Acceleration Hesitation

I am having similar problems with the VSC stability control in my 2007 prius (trouring). It feels very unsafe, feels like the car is slipping and slows down. I have been very concerned with this, especially in the hustle and bustle of LA streets. I have the tires that came with the car brand new from the Dealer. The car now has 60K (mostly highway) miles with the same tires. According to the service inspectors the threading is still ok. Isthis is due to the tires? If so, which is the recommended brand/model? Thanks much!!

 

I would absolutely love you to show me how to caress my pedal! I was out in 1/4" snow TRYING to move an inch. Cars all around me pulling past me as I am at a dead standstill, apparently NOT caressing my pedal appropriately!

 

Hi Ron,

0.25" = 8/32" which is a lot considering the new tread depth is 10/32". Since those tires work well for you, no worries. In fact a PriusChat poll several months ago showed that many owners were happy with the original equipment tires.

Legal tread depth is 2/32". However legal tread depth does not necessarily equal safe tread depth. Certainly at 60K miles you've gotten plenty of use out of the original equipment tires, recommend you do a search for Touring tires to see what is recommended.

 

Ah Mary13, what can I say! Only that as an old engineer I am acutely aware, on a real gut level, of the stresses and strains we car drivers necessarily impose on the vehicles we drive. Not that I can measure them, but I am acutely aware of them.

As a result I take to heart (and mind) the advice of my old flying instructor when I was learning to fly in De Havilland Chipmunks way back in my University days as a member of the University of London Air Squadron.
"In flying this airplane you handle the stick, Ron, the way a virgin handles a penis. Gingerly, with delicacy, and with your fingertips only! That is the way you become a precision pilot"!

I try, despite my advancing years, to drive my Prius in a similar fashion.

 

I think I see feathering on the right side of each tire, more so on the left photo. But yours have more tread on them than mine did when I got the car at 13K miles!

- D

 

Ahhh, Ron, my old engineer, you made me LOL (laugh out loud). That's a good thing. I shall never forget your terminology for depressing an accelerator pedal!

As a side note, I have named my Prius, and I do talk to him/her (I haven't yet made up my mind as to the gender of my car). Perhaps it is a hermaphrodite.

Thanks for making me smile! Eco Lady aka Mary13

 

I get the behaviour mentioned by the OP with my new tires too, but quite as much.

 

If your an Engineer you must be a deaf Engineer because the Integrities are the loudest tire I have personally ever driver on.
I'm rolling on 25K Integrities at 34 psi cause there so loud.
Damn the mpg's there howling. And scary poor. Count the days till replacement.
There a ridiculously poor tire.

It doesn't matter how much tread is left on it, its a sh*tty and dangerous tire. It was a sh*tty tire when I rolled out of the dealer.

I liken it to Goodyear Wrangler RT/S's which most guys in the tire industry called widowmakers.
Toyota put these on the car the same reason Ford put Wrangler RT/S's on Ranger's.

They were cheap.

To defend Integrities in any shape or form is patently absurd.

 

I had a set of Wrangler RT/S on my Ford Explorer, they were way louder than the Integrity(s). I was so happy to replace them.

I have owned 3 different sets of Goodyear tires on 3 different vehicles and they all sucked.

 

I have the same issue with my '07. The recent rain here really brought out the issue for me. A slow drive up a gravel hill will show it too.

 

One of my co-workers has a 2008 Prius, still under warranty, and reported having the car hesitate a couple of times when accelerating. She took the car to the Toyota service center and they advised fuel injector cleaning. So I pointed her to the throttle plate cleaning ... in the off chance it might be related.

I did ask if it happened in bad weather but she wasn't feeling too good today and I didn't get a good answer. I offered to check her throttle body on Wednesday. Hopefully we'll be able to eliminate that hypothesis.

When the NHW20 has the 'traction control pause,' does it show any warning or error lights? With our 2010 Prius, ABS and traction control lights were easily observed when they were in action.

Thanks,
Bob Wilson

 

Hi Bob,

Typically the amber skidding car light will come on while traction is impaired.

If that is the problem demonstrated by your co-worker's car, I'd suggest checking front tire tread depth, and recommending replacement if the front tires are worn.

 

what are good choices for replacement tire?? have the 06 here.