Slippery Roads

Doug:

You haven't posted where you live, so I have no idea how long your winters last. Here in Winnipeg, they seem to last forever.

I quickly found out that the standard Traction control is far too sensitive and cannot be easily disabled. Ice and deep snow became dangerous as when the light turned green, I could barely creep away at less than walking pace.

The clincher was when I tried driving up a parking ramp at a mall and the car simply stopped on me. Other cars had made it no problem.

Here in Manitoba you can run studded tires from Oct 30 to April 30, and I would have preferred Nokian studded tires or Cooper WeatherMaster studded tires. However, the condo where I live prohibits studded tires in the underground heated parking area.

I got Dunlop Graspic DS/2 studless winter tires on their own steel rims, to make changeover as fast and painless as possible. It really was a day and night difference: the car will easily blow the doors off any 4x4 at a green light, and it will easily handle up to 12 inches of snow.

Since I've had dedicated winter tires for every car and truck I've owned - at least in Snow Country - I don't mind doing this with the Prius. And I'm not sure if you gain anything with winter traction comparing a Chrysler minivan to a Prius.

One thing I've noticed after a blizzard is a lot of them are upside down along the Trans Canada.

Jay

 

Does anyone have the instructions handy for "maintenance mode" in which the TC is disabled, and the ICE rpm limited? That might do the trick if TC gets you stopped. You might make a sticker for the glovebox door with the instructions to keep them handy.

 

Venturer,

You also didn’t mention what model Prius you have.

Your sentence, “We've had GPS for awhile so that's nothing new†makes me believe you have a BC model, but you did not actually say you have a Prius with GPS. IF you do, then you have a BC model which comes with VSC (Vehicle Stability Control). The AM model also has VSC.

I can tell you first hand that VSC works very well! I took our AM Prius skiing up in the Sierra near Lake Tahoe. The conditions were perfect for skiing, but the roads were marginal - but without chain controls. When I pulled off the plowed highway and onto the secondary road which climbs up to the resort, the road had a few inches of snow and was icy in some areas. I made it up the hill no problem. The traction control kicked in a few times. If you keep your momentum up, I think you can avoid most problems as mentioned by Jayman . . . although that may not always be possible.

When I reached the parking area, I noticed that the further parking lot was empty and had several inches of fresh snow and ice. A perfect testing ground for VSC!!!! I gave it four or five really good tries to make the Prius fishtail. It just would not!!! Any other car would have spun-out of control on every one of my attempts. I/it maintained control on every attempt, and with factory tires!

Something to think about when you make your decision.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy\";p=\"102191)</div>

Patrick:

That was my problem: the entrance to the parking ramp was almost a 90 degree turn off the parking lot, so it was impossible to approach it at more than 5 MPH.

However, once I put the Dunlop Graspic DS-2 winter tires on, I even tried stopping halfway up that nasty parking ramp. No problems getting going again.

If you have to deal with long winters with plenty of snow/ice, dedicated winter tires on steel rims are one of the best winter safety investments you'll make.

Jay

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Venturer\";p=\"102212)</div>

Doug:

I have relatives in Appleton, WI. That part of WI can get nasty winter weather too, though nowhere near as cold as Winnipeg.

If you've never been to Winnipeg, just compare it to the "Ice box of the Nation" International Falls, MN. Nuff said.

I don't think you're allowed to use studded winter tires in WI. WI also uses a lot of road salt in winter.

So, one thing to keep in mind is that a good set of studless winter tires (Dunlop Graspic DS-2, Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50, etc) on cheap steel rims will save the nice aluminum factory wheels.

I see plenty of OEM aluminum wheels around here that are badly etched and eroded due to the winter road salt.

Jay

 

Doug:

Oh sure, take the *easy* way out!

Actually, if that really is your intention, why not just get a tow dolly for the motorhome and take the Prius with you? The Prius is 1/2 the weight, perhaps 1/3, of the Chevy Avalanche, so it will be easier for the motorhome to tow.

It will also be much easier on fuel, so you can do a lot more exploring in AZ and even venture out to NV or UT.

Jay

 

Jayman:
Wow! I have a ton of family in Appleton- I also grew up there. What part of town is your family in?

