Traction Control

[adamwmcanally]

I have an 06 with 10,000 miles on it. We are planning a trip to the southwest (TX, NM, UT, CO), in a month and I am a bit concerned with how the traction control is going to handle on rough desert roads. We won't be doing anything extreme, but a few of the roads to some of the trailheads we will be visiting are two lane dirt/sand roads.

I have heard about people getting stuck in a few centimeters of ice, but haven't heard how the car handles on light sand. My fear is to get 50 miles away from civilization only to get stuck in an inch of sand.

Short of getting new tires ( I still have the integreties). Does anyone have any suggestions to avoid a situation like that?

[qbee42]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adammc @ May 6 2007, 10:39 AM) [snapback]436339[/snapback]</div>

I have an 06 with 10,000 miles on it. We are planning a trip to the southwest (TX, NM, UT, CO), in a month and I am a bit concerned with how the traction control is going to handle on rough desert roads. We won't be doing anything extreme, but a few of the roads to some of the trailheads we will be visiting are two lane dirt/sand roads.

I have heard about people getting stuck in a few centimeters of ice, but haven't heard how the car handles on light sand. My fear is to get 50 miles away from civilization only to get stuck in an inch of sand.

Short of getting new tires ( I still have the integreties). Does anyone have any suggestions to avoid a situation like that?
[/b]

It depends on the type of sand and whether it is flat or uphill. With the beach sand we get around here, even Jeep CJs which huge tires get stuck going uphill. The Prius will do okay in sand and dirt as long as there is some support underneath it. The OEM tires have very poor traction, so don't expect too much hill climbing capacity. I had to make multiple runs up a hill on loose gravel roads. Try to keep some speed, and mash the pedal all the way to the floor if the going gets tough.

Tom

[SomervillePrius]

I would say the prius does as good bad as any other medium sized family sedan. The traction control can be a little picky on snow but seem less so on gravel roads, in my experience. Still I haven't tried anything beyond your average unpaved "fire" road.

The prius is low to the ground so I would worry more about ground clearance.

[bulek]

I just got stuck in sand last week. I was approaching very slowly to my friends house located on country side. Just before the entry there was some hole filled with sand. The hole was 2-3 inches deep and 10-15 inches long (it was wide enough so that I could not pass it over). Suddenly the power went down and even with gas pedal pressed firmly I could not move forward. My friend had lots of fun because I met him to show my superb new car .

I had no problem to move the car in reverse and then pass the sand hole on faster speed. It was interesting experience... I could not believe such small amount of sand stopped the car for good. I am a bit worried when thinking about first winter period.

Anyway Tom's advice it correct - keep the speed and you should be ok (and just in case write down the secret recipe for temporary turning the traction control off - it's published somewhere on this forum).

- Piotr

[qbee42]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bulek @ May 6 2007, 02:53 PM) [snapback]436444[/snapback]</div>

I just got stuck in sand last week. I was approaching very slowly to my friends house located on country side. Just before the entry there was some hole filled with sand. The hole was 2-3 inches deep and 10-15 inches long (it was wide enough so that I could not pass it over). Suddenly the power went down and even with gas pedal pressed firmly I could not move forward. My friend had lots of fun because I met him to show my superb new car .

I had no problem to move the car in reverse and then pass the sand hole on faster speed. It was interesting experience... I could not believe such small amount of sand stopped the car for good. I am a bit worried when thinking about first winter period.

Anyway Tom's advice it correct - keep the speed and you should be ok (and just in case write down the secret recipe for temporary turning the traction control off - it's published somewhere on this forum).

- Piotr
[/b]

Hello piotr,

We get a lot of snow where we live, and I'm happy to tell you that our Prius did very well this winter. We did switch to better tires, but I believe you start with better tires in Europe. Our Prius does as well or better in snow than any other front wheel drive we have owned.

Tom

[bulek]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ May 7 2007, 02:28 AM) [snapback]436567[/snapback]</div>

[...] We did switch to better tires, but I believe you start with better tires in Europe. [...][/b]

Yes, changing tires is very common here and I will for sure do it. I had very good Blizzard tires for my Corolla and will probably buy the same ones (just bigger) for Prius. I was a bit surprised because I've read here and there that in newer models (like mine) TC is not so aggressive but the sand hole encounter was disappointing.

Recent climate changes caused not so snowy winters. I remember as a kid we had 20 inches of snow laying everywhere for at least two months. Now we have some snow for 2 - 3 weeks in total.

- Piotr

[adamwmcanally]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bulek @ May 6 2007, 01:53 PM) [snapback]436444[/snapback]</div>

I just got stuck in sand last week. I was approaching very slowly to my friends house located on country side. Just before the entry there was some hole filled with sand. The hole was 2-3 inches deep and 10-15 inches long (it was wide enough so that I could not pass it over). Suddenly the power went down and even with gas pedal pressed firmly I could not move forward. My friend had lots of fun because I met him to show my superb new car .

I had no problem to move the car in reverse and then pass the sand hole on faster speed. It was interesting experience... I could not believe such small amount of sand stopped the car for good. I am a bit worried when thinking about first winter period.

Anyway Tom's advice it correct - keep the speed and you should be ok (and just in case write down the secret recipe for temporary turning the traction control off - it's published somewhere on this forum).

- Piotr
[/b]

Found the secret recipe, and wrote it down. The warning is a bit scary though. How badly could you hurt the prius if you turn the traction control off to get "un-stuck"?

Thanks,
Adam

[GorgeousComputers]

I live in the Coachella Valley(by palm springs, ca) and am surrounded in desert. I happy to say that I do very well in dirt and sand. Just keep it slow and steady, and keep a close eye on soft sand, when you see it coming get some momentum to get you thru it. You can also let some air out of your tires that give your tire a wider footprint. But remember to fill them back up before you get back on the road. =)

You don't have much clearance so steer away from any kind of rocks or stuff in the road.

I carry a little foldable shovel. in that storage compartment in the back. as well as some other things. So if you do get stuck you can try to dig out your tires.

Bring lots of water and a 2 way radio. just in case.

Have fun with your road trip, My wife and I drove from Palm Springs, CA to Galvaston, TX averaging 47mpg =) and that was going...well lets say we averaged about 90mph. it's a long highway.

[tochatihu]

Offroading with 2001 Prius. The most significant improvement came from using Nokian i3 185/65R14 XL tires. These have a very high load rating, so they can be 'aired down' to about 25 psi. This is a great improvement for washboard roads, and perhaps a slight one for the soft stuff. Must bring along a reliable compressor for refilling when the paved highways start again, and an accurate pressure gauge.

Pointy rocks can kill any tires, so watch out. For that matter, the oil pan, radiator parts, and exhaust pipes are not improved by hard contact

I got stuck once in wet sand and used the rear carpets for traction pads.

I would not venture very far into bad country without a 'real' spare tire. Unfortunately in the new model Prius, this will only fit into the wheel well in a severely deflated condition. But since you have the compressor and no how to use it, all will be well.

The only real option to prepare for 'the second flat tire' is a can of fix a flat, I guess. But do not use it until really necessary, because it really gunks up the wheel, and your next tire installer is not going to like it.

From years of desert road driving (with cars more capable than Prius ), my best advice is go slow and stop before you think you really need to. Especially true as you approach a steep rocky downhill. Get out and walk it in the uphill direction, thinking 'can I really get back up this?' There are several good examples of that on the unpaved 'road' to Point Sublime, north rim Grand Canyon. Little Tochatihu did not get to the end of that one...