driving in the rain

One factor that affects all cars is the buildup of oil on pavements that:
1) Have not been washed off by rains in some time.
2) Adjacent to gas stations and auto service centers.

A great many people get use to good traction in wet weather (e.g. FL in summer) and do not realize the the first rain after many weeks of no rains lifts a very pronounced lubrication layer up out of the cracks of the pavement. (Not every vehicle exhaust is as clean as a Prius.) Please take note of how many cars you find in the ditch after the first rain in a long time. This can be far worse around service stations that will wash off their pavement (into the road), especially after a bad gas overfill or broke car leaves a puddle of oil. Since a lot of service stations are at corners, this can set you up for a disaster since you expect the car to stop when you hit the brakes. Instead, it just slides right on into the intersection, just after the rain starts.

 

Deleted. Server disconnect caused excessive reposting. Sorry.

 

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FL_Prius_Driver @ Sep 3 2007, 07:10 PM) [snapback]506575[/snapback]</div>

My, my.... Quiet a few clicks of the add reply button? Sometimes, the little hamsters that are running to power the server need a break too....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Sep 4 2007, 03:32 AM) [snapback]506674[/snapback]</div>

When the PC server acts dead, it should actually be dead.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FL_Prius_Driver @ Sep 4 2007, 07:23 PM) [snapback]507077[/snapback]</div>

Ha! But when the hamsters are taking a break, the server is dead (well, maybe in suspended animation....)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Sep 4 2007, 10:05 PM) [snapback]507107[/snapback]</div>

They never die. http://www.webhamster.com

 

My Prius came factory fitted with:

Bridgestone TURANZA ER30 195/55R 87V. This is South Africa though. I run the pressure as stated in the manual for driving below 160km/h. No problems in the wet, but then again I don't drive faster than bout 95km/h when it's a heavy downpour.

Some idiots do go blasting down the highway in the rain. Darwin award time I guess...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Papa @ Sep 4 2007, 08:09 PM) [snapback]507108[/snapback]</div>

I never cease to be amazed at what animation is out there on the web. Any link to hamsters running in their exercise wheel?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patsparks @ Sep 2 2007, 10:07 AM) [snapback]505838[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Albertus @ Sep 7 2007, 03:37 PM) [snapback]508727[/snapback]</div>

I've had several sets of Michelins, and on my most recent non-Prius I was pleased to run on Bridgestone Turanzas.

Can anyone tell me why in America we have such unloved tires as OEM equipment? Is it worth it to keep them until winter? Should I just give up now and drop $500 to get a grip? B)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(a priori @ Sep 7 2007, 09:38 PM) [snapback]508909[/snapback]</div>

Manufacturer's cost is the primary reason for crappy tires as OEM equipment. Whether you should dump the tires for better ones is a personal decision only you can make. Me, I went for Michelin's from the get-go. I wouldn't take delivery of the car until the OEM tires were replaced with Michelins. But then, I am biased toward Michelins - I haven't had anything but Michelin tires on my cars since 1995.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Sep 1 2007, 10:34 PM) [snapback]505667[/snapback]</div>

I did the exact same thing (except I briefly tried a set of Michelin Hydroedges, which I found too noisy and cut mpgs) and love the MXV4+ tires. Tom's on the right track here. One thing to be aware of, though, Michelin dropped the MXV4 and replaced it with a similar new model, which should work fine. Snoop around on TireRAck and you should find it.

Ditch those Goodyear Integs -- they're awful. If you have a Touring model, don't listen to the naysayers.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ Sep 7 2007, 11:56 PM) [snapback]508929[/snapback]</div>

Ooooh! Agggghhhh! :huh: Such envy! Why didn't I think of this? Of all the times I've bought cars and cared about the tires, I didn't even think of it with this one. Shame on me.

 

Just drove about 2200 miles from Los Angeles CA to Atlanta GA with my 30000 mile old 2006 Prius (OEM tires) and had no problems whatsoever driving in rain.

 

It seems such the sport here on the PC board to trash the OEM Goodyear Integrities. My my my some of us are such, how to say, tire snobs!

I've driven our 2007 nearly 8,000 miles and the Goodyear tires have no issues. I am used to driving with Michelin tires and I can't see much if any difference between the two sets of tires.

Perhaps some of us are, ahem, better drivers than others?

 

I'm still getting relatively decent MPG now that the Hydroedges are
more broken in. I'll see how I do this winter by comparison to last,
where I think I saw my first sub-50 tank. But they definitely take
a hit on wet roads *because* that vee tread is so good at flinging
water out to the sides -- that takes energy!
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveLeePrius @ Sep 10 2007, 09:15 PM) [snapback]510443[/snapback]</div>

Since you are so happy with them, I have a barely used set to sell you.

 

I'm firmly in the camp that says the OE Goodyear Integrities are awful.

Whenever the roads are the slightest bit damp, I could get wheelspin leaving a stop light, until I was halfway through the intersection, whereupon the traction control would completely cut power to the wheels. I switched to Goodyear TripleTreds when my Integrities had 10k miles on them and that eliminated most of my traction-related problems.

I cannot imagine how timidly you have to drive in order to not lose traction with the Integrities. Then again, I can't imagine how slow you have to drive to consistently better 50mpg.

 

I'm a great fan of Japanese tyres, especially Yokohama. I had the Decibel range on my previous car. They're lovely and quiet. Grippy too.They'll be my next set...For now I'm happy with the OEM Bridgestone Turanzas. Japanese tyres on a japanese car...kinda logical.

Won't touch locally made Goodyear,Firestone with a bargepole. Michelin also outstanding, bit pricey locally though. Interestingly the Bridgestones on my Prius says "Made in France".