Driving in the snow

[jayman]

My 2004 was almost impossible to drive in snow/ice on the stock Integrity. WIth studless snow tires (Dunlop Graspic DS-2 and Yokohama Ice Guard 10), much better in snow but still a bit gimpy on ice

With the studded Goodyear Nordic from Canadian Tire - same as the Goodyear Ultra Grip 500 sold in the EU - my Prius became great on ice and in light snow. Once it bogs down in a drift, the wheels refuse to turn, rocking is pretty much pointless

I also managed to bog down on a gravel hill my first year with my Prius. A few of us from the office rented a cabin at a tourist camp to go fishing. The co-worker with the VW Golf tdi had no trouble on the hill, even when he had to stop and go around me. Very minor wheelspin and up he went

My co-worker with the Lexus RX had to use a towstrap and the emergency towing eyebolt to pull me up the hill. I know better than to take my Prius on such roads. Clearly, my 2004 has the worst extreme of the complaints regarding the Trac

I test drove a new 2008 Prius when we still had a bit of snow and ice around, in the Spring. The Trac behavior was completely different, a day and night difference. With studded winter tires, that Prius would probably be almost unstoppable in winter

The only way to tell is to try out the Trac on a gravel surface. The difference is very apparent

[David Beale]

Originally Posted by mingoglia

Living in the Phoenix area, and it being in the dead of summer led me to open this thread so I could dream of cooler times.... it worked, carry on.

Aha! So you need the traction control to get you through the molten pavement.

[hyo silver]

Originally Posted by jayman

My 2004 was almost impossible to drive in snow/ice on the stock Integrity....

I've found the same thing here, and from the point of view of a Winterpegger, Vancouver doesn't have four seasons. I can always leave it parked for a few hours until the snow melts.