seriously impact your traction with stock all-season tires. And somewhere around 12", well, it doesn't matter what tires you have: ground clearance becomes the main factor. For snow up to 4~5", brand new all-seasons will get you through the first winter. If you're careful. But if serious snow is an annual event and you need to drive in it, I'd get dedicated snow tires, on separate rims, both for convenience and to reduce wear-and-tear on your OEM's. Snow tires have vastly superior grip in snow conditions, and their rubber is designed to stay pliant at cold temperatures. Some get aftermarket alloys for their snows. Or a toyota steel rim? (I see, at least in Canada, there's a 15" steel rim available, stock on the lower level)
