PRIUS OUT-OF-CONTROL IN HEAVY WIND !!

FloridaWen · 05-22-2007, 08:09 PM

This afternoon my Wife drove her five day old 2007 Prius Touring home from work, just as she did yesterday, about 65 MPH (the legal limit here in Florida) on a highway (Route 4) in Tampa, Florida...... only TODAY it was WINDY as all heck !! I was not with her but even walking the dog here at home I felt the wind gusts. Anyway, when she got home she asked me what the heck is wrong with the new Prius .... it was all over the road, swerving from lane-to-lane, like a vehicle on "black ice" on a New England Winter's day. After she arrived home I let the tires cool down and checked the tire pressure...... 35 front and 33 rear, exactly to factory specs. Remember, this is the TOURING model with the 16", 55 series Bridgestone Turanza EL400's (rated 260-A-A) LRR? and stiffer suspension !! She is actually "afraid" of driving this new Prius in WIND anymore.......... guess after coming from an Acura MDX (which we traded-in) the Prius is a big difference, but like I said, I was NOT with her so I could not really "feel" what she experienced. She said she just went over to the right lane and crawled home at 50 MPH !!

The ONLY four possible things that I can think COULD be wrong is:
(1) only 200 miles on the vehicle and the "tire mold release agent" has not "scuffed off" the tires yet ??
(2) only 200 miles on the vehicle and the steel tire "belts" have not taken a "set" yet ??
(3) Recommended factory tire air pressure a bit too high for our driving conditions........ maybe bring it down to 32 front / 30 rear ????
(4) These LRR Bridgestone TIRES are JUNK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ANY SUGGESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (PLEASE !!)

aaf709 · 05-22-2007, 08:12 PM

Lots of people with this problem have gotten the BT Brace and find that it helps with the high winds. It replaces the thin brace under the car with a stronger aluminum one.

JimN · 05-22-2007, 08:31 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FloridaWen @ May 22 2007, 07:09 PM) [snapback]447663[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

This afternoon my Wife drove her five day old 2007 Prius Touring home from work, just as she did yesterday, about 65 MPH (the legal limit here in Florida) on a highway (Route 4) in Tampa, Florida...... only TODAY it was WINDY as all heck !! I was not with her but even walking the dog here at home I felt the wind gusts. Anyway, when she got home she asked me what the heck is wrong with the new Prius .... it was all over the road, swerving from lane-to-lane, like a vehicle on "black ice" on a New England Winter's day. After she arrived home I let the tires cool down and checked the tire pressure...... 35 front and 33 rear, exactly to factory specs. Remember, this is the TOURING model with the 16", 55 series Bridgestone Turanza EL400's (rated 260-A-A) LRR? and stiffer suspension !! She is actually "afraid" of driving this new Prius in WIND anymore.......... guess after coming from an Acura MDX (which we traded-in) the Prius is a big difference, but like I said, I was NOT with her so I could not really "feel" what she experienced. She said she just went over to the right lane and crawled home at 50 MPH !!

The ONLY four possible things that I can think COULD be wrong is:
(1) only 200 miles on the vehicle and the "tire mold release agent" has not "scuffed off" the tires yet ??
(2) only 200 miles on the vehicle and the steel tire "belts" have not taken a "set" yet ??
(3) Recommended factory tire air pressure a bit too high for our driving conditions........ maybe bring it down to 32 front / 30 rear ????
(4) These LRR Bridgestone TIRES are JUNK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ANY SUGGESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (PLEASE !!)

[/b]

With all due respect sir, has the alignment been checked? There is a spirited thread here about a Prius blown into the next lane. The concensus was that this was pretty much impossible. Perhaps the circumstances are different or my memory is not 100%.

Swanny1172 · 05-22-2007, 08:40 PM

The Prius is certainly lighter than an Acura MDX, so you are going to notice some lateral movement due to the wind or passing vehicles. I know that I noticed a difference between the Prius and the Audi A4 I traded in on it in this regard. However, I don't think the Prius is all that unmanageable or at all unsafe.

hyo silver · 05-22-2007, 08:55 PM

I use 42/40 on stock Integrity tires and don't have the same problem. First, I'd get the alignment checked, and then I'd order a BT brace.

apriusfan · 05-22-2007, 08:55 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Swanny1172 @ May 22 2007, 05:40 PM) [snapback]447682[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The Prius is certainly lighter than an Acura MDX, so you are going to notice some lateral movement due to the wind or passing vehicles. I know that I noticed a difference between the Prius and the Audi A4 I traded in on it in this regard. However, I don't think the Prius is all that unmanageable or at all unsafe.
[/b]

I don't know that lightness is necessarily predictive of susceptibility to being buffeted by cross-winds. If that were the circumstance, my MINI (2,700 lbs.) would be all over the road in cross winds. I would echo the suggestion to check the alignment (in particular the Toe setting). If it is not slightly "in", you could have your answer. Separately, if the Toe was/is set to factory specifications, then you are probably looking at a wider tire. I have had 205/60-15 (Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S) tires on my Touring edition from day 1. I have driven the car in cross winds approaching 50 mph with no wandering. Slight body roll when the winds were hitting the car, but no wandering around the roadway (and this was at a road speed of 65-70 mph indicated). You might try the BT Tech rear brace as a first step (since it costs less than wider wheels and tires), but don't be surprised if the problem continues (there is a very contentious thread in the Modifications subforum where both sides of the claim of handling improvement are argued) absent wider wheels and tires

