Bad or stiff ride in extremely cold weather

I think you're spot-on about the shocks.
It's probably difficult maintaining consistent damping over a reasonable temperature range. That was not a reasonable cold snap.

 

-20 degrees?
It's better now that it's "warmed up" to 10 degrees?

Am I glad I live in the Northwest.

We go to Defcon 4 if we get a light dusting of snow in the valley. Anything below 35 degrees is considered evolution stopping.

 

Not only the oil in the shocks becomes more viscous at those temperatures but the tires also become hard as a rock. There have been cases where extreme cold temperature have cause tires to literally shatter.

 

My winter tires definitely have softer sidewalls than my LLR tires. It is especially noticeable with a cross wind. I can feel it and have to keep making minor steering corrections. I'm also close to the Chicago area and the Prius does get a little noisy when it gets down to subzero weather. Today, MLK day, is supposed to be the nicest day for the next week. Getting ready for more single digit weather.

 

don't forget that the roads are absolutely HORRIBLE with the off and on melting snow and freezing temps we've been getting here in chicagoland. lots of "buckles" or "ripples" in the road that are small but cause a terrible ride.

 

Yes, shock absorber oil, tires, especially old summer tires, and also a lot of rubber bushings in the suspension get stiff in cold weather.

 

I live on my farm, miles out in the country on a 3 mile long gravel road. That road got a new surface of very rough gravel last summer. The first few days this winter when temps dipped well below 0, On a cold drive away I noticed the little 10 Prius rode uncomfortably rough and all interior panels squeaked and rattled. I did that a couple days then decided ,NO MORE. I am an old retired coot that sees no need to beat the car and my body without reason. The next day, temp about -20, I started the Prius early and walked back to the warm house for 15 minutes.
When I returned to the car, the ICE was warm and had turned off, the interior was toasty warm. I drove away in comfort without any squeaks or rattles from the now warm interior. Life is good

 

Cold? -20? Cold? What wimps! Try -40!

Yup, when it's cold the suspension gets very stiff. I remember well going out to my Landcruiser, years ago, when it was -40 something. Got in and sat -on- the seat (no give). A little voice in my head said "oh oh". Push the clutch to the floor and use -both- hands to pull the shift lever to "N". Then engage the starter. It goes er (one rev), the engine catches, and goes "chuff, chuff, chuff" for about 5 sec, then starts running normally. It, my current FJ Cruiser, and every vehicle I've ever driven in winter have very stiff suspension in the cold. Drive them gently until the shocks warm up!

Fun with winter!

 

Boy! That snow just has a special crunch at -40 below doesn't it!

 

When I was a kid I visited my Grand Parents in Montana. I drove my Corvair from SoCal to there and experienced -30 degree weather. Needless to say my Corvair didn't appreciate the bitter cold. Every morning I had to take my Gramps blow torch and place it under the oil pan to get the little air cooled engine to start. Even had to take the battery inside at night. Even when I did get it going, the wheel bearing grease was so cold it felt like the emergency brake was applied. 30w oil turned to 120w gear lube at those temperatures.

 

When the tires roll through it a -40 in my part of the world, the sound is a high pitched squeal =:0

 

Yeah! walking thru the snow is as if breaking crystal. Also if you take a deep breath it really take does take your breath away! It's special!!!

 

When it gets that cool the air sparkles. When that happens you know it's way cold.

 

I've had the same problem as the OP, at least I now know I'm not the only one with a Prius that feels every bump in the road.

 

I wonder at what temperature the magic point is for the squeaking/stiffness to start? About two weeks ago it was single digits (Fahrenheit) in the morning. Earlier this week it was in the teens. I haven't noticed a problem yet.

Luckily Memphis gets mild winters as a general rule of thumb. Single digits is the worst I've seen here. I definitely don't miss the northeast winters, although I'm sure they are mild compared to Candian winters you guys seem to be posting about.