Gen 2 2004 tires slipping on acceleration

How old are the tires? Somewhere between 7~10 years is the limit, the rubber starts to crack/harden, tread bits flake off.

What make/model too? Might be a factor.

 

if not mistaken, calimesa averages toward hot dry and windy. as mendel said, dry hardened rubber might be a factor.

 

Maybe you just have a heavy foot? Or the pavement is a bit wet lately

 

Traction control does not let my tire spin. Goes off way to easy and is unsafe. Little bump in the road all it takes.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Traction control does let my tires spin, by a controlled amount. I'm driving a Gen 3, but this graph from Gen 2 shows it was designed that way then, too. It allows the driving wheel speed to stay a small, controlled amount faster than the actual vehicle speed:



As for tires, I have always found them to start spinning more easily, way earlier than the rated tread life would suggest. I think I saw it explained in Consumer Reports a long time ago as a side-effect of the way the rubber is compounded; the grippiest formulation being in the outermost layer, which wears away down to a somewhat harder material. It's kind of disappointing, but I don't think I've ever owned a set of tires where I didn't notice that.

-Chap

 

Traction control when launched on a G2 is very noticeable.Like audiodave says its really harsh and not a controlled amount if it happens when decelerating it scares the shite out of you.

I doubt the OP has spinning tires as thats a big software no no on a G2 and really affects divisibility. Just ask anyone who has ever been stuck in a snowbank and tried to drive out with a G2.

It may seem like she has spinning tires but maybe something else is slipping or chirping. A blown clutch dampener would do that and not invoke a code.

The check engine light is probabaly the engine oil is very low on oil or almost out.

 

I was going to post something along the line of what edthefox5 said, but he beat me to it.

The traction control is very noticeable, and mostly un-needed and mostly not helpful, unless you count being stranded with no power in the middle of an icy intersection helpful.

Also good to note as mentioned by previous post, you need to check the oil as if you are on a mission from God. Thankfully, I have not had a problem, but countless people have.
kris

 

The thing that usually scares the shite out of people when decelerating is the small gap between regen deactivation and ABS takeover if a small bump was hit during gentle braking. That is a definite thing of its own (and known back to Gen 1), but probably best, in the interest of new readers, not to conflate it with traction control.

-Chap

 

I didn't see a mention of the traction control warning light?

 

I noticed similar behaviour when my 2009 Gen II wore Michelin EnergySavers AS - they were ~60% worn, and I noticed the slippage and the VSC light flashing occasionally when on railway-crossings, speed-bumps ("Sleeping-Policemen" as they're called back in Blighty) or shortly after passing a hump-backed bridge at speed when the car becomes unweighted and the tyres tend to lose grip.

I learned that Michelins have a tendency for the treads to outlast the side-walls, so I think the "hardening-rubber" suggestion might be the answer! Anyway, later, when I shopped around for a set of summers to replace them, I found that the Michelins couldn't be found in my size, so I changed brands and have not noticed any slippage since! However, as they always say, YMMV!

 

Are these the original tires?

 

I’m in California too, noticed the same, especially on cooler moist mornings. Both with my ‘72 Cougar 411 cu inches and my 05 Prius. It’s less with a new set of Bridgestone Ecopia than with the old set. Acceleration torque while cornering can be extreme and the traction control would notice it and reduce power to the drive wheels. I don’t have any trouble waiting to apply the torque until I’m past the crosswalks and the battery doesn’t mind delivering it either.


iPhone ?

 

Exactly. The car would throw a Vsc nag instantly every time A tire spins at an independent speed.
Very noticeable. Which makes me think whatever it is the car cannot monitor it.

 

What is the current tread depth of the front tires, and what tire inflation pressure do you use?