Hello all, newbie here.. have some questions.... any advice appreciated..

Welcome aboard crusty.

Don't want to mess with the exhaust system as it is very special to the Prius (heat recovery).

There are some easy suspension mods that will surely help handling. Like the center and front braces.

 

Many harsh climate folks use a spare set of tires/wheels. In Kalispell, we run a set of studs (from 'Big-O' tires) on cheezy steel wheels. Once the roads get better we switch back to the OEM's. This is the best way to get the most out of each, and the swap out time goes pretty quick. Your avator doesn't show where you are, so it's hard to say how harsh your winters are - which limits the reliability of the advice.
As for auto dim side view's ? Forget it. None for Prius, but I did see it done . . . it was a set made for the Gen I RX Lexus SUV . . . :


2000 Lexus Rx300 Door Mirror - Action Crash - TheAutoPartsShop

Anyway, the fit & finish, once installed on the Prius? It was really 'if-ie' and they're WAY over priced, imo.
btw ~
Welcome !

 

Yeah, Spiderman, I hear you. I wouldn't mess with the exhaust system either. Forget about the so called "power chip" of any reprogramming of the car's control systems.

You also don't want to place anything in front of the passenger compartment that changes the "crush" characteristics of the occupant protection system.

Like Spiderman said, the front and mid-chassis braces are a good inexpensive addition to improve the handling "feel" of the car. I'd go with sway bar upgrades, too, but that would make the ride rougher. With high pressure tires, in my opinion, the car ride rough enough, already.

 

I'd check out the last page of this thread, in which I elaborated on suspension upgrades and "ride feel.".

ALL Prius now shipping with "stiffer" center chassis brace | Page 5 | PriusChat

 

I actually purchased, installed and examined severl of the Tanabe and Cusco accessories, expecting them to be the best available.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed and made simpler and improved components for my own car and others who were interested on Priuschat.

The shocks and springs, as well as the sway bars are fine. I would trust Toyota Race Development (TRD) more.

I see little, if any, improvement from the tedious to install "strut tower braces." At the very least, they make servicing in the engine compartment more difficult. At worse, in an accident, they may unintentionally change the crush characteristics of the crumple zones in the occupant protection system.

That's from being a trained observer in mechanical structures and as an engineer.

 

Are you moving to Fargo, ND? That is where I live and yes the conditions are worse here in the winter time, but all I ever use for tires is michelin radial x from SAMs club. You don't need a really true set of winter tires, yes they will always help but just driving slower and more cautiously will get you through winter.

 

This Prius mid-brace is one of my best and most successfu custom made one at a time products.

For Sale - Custom "Lightweight"torsion flex box beam GenIII "v" mid chassis brace w/10.9 J.I.S. bolts | PriusChat

It is rally nice looking and "tricked out." There are very very few out there. The last 6 persons who got it found the install to be effortless. It can be installed without jacking up the car. You need a ratchet with just a 14mm socket. A torque wrench is rcemmended, but from my45 years plus on working on cars, a quarter turn after the bolt is run in puts you in the "ballpark" of the correct torque.

This is the brace that I use on my own car, and the photo in the avitar on your upper left.

PM me, if you are interested.