Spikes Spider / Chains

I know its summer, but I just took delivery of my Prius, so i have some questions...

Has anyone used spikes-spiders in lieu of chains on the prius? i have a set of the "quick" model from my previous car that luckily fit my prius. i love the spikes and hope i can use my set on my prius.

http://www.spike-spider.com/comparison.htm

also, does the traction control render the car undriveable on snow and ice with chains? we don't get it often, but when we do i typically have to chain up to get home.

thanks.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JamesL @ Jun 21 2007, 07:43 AM) [snapback]465715[/snapback]</div>

answering a couple if points at once:
snow tires -- we just don't get enough snow in western wa to justify snow tires all winter. we do get (yes the rumors are true) alot of rain over the winter here, so a tire with good rain characteristics is essential imo. what we do get is occasional bouts of ice and snow + we have alot of hills. unlike other places i've lived, this is really a "keep your chains in your trunk b/c you'll never know when you'll need them" kind of place. mainly b/c of the ice. the spikes are perfect for the chain up for the last few miles home scenario. we also have mountain passes (interstates) that require chains in the winter...the spikes are just an ez "chain" to install.

as for not being able to use them -- thats a surprise. i know some areas do not allow studed tires, but i'd be surprised if you could not use these in place of chains. WA allows them as does Oregon so while i'm up here i am OK.

why not chains -- my alst car did not have the clearance between the back of the tire and the suspension to permit safe use of chains. these were recomended and after a few winters i swore by them. they are also safer to install on the side of an icy road than chains. i could honestly get them on 30 to 45 sec per tire...which meant you were out of your vehicle a much shorter time than putting on chains.

i will look around for other info on the traction control. my gut is that it is not as bad as losing control on a slick surface but more of you are not going to spin your tires to get going in the prius (which at least for me spinning to get going is usually not effective). my wife has an AWD vehicle with pretty aggressive traction control...for me it was not as connected to the road as my prior lock the hubs and power all the wheels 4WD experience, but if you pretty much pointed it where you wanted to go and just drove you were fine. hopefully the prius is similar