Driving in Snow -- Any Prius Gotcha's

So far I've been through two Chicago winters with original tires. My advise to you is not to get stuck. If you get stuck you'll stay stuck. I now carry a bag of sand and a shovel w/ me. The sand worked well to provide tire traction last year when my car skidded off my driveway.

Other than that, navigating about the car should do just fine.

 

That pretty much tells the story right there.

 

I can't imagine living somewhere where you actualy have to go out and drive in snow. Snow? We don't need no stinking snow! We don't even get any rain where I live.

 

The same rules apply to driving a Prius in the snow as any other car - don't press the accelerator too hard, don't press the brake too hard, use proper tires that are not too worn.

Equip your car with the proper fluids - oil, coolant, wiper wash. Make sure you have a snow shovel, small brush and something to scrape of the ice with before you drive away. Get a flashlight, a safety pin (for unclogging the windshield washer nozzle). Clean the rubber weather striping around the doors and trunk. Put a few chocolate bars in the glove compartment and, while you're at it, toss in a blanket or two in case you get really stuck.

 

I haven't read the whole thread so forgive me if this has been said.
The prius is overall very good in snow, but it can get totally stuck in even light snow due to lack of initial traction. When starting, especially if pointing up a hill or if you are on a very slippery surface (i.e. -ice) you may not be able to move one bit. This may be due to an overly aggressive traction control. Since you cannot rock the car like an old fashion transmission you may get totally stuck with the car not allowing any forward progress. If you are in a tight parking spot as is common in NY you are in trouble.

 

You need the snow pack for drinking water.

 

If you search around here you will find a thread that explains a way to disable traction control temporarily which might come in handy in the situation you descriibe. However, there is a warning that you should not disable the TC and then drive the car because there is a danger of causing significant damage to the vehicle by over spinning the wheels.

 

How boring.

I've heard that some of the rivers down your way dry up before they even reach the ocean. That would worry me.

 

Don't get me wrong, I think snow is a wonderful and necessary thing. I just wouldn't actually want to have to go out in it every day, and drive somewhere. It looks pretty on Christmas cards, the mountains, and on Coors commercials. I'll take the dry flatlands any day though if I need to actually drive somewhere. That said, it did actually rain a little today. Can't remember when the last time was. I have a 50 mile bike ride scheduled tomorrow, and it will probably rain on my parade, for making all the weather comments. Good luck, and keep your Prius pointed in roughly the proper direction, snow or not.

 

We've never had more than 20 feet in one season. Our elevation is only about 800 feet, so we don't get the big snowfalls that they get in the mountains.

Tom

 

"I've heard that some of the rivers down your way dry up before they even reach the ocean. That would worry me. "

The LA River has concrete walls and "floor". That's so we don't forget where is is supposed to be. I'm not making the concrete part up.

 

I'll be facing my first "real winter" this season and I'm glad to hear that several posters above have been OK with the stock tires. My car is only 6 months old and the tires are still like new, I'd hate to add the additional expense of a new set of tires -- I'll try the stock ones out in the snow (carefully) and see how they handle. And practicing turns/skids in an empty lot sounds like a good idea as well. I always drive at or below the speed limit already, depending on weather and road conditions...should be interesting to see what happens when the snow starts here in Denver.

I do have some extra weight in the back due to my latest mod - hopefully that will improve handling and traction a bit. We'll see

Thanks to the above posters for their snow driving observations and tips!

 

Don't use an all-season tire driving in snow. Use a snow tire. All season tires have rubber which holds traction in cold weather, but not snow.

 

Last year I found the stock Goodyears to be adequate in the snow at the beginning of the season, but after those tires got to about 24000 miles later in the season even though half the tread was left they were utterly useless in even the smallest amounts of snow.

 

I agree with Brick and Diversified..... Get rid of the Integrity's ASAP..... With 15000 miles on them, I couldn't make it up to Bellaire Mt. ski slope in NY last year, then they were shot before 30K. Toyota replaced them free for me @ 30K. They are junk tires. Also, the car sits low, so don't try to be a snow plow. You will high center it.

 

The one exception to this rule that I'm aware of is the Nokian WR. It is an all-season radial with a full winter rating. I've used it for a whole winter on the Prius. It is the best winter tire I've experienced (in 31 years of winter driving). It also does a nice job in the wet and during summer conditions, though it does quietly hiss on tight curves during warm weather. Using this tire, I found it difficult to understand the traction control problems others referred to with the Prius.

 

The Prius will "float" easily when snowfall is over 3 feet and rather packed.

Makes a hell of a noise, feels like driving a boat.

I dented the Prius front tooth smashing through a snow wall created by the plow moving perpendicular to my street.

High quality winter tires are a must, the car slips into "safe" mode way too easily, flashing the red triangle !, I find it's rather sensitive.

 

Last year was my first experience with the Prius in the snow. I'd say first of all, get some good snow tires. After that, I LOVED the way the Prius handled on snow and ice. Biggest problem is generally braking and sliding. When I would TRY to brake too quickly and make the Prius slide/skid, I'd feel "grab/grab/STOP".... pretty amazing to both myself and my husband. Gotta love it on these Indiana backroads.

 

Indiana backroads in the winter are terrible. We get snow, you get ice. I'll take snow any day.

Tom

 

Anyone have any experience driving in the mountains of Lake Tahoe?