driving in the rain

[williab]

Been bragging about my week old Prius and several people who know people who have them said that they have problems driving in the rain,wet roads - slipping , hard to control - ???????? what's up with that ????? if true, how do you compensate for it ??????? I do plan on getting snow tires of some sort but rain ????? Any info is appreciated

[apriusfan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pie r sqd @ Sep 1 2007, 04:45 PM) [snapback]505567[/snapback]</div>

Been bragging about my week old Prius and several people who know people who have them said that they have problems driving in the rain,wet roads - slipping , hard to control - ???????? what's up with that ????? if true, how do you compensate for it ??????? I do plan on getting snow tires of some sort but rain ????? Any info is appreciated[/b]

Sounds like urban legend (about problems in the rain).

If the problems are in fact true, I would check the circumstances in which the problems occurred: bald tires???; starting off on an oily surface???; stability control disconnected???? I think you get the point.

Net, net, with the safety systems on the Prius, there would have to be some external factor for there to be problems.

[David Beale]

I think some people are just a little too harsh on cars. Yes, it's not a race car. My car does just fine in the rain. I haven't slid or spun the tires or tripped the traction control or antilock enough to cause me problems so far. On the so called "garbage" stock Goodyear Integrities.

I think the comments were caused by the 2005 and earlier traction control being too sensitive, and ill-informed owners not realizing they were trying to accelerate on oil soaked roads. One that was discussed here complained they would spin the tires and activate the traction control aggressively exiting a parking garage. Just where you would expect lots of oil on a concrete road. Worst case scenario.

[Bobwho]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Sep 1 2007, 08:20 PM) [snapback]505604[/snapback]</div>

I think some people are just a little too harsh on cars. Yes, it's not a race car. My car does just fine in the rain. I haven't slid or spun the tires or tripped the traction control or antilock enough to cause me problems so far. On the so called "garbage" stock Goodyear Integrities.

I think the comments were caused by the 2005 and earlier traction control being too sensitive, and ill-informed owners not realizing they were trying to accelerate on oil soaked roads. One that was discussed here complained they would spin the tires and activate the traction control aggressively exiting a parking garage. Just where you would expect lots of oil on a concrete road. Worst case scenario.
[/b]

I do not know about anyone else but both my daughter and I own Prius and when we went to get new tires the traction and wet handling improved markedly.

Moral: OEM rubber is the cheapest thing they can get. If you do not like the wet handling of your car get rid of the OEM rubber and buy decent tires to replace them.

[williab]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bobwho @ Sep 1 2007, 09:41 PM) [snapback]505607[/snapback]</div>

I do not know about anyone else but both my daughter and I own Prius and when we went to get new tires the traction and wet handling improved markedly.

Moral: OEM rubber is the cheapest thing they can get. If you do not like the wet handling of your car get rid of the OEM rubber and buy decent tires to replace them.
[/b]

Any suggestions for tire brands - regular or snow - from other threads I have read in the last few weeks, no one seems to like the standard tires - thanks for the help

[apriusfan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pie r sqd @ Sep 1 2007, 07:07 PM) [snapback]505619[/snapback]</div>

Any suggestions for tire brands - regular or snow - from other threads I have read in the last few weeks, no one seems to like the standard tires - thanks for the help
[/b]

Here is one vote for Michelin.

[qbee42]

The OEM tires are crap. That's where all of the rain and snow horror stories originate. I swapped mine for Micheline MXV4+ Energy LRR all-season radials. The difference in control was like night and day, with no loss in fuel economy.

Tom

[PearlDriver]

I've had my Prius for less than five weeks and have only had one really rainy, windy day. My commute that day included crossing a high bridge with severe crosswinds. My only complaint is that my mileage for that trip dropped by over 3 MPG from a normal commute of 54-55 to 51.5. I guess the extra resistance and the wipers were just too much.

In similar situations my Chevy Aveo was hard to control and I was worn out by the time I got home.

[patsparks]

OEM tyres in Australia are Michelin and they seem very good.
The traction control is a little easy to set off in my 04 but maybe that's because there's a lot of torque to spin the wheels.
Even though I sometimes upset the traction control I have never felt that the car is out of control, with ABS and traction control how can you get into trouble?

[hyo silver]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pie r sqd @ 2007 Sep 1 4:45 PM) [snapback]505567[/snapback]</div>

...people who have them said that they have problems driving in the rain...
[/b]

It's not the car's fault, it's the tires. Just about anything would be an improvement.
By the way, pie are round.