Can I get some advice if I should bring the Prius to Big Bear Mountain next month? there's possibility that it might snow by then. Of course the road to the mountain is steep and winding. My other car is a minivan, I brought it there last year, and was fine in the snow. I have snow cables for both cars, but never used them before. I went camping yesterday and the Prius got a little stuck in some loose soil at the camp site. The traction control light kept lighting up. This got me worried about using the Prius in snow. I have no intentions of buying snow tires, I live in LA and go to the snow a couple times a year only.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. The Prius does perfectly fine in the snow. The only things that hold it back are tires (important) and the driver (extremely important). Mine runs around the Rocky Mountains in blizzards. I love to ski and the best power days means there was a blizzard right before so I am always in white-out conditions. I also know how to drive.
Drive it all the way to the top with pride I say. I went skiing this winter and was the only prius in the car park amongst a heap of Klugas (Highlanders?) . The v had no issues with the chains on.
The reason many are confused about snow/prius driving is because they can't understand how important good snow tires are. As many have already mentioned (ad nausium) on PC ... With good snow tires, the Prius will do just fine. The only tough part will be finding your prius, then digging it out. Bring a shovel! .
I can't wait to go to big bear when I get to LA next in January! My car does great with Michelin X-Ice Xi3 and has been through a 40" storm and a 7 " storm already this year.
It is sure a lot easier than bringing the mountain to the Prius. Agreed, with good snow tires and a very good driver you will do well. PA P
They have mountains and snow in Japan, don't they? The Prius is just another small, 5-pax, front-wheel-drive car with TC as far as the snow is concerned. I'm thinking that you're going to be fine although you may need to test out the cables before you go relying on them to get you out of a (*cough!!*) sticky situation. IIRC you can temporarily defeat the TC on a G3 if you. Most proper cars have a button, but this is lacking in Prius, and many of the purists out there will post LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG articles on the utility of this 'feature'. Print the procedure out and stuff it in your glovebox, just in case. Cell phone reception in the boonies is spotty. Also.....go to Harbor Freight and get a $20 tow strap. They're small, and you can stow it in the spare tire compartment next to the cables. This is important. When you test fit the cables? Find a good place in the front and rear of your car to attach the tow strap to(!) unless you want to see what's on the back side of your bumper. If you ever get stuck or if you ever want to help out another human, YOU will be able to attach your strap and not be fumbling around guessing about where it goes. Enjoy the mountains! Really, with a little preparation? You'll be fine! PPPPPPP...
We went skiing in NC mountains last year and traveled in a Suburban and a Prius. The Prius stopped when we got to the snow and put on chains on front. Suburban driver did not think he needed chains. At top of mountain the Prius passed the Suburban as it slipped and slid going around the mountain curves
Same as you drive any car, carefully. Its a heavy front wheel drive so it will do better than average. What it won't do is plow snow that's deeper than 6".
The thing is you are getting a double whammy. It sounds like your winter driving experience is limited, so already the Prius will need some help. Then no snow tires means you are pretty much screwed. Buy a set of chains in that case so you can drive without much thought, just slowly. I drive the first couple winters in the Prius with balding all seasons and had no issues. But lots of concentration is required and you need to know what you're doing. I now put on snow tires because why not for $100/tire? Makes the experience much easier in that anyone can drive it. Follow normal winter driving techniques of modulating the power to the wheels to minimise the delta. Drive like you don't have brakes. Brake on the straights if you for some reason get fast enough to need to brake, accelerate through corners. Don't be afraid to slide, control it. If you panicked when the back end fishes then you are going to be in for a scary surprise with any 2wd vehicle in good snow and ice.
If you're going to big bear, you're required to have chains anyway. They won't let you go up the mountain w/o chains if CalTrans is requiring it, even if you have winter tires. That being said, if your all-seasons have good tread, you'll do fine. Just drive slow.
Buy chains and learn how to put them on. Check the owners manual for the recommended type of chains. iPhone ? - now Free