Venturer:
What part of WI are you in? I've lived a few places there. in fact, I just got home from a trip up there the other day.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jayman\";p=\"102556)</div>

I've been looking for steel rims for my '05. I don't see them offered on Tirerack. All I see on Ebay are OEM alloys that usually sell for nearly $300 for a set of 4.

Can you suggest a source of steel rims to fit the Prius?

 

The dealer I bought my prius from offers free winter tire storage for their customers. I don't know if or what they charge for swapping them, but there's a good chance that is free too. They seem to offer a lot of discounts and free services to the customers that bought a car from them. For example, they offer free state inspections (typically a $50 cost) to their customers for any car they own, not just the one bought from the dealer.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee\";p=\"102995)</div>

E Pershing St. Though not for much longer. My Uncle recently passed away and my Aunt is starting the process of selling the home and moving into a condo, perhaps in the Twin Cities area. Her children - my cousins - live there.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(popoff\";p=\"103013)</div>

The steel rim from a Matrix or Corolla should fit. My local dealer went to a Winnipeg wheel shop and found dual-pattern wheels that fit the Matrix. Not very expensive - just black steel - but they work.

There isn't anything exotic about the Prius stud pattern or offset.

 

Jayman:
Sure, I know that area well. A good high school friend's parents live right on that street. I was there almost every day back then.
Sorry to hear about your uncle, by the way.

Funny what a small world it is.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee\";p=\"103137)</div>

He was ill for a long time, so it's for the best. And it will also be for the best that my Aunt - my Mom's sister - is moving to the Twin Cities to be near her children and grandchildren. No sense being in that empty house all by herself.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee\";p=\"103137)</div>

That's by design. The world is actually a lot smaller than most of us realize, thanks to easy mobility.

As an example, when I was with Honeywell and there was a major expansion of the paper mill in Dryden, Ontario, back in 1988. I got quite chummy with some folks. I got to know some favorite local hunting and fishing spots.

Imagine my surprise around 6 years later when I was at an RV show at the Salt Palace in SLC, UT. I happened to strike up a conversation with a pleasant oldster and casually mentioned an area he might like to drive his RV to for the summer.

He knew not only the Dryden area, but the Red Lake, Kenora, and especially Nestor Falls and Rushing River Provincial Park area FAR better than I did!

Yep, small world.

 

Jayman,
I live in Salt Lake City and commute daily to Park City. on a snow/ice packed interstate...
You mentioned your preference for the studded snow tires, but basically sound very happy with the studless... is there a major difference? ie how do the studless do on ice.....? is there a huge amount of road noise/vibration?
thanks,
steve

 

Steve:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sailorkid\";p=\"103166)</div>

Yeah the Summit on I-80 is no picnic when it's snowing, is it? I also had plenty of scares at the lights by the Chevron at Kimball Junction. Is that Chevron still there?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sailorkid\";p=\"103166)</div>

Remember I have to run studless, as even though in Manitoba you're allowed to use studded tires, the condo I live in has heated underground parking. They sealed the floor with a special epoxy and prohibit studded tires.

I would have very much prefered Nokian Hakkapeliitta 2's which I have used before. They offer exceptional grip on ice and snow.

My Dunlop Graspic DS-2's are a bit easier to live with on dry pavement, as you won't hear the pitter-patter of studs hitting the road. I would guess the ice traction is about 1/2 to 2/3 that of a Nokian studded tire. On fresh snow, equal traction.

The treads on the Graspic are very soft and squishy, so expect to lose cornering response and steering feel. The sidewalls are also a lot softer than the Michelin Harmony all season tires I usually run..

On wet roads, common after a warm snowfall or the Spring melt, the Graspic works very well. The tread has good water groves and is heavily siped.

Remember that any studless tire (Dunlop Graspic DS-2, Bridgestone Blizzak, etc) will wear quickly if driven on bare pavement, especially in temps over 40 F.

That's why I keep my Graspic tires on their own steel rims. Not only to protect my aluminum rims from road salt, but to make changing over very quick and relatively easy.

Hope this helps.

Jay

 

Ahh, we were in Plover last week Wednesday. Can't say I've lived there though. Just drove through on occasion.