Tires with Cables Just Spun On BlackTop

If the tires were spinning INSIDE the cable web, then the cables were too loose. Can't imagine that the cables were scraping the blacktop and you were still not moving.

 

I don't have any experience with driving the Prius in snow, but it's by no means underpowered. Turn off Eco mode if it's on. I wonder would putting it in "B" help at all?

The owner's manual doesn't say much about driving in snow besides using snow tyres and chains when necessary - it does have specifications on what size chains to use though.

 

The cables were clearly either too loose or just junk. Your car made them spin while other cars passed you by. How could that not be enough power? If I put my PiP in power mode and stomp the accelerator, it's like a slingshot. It might take a while to get to 70 mph, but it'll get to 20 in the blink of an eye. And, as I said, all the horsepower in the world won't move you if your chains aren't getting traction.

PS, I see this was your first post. Welcome. How long have you had your PiP?

 

This also might be a situation where "traction control" was actually doing more harm than good.

And gotta ask:
You did put the cables/chains on the FRONT wheels.....right ??

 

That's kind of my thinking in asking how long he's had the car. Traction control can feel like slippage. Very good point, Sam. I haven't been in super slippery conditions yet with a Prius, but I've read that it can be amazing if you manage the throttle properly. Or it can drive you nuts.

 

Aren't there some pedal/switch incantations that can be performed to disable the traction control, or am I thinking of the 2nd gen Prius?

 

The fourth gen has a kosher in-dash button (or something in the Multi-Function Display menus?) to disable Traction Control. But 3rd gen does not. With the latter I would not disable traction control, say via special maintenance mode method. It's outlined in the Repair Manual, with strong caution that it is not to be used with regular driving, could toast the the transaxle.

 

If the traction control was interfering, it would be either restricting power to the wheels or applying brakes.

Did the chains match the size specifications in the owner's manual? The manual also recommends re-tightening after driving a short distance (1/4 to 1/2 mile).

 

I thought it was impossible to spin the Prius tires unless traction control is turned off. If the Prius traction control system detects anything more than the lightest slippage, it quickly slows the vehicle down to approximately 5mph and tries to crawl along. That is what I have observed on our 3 Prius vehicles with original tires driving on snow on a handful of occasions.

What made it feel like you were spinning the tires?
Could you hear high RPM of tires or motor?

 

IF.....the situation is exactly as you have described it, that is the tires spinning INSIDE the chains, then it is virtually impossible that everything related to the installation of the chains was proper and correct. It is near to impossible for that to happen.

AND.....if someone did not actually witness the tires spinning inside the "chains" it is still possible that traction control is the problem......as it FEELS a lot like the tires are spinning when they actually are not. In many cars, there is a buzzing sound present when the traction control is working; I don't know about a Prius 'cause I've never had mine in that kind of situation.

And a personal note: I lived in the Midwest for about 50 years and never owned chains because if it got that bad I figured that the proper thing to do was to stay off the roads. I understand that situations vary but one of your posts sounds like you won't let a small thing like a killer blizzard disrupt your plans. I may have mis-understood that though.

 

Well that now sounds like the traction control was not working at all.......and should have been.
Traction control is specifically designed to prevent you from smoking your tires.......regardless of what the reason.

 

jeep? suburu?