Is Touring model better in snow?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(urbanfoxes @ Jan 29 2007, 01:24 AM) [snapback]382170[/snapback]</div>

I live here in Boulder and have only owned a 2007 touring so I can't really compare to the older models. However, I will say that after much research on PC prior to my purchase I decided to immediately change the stock tires on delivery. I mounted the Goodyear TripleTreds (215/60/16) which added about an inch of ground clearance. I highly recommend these tires as they perform great in the snow, ice and rain. I was out and about during these last couple of snow storms and found my car out maneuvering plenty of others on the road. I never got stuck and found the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) to work quite well in the snow. Also, the Goodyear TT's are much more comfortable to drive on then the stock Bridgestone Turanza's. I thought about the Goodyear "ComfortTred's" but liked the TT's a bit more because of the excellent snow handling reviews. Hope this helps !!!

 

Have you considered the Camry hybrid? It's probably better in the the snow than either Prius model. I still put snow tires on mine and don't worry about the snow at all.

 

I don't think there is a ground clearance difference between the touring and regular Prius. The 16" wheels use a lower profile tire to keep the overall diameter the same and the suspension on the touring may be lowered 1/2" or so anyway for handling.

As posted above, if there is enough room in the wheel wells you can install larger diameter winter tires on either model to get a little more ground clearance. I'm not sure 1" would do it for you with all the snow you got. As far as the ice, the Prius can do just as well as any other front wheel drive car, with the right tires. Something like Mich. X-ice would be appropriate. If you see other front wheel drive -cars- driving around without major problems, I think the Prius would do fine. Until the next heavy snowfall. Then you park it for a day or two until the roads are cleared, just like any other car.

If the only way to get around is with a high ground clearance vehicle, then an SUV may be the only option. You -can- get these now in hybrids. The Toyota Highlander hybrid, the Ford Escape hybrid, and soon to come Saturn and Mazda small hybrids come to mind. They all still use 1.5 to 2X as much fuel as a Prius.

 

I live in the Boulder Colorado area and am one of those people who is required to go to work regardless of the weather. (I work in broadcasting, and we don't get to sign off when it snows). During the first and biggest of the series of snowstorms we have had this year I was out and about without much of a problem. In fact I was passing lots of other stuck cars. It wasn't until I got blocked in by a rolled over SUV in front and another car got stuck behind me on a highway entrance ramp that I ended up immobile. The key to getting around in snow with any car is REAL snow tires. All season tires don't cut it in a blizzard or ice. I have a set of Blizzak WS50s in 15" wheels that I put on when the snow flies. They are about the same outside diameter as the tires on the stock 16 inch wheels on my Touring, but they are much narrower. Not great on dry pavement but excellent in snow. This winter I have yet to get stuck in the car. Of course there was a day when I had to park the car a block from home because the street hadn't been plowed, but anything short of a rock crawler wouldn't have made it up the road since the snow was 3 feet deep.

I have owned both an 2005 and 2007 Touring and it seems to me that they may have recalibrated the traction control a bit on the 07. It does seem to allow a limited about of tire spin on snow. Perhaps this has to do with having at least some traction with the Blizzaks. I was able to drag the car uphill in deep snow with the tires spinning slowly.

 

So the question I would like to ask would be where can I get affordable rims for my Prius? They are pretty expensive from the dealer, so that really isn't an option. But I want a set of snow tires I can throw on myself. Are there any cheap aftermarket rims around that would work? Seems like there should be. I couldn't care less how the wheels look, I can always buy plastic wheel covers if I need that. It's only from mid November until April that we ever get snow up here in the Seattle area, and I have elderly parents that live up a hill and sometimes need help with stuff. And chains work but it's not just getting UP the hill, it's getting DOWN again, and that's where I would want to have 4 snow tires. No studs needed since the car has traction control, which after testing in the snow we had recently I have found VERY helpful.

Dave

 

so far I've found Vegas has some good deals on the Prius touring edition. I was quoted 27 for a package 5 touring over the phone

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveLeePrius @ Jan 29 2007, 11:52 AM) [snapback]382365[/snapback]</div>

I bought a wheel and tire package online from Tirerack.com. They sold me cheap steel wheels (just what I wanted) with Blizzaks already mounted and balanced. I think the wheel and tire combo was about $450. I originally bought the package for my 05 Prius, but of course it fits fine on the Touring. If you are looking for the best snow tiress, I'd recommend Blizzaks, and go for a fairly narrow size. Wide is good for sticky pavement but narrow is best in traction limited situations.

 

I live in Boston, and drive an 06 Prius. I put snow tires on a few weeks ago. I have noticed, since putting the tires on, that I am being blown around less by the wind, and better able to handle snow and ice. Again, I still have limited experience-- but I feel very comfortable driving in the ice in my Prius.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(urbanfoxes @ Jan 29 2007, 01:58 PM) [snapback]382458[/snapback]</div>

Fletcher Jones Toyota, Las Vegas. it was a package 5 touring for 27 so it might be somewhere between 28-29 for the package 6

 

I will second the Blizzak WS-50s. I used to use them on my old BMW RWD wagon. I drove all over the North Country of NH, VT, ME and NY, as well as in Canada with no problems. While they can be squirmy on dry pavement, I will trade that for good bad weather performance.

Although I bought my Prius yesterday, I will have to set it up for the snow at some point (I have another car I can use for the bad weather right now). I'll definitely be buying some WS-50s!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(urbanfoxes @ Jan 28 2007, 10:24 PM) [snapback]382170[/snapback]</div>

I'm in Denver, I get around fine with Michellin X-ice tires, but yes deep snow stops the Prius here. I've been able to "plow" through fairly light snow that was up to the bumper. Prius gets stuck easiest in very dense snow, like you see around freezing in parking lots. It's only kept me from driving to work once, but we have two cars, second is a 4wd. Prius is no different than other front wheel drive cars in the snow except for TRAC issues.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(YodaddyAlex @ Jan 30 2007, 03:50 PM) [snapback]383033[/snapback]</div>

That's where I got my Camry hybrid.

Anyway, I put Blizzak REVO 1 tires on it as they are the successors to the WS-50. They're the #1 user-ranked snow tire on tirerack.com and also in testing.