The C - A Gutless Snow Machine

Global BC | UPDATE: Woman dies after Jeep plunges into Wood Lake


This says she had "relatively new winter tires" and overcorrected. Driver error.

 

This contradicts reports that I read and saw on the news. I actually passed the scene and saw the vehicle. There are other inconsistencies in this report. For example the speed limit there is 80 and not 90 and there is no guardrail where the car left the road.

 

4 Wheel Drive With New Winter Tires vs Driver Error - No contest.

 

DO NOT mix snow and regular tires. It is not a matter of traction straight ahead, but traction in the curves. The same rule applies to radial vs. bias tires. If you must have two types of tires, put the best on the back for safety, not traction. Ask anyone.

 

OMG - yesterday first snowstorm drive with 2012 Prius C IV and I was terrified. With 200 lb. weight in trunk, it hardly had traction going a steep uphill (15 mph max); after stopping for spin out, tires spun with no traction -- it took 15 minutes turning front wheels left/right, driving on very edge of road. Descending down other side of this hill ~10 mph spun out of control, stopped inches from taking large tree head on. Prior to buying my C, I owned 3 SAABs and ***always*** had control in snowstorms, untreated road surfaces; never skidded or got stuck. Prius C is not safe driving in snow!

 

From Boston, I 100% agree. First snow drive yesterday with my Prius C IV and it was most terrifying experience. It should be banned from winter driving.

 

I live in Central Masschuests, was terrified yesterday driving in snowstorm with 2012 Prius C IV, 16" wheels; difficulty getting up a steep hill, skidding and spinning out going down other side. UGH. Tires factory installed. My prior car, SAAB had Nokian tires and I loved them. btw, I always had traction (no skid, spinning out of control like the C). I might get Nokians as last resort. Currently I'm on fence with dumping the Prius. The fair weather fun driving isn't worth what I experienced yesterday.

 

Get some top rec'd snows and stop with the drama.

 

After those descriptions, some respectable winter tires should be your first resort. Don't blame the car for the failures of the tires.

 

A

Amen.
There are provinces in Canada where it is illegal to drive without snow tires after December 1.

 

Jillith - what brand and model tires came on your C? My C3 with 15" wheels came with Bridgestone Turanza El400-2. I live in RI and work in Taunton, so I drove in pretty much the same snow you did the other day. From packed snow to slush and rutted partially plowed roads, I had to drive with caution, especially braking, but never had any traction issues like you describe. No one will brag about the performance of these tires in the snow, but they didn't seem any worse than other all season tires I have used on my previous cars (Turanza Serenity, Michelin Primacy and MXV4)

 

Why do you have 200 lb. of weight in the trunk? The C is a front wheel drive car. Weight in the trunk helps a rear wheel drive car.

I also second the comments from people who say the problem with winter driving isn't the car. It is the tires. I have a C2 with stock 15 inch tires and the car is just fine driving around Upstate NY. Not great but not bad. It's a tiny fwd car on snow covered roads.

 

I am running my C on some aggressive snow tires and having no problems at all. Am still waiting for deeper snow but so far I'm very pleased.

 

iClaudius, ignoring your somewhat arrogant, sexist response -- As prior owner/winter driver of Austin-Healey, Porsche, Covette, Alpha, and BMW cars, my expectation of how the C should handle snow was not unreasonable, and I was under impressed. Living in snowy Chicago, Nokian all weather tires were awesome. When I requested same with 2012 Prius IV order I was told Bridgestone 195/50r16 all weather tires are factory stock and adequate. I strongly disagree. Tomorrow I'll shop for 4 Nokians -- all weather, snows, or studs. If that doesn't work -- it's bye-bye to my fair-weather friend. .

 

Hi thanks for your concern. Mine came with factory stock all weather Bridgestone tire for optional 16" wheels. I'm going to seek Nokian all weather or snows tomorrow. For more background, please see my response above to iClaudius. Best regards.

 

Hi! My fiance got Toyo winter tires (the kind with the walnuts, not sure what specific model..) for our C, and he's taken it up to the mountain passes (Stevens) with no problems. I've also driven it on icy hilly roads while other cars were spinning out while I had no problem with traction and going up hill. The tires have also been really great with lots of standing water on the freeway (i.e. 2 inches+) where I've seen a few cars hydroplane and skid around.

The local Les Schwab shop put the tires on for us, and we're just storing the non-winter tires until late spring. My other friend has a Prius (not sure what year), but he's had no problems driving in snow and just puts chains on the tires when it gets really bad. He's also driven to the ski resorts in the winter and also have had no problems driving in downtown Seattle with snow and ice (we had an ice storm last year and downtown Seattle is very hilly).