Swanny1172 · 05-22-2007, 09:02 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ May 22 2007, 08:55 PM) [snapback]447696[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I don't know that lightness is necessarily predictive of susceptibility to being buffeted by cross-winds. If that were the circumstance, my MINI (2,700 lbs.) would be all over the road in cross winds. [/b]

Good point, but I think the lightness of the vehicle combined with the high side profile can lead to it catching the wind. The Prius is a very aerodynamic vehicle from the front, but the design results in the car being somewhat wedge shaped. So from the side, there is a lot of surface area for the wind to catch. Many have complained about being buffeted by the winds from large trucks passing.

apriusfan · 05-22-2007, 09:06 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Swanny1172 @ May 22 2007, 06:02 PM) [snapback]447704[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Good point, but I think the lightness of the vehicle combined with the high side profile can lead to it catching the wind. The Prius is a very aerodynamic vehicle from the front, but the design results in the car being somewhat wedge shaped. So from the side, there is a lot of surface area for the wind to catch. Many have complained about being buffeted by the winds from large trucks passing.
[/b]

And the side profile may be more predictive than lightness in susceptibility to buffeting. My personal experience makes me think the solution will be found in wider tires.

Swanny1172 · 05-22-2007, 09:11 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ May 22 2007, 09:06 PM) [snapback]447707[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

And the side profile may be more predictive than lightness in susceptibility to buffeting. My personal experience makes me think the solution will be found in wider tires.
[/b]

Of course wider tires will also lower the MPG because you have more rolling mass and more tire in contact with the road. I don't know. I am running my tires at 42/40 and have never had an issue with the car being blown into another lane. Sure, I've had to make some corrections due to wind gusts and passing trucks, but not to the point where I would say I was out of control.

brick · 05-22-2007, 09:21 PM

I've driven through some pretty serious crosswinds on stock 15" tires, no magic brace, no mods...and I've never been close to "out of control." Definitely some buffeting, maybe a little drift to one side or the other, but all easily corrected by a little bit of steering input. I think JimN's suggestion of an alignment check should be your first order of business because that kind of instability just isn't normal.

05-22-2007, 08:09 PM	#1
FloridaWen Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Plant City, Florida Posts: 557 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 1	This afternoon my Wife drove her five day old 2007 Prius Touring home from work, just as she did yesterday, about 65 MPH (the legal limit here in Florida) on a highway (Route 4) in Tampa, Florida...... only TODAY it was WINDY as all heck !! I was not with her but even walking the dog here at home I felt the wind gusts. Anyway, when she got home she asked me what the heck is wrong with the new Prius .... it was all over the road, swerving from lane-to-lane, like a vehicle on "black ice" on a New England Winter's day. After she arrived home I let the tires cool down and checked the tire pressure...... 35 front and 33 rear, exactly to factory specs. Remember, this is the TOURING model with the 16", 55 series Bridgestone Turanza EL400's (rated 260-A-A) LRR? and stiffer suspension !! She is actually "afraid" of driving this new Prius in WIND anymore.......... guess after coming from an Acura MDX (which we traded-in) the Prius is a big difference, but like I said, I was NOT with her so I could not really "feel" what she experienced. She said she just went over to the right lane and crawled home at 50 MPH !! The ONLY four possible things that I can think COULD be wrong is: (1) only 200 miles on the vehicle and the "tire mold release agent" has not "scuffed off" the tires yet ?? (2) only 200 miles on the vehicle and the steel tire "belts" have not taken a "set" yet ?? (3) Recommended factory tire air pressure a bit too high for our driving conditions........ maybe bring it down to 32 front / 30 rear ???? (4) These LRR Bridgestone TIRES are JUNK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANY SUGGESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (PLEASE !!) __________________ current vehicles: 2007 Prius Touring w/package 5 - Silver Pine Mica w/gray interior 2004 Honda CR-V EX - Mojave Mist w/tan interior

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05-22-2007, 08:12 PM	#2
aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,839 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Lots of people with this problem have gotten the BT Brace and find that it helps with the high winds. It replaces the thin brace under the car with a stronger aluminum one.

05-22-2007, 08:40 PM	#4
Swanny1172 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 674 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	The Prius is certainly lighter than an Acura MDX, so you are going to notice some lateral movement due to the wind or passing vehicles. I know that I noticed a difference between the Prius and the Audi A4 I traded in on it in this regard. However, I don't think the Prius is all that unmanageable or at all unsafe.

05-22-2007, 08:55 PM	#5
hyo silver awaaay Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 10,726 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: Base Thanks: 47 Thanked 153 Times in 108 Posts Friends: 63	I use 42/40 on stock Integrity tires and don't have the same problem. First, I'd get the alignment checked, and then I'd order a BT brace.

05-22-2007, 09:21 PM	#10
brick Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 895 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 10 Thanked 21 Times in 15 Posts Friends: 0	I've driven through some pretty serious crosswinds on stock 15" tires, no magic brace, no mods...and I've never been close to "out of control." Definitely some buffeting, maybe a little drift to one side or the other, but all easily corrected by a little bit of steering input. I think JimN's suggestion of an alignment check should be your first order of business because that kind of instability just isn't normal.