TPMS linked to Traction Control

Hi Everyone!!

I am new to the Prius and the community and I just ran into my first issue I was wondering if someone could clarify for me.

I recently purchased new snow tires for the Prius and some steelies for the new tires. I purchased everything at Costco, however, when I went to get everything installed, I realized that the new car had a locking lug nut on it, which I did not have the key for. Costco then proceeded to put the new tires on the new rims and left them in my trunk.

Today I took the Prius into Toyota as we needed to get a new key programmed for the car. While my wife was there, she asked if they could put the winter tires on the car since the summer rims are locked on and we do not have a lug key. The person at Toyota said they could not install the winter tires because the rims did not have TPMS sensor installed.

So my question is, if I put the winter tires on anyway (without the sensors), I'm assuming the TPMS light comes on in the Prius. When the TPMS light is on, am I able to deactivate the Traction Control System of the vehicle? I have heard of not being able to deactivate the Traction Control System in some cars when the TPMS light is on.

Best,
Chris

 

You know... I checked the car for a TCS button and I don’t think it exists! I’ve researched and there is a way to deactivate the TCS but it’s a series of button presses, gas and brake presses and blah blah blah. I’m not dealing with that every time I get into the car. It will soon be full-on winter here in Canada and I absolutely hate driving in snow with TCS on. Does anyone know if the TCS can be deactivated using a Mongoose cable?

 

In Nova Scotia, a lot of what we get in winter is a lot of rain that freezes, and on occasion we do get snow. In short, it gets VERY messy here for driving. I will typically do most of my driving with Traction Control on as it typically doesn’t interfere on a day to day basis. I don’t like it, but it does save on the tires when winter driving, as the Traction Control keeps the tires from spinning when there is no traction to be had. However, there are certain instances when the transfer of rotation from one wheel to another is more dangerous. Two specific examples of this are:

- Quick Unexpected Manoeuvring: stopped in traffic (for a light, waiting to turn, waiting for pedestrians, etc.) and the vehicle behind you can’t stop due to loss of traction, or a vehicle coming towards you loses control and is heading right towards you.

- Navigating Steep Inclines

In those situations, the diversion of power between wheels results in no power, especially in a front wheel drive car if both front tires are in snow or on ice, which is 95% percent of the time when you can’t get traction. With Traction Control off, regardless of how much traction there is, as long as you have decent snow tires one, a free spinning wheel has more chance of grabbing traction than a wheel that isn’t spinning at all.

In 4-Wheel or All-Whee systems, Traction Control is much much more useful. However, on a 2-wheel drive car, it is really dependant on the Traction Control System being used and the type of car. I have a Honda Civic that can’t go up a hill with Traction Control on but can with it off, but I have a BMW 540i that can only make it up a hill with Traction Control on but cannot when it’s disabled. But it’s rear wheel drive so it is a lot easier to move the car because all the weight isn’t over the front wheels. But in my experience, front wheel drive cars are safer in the snow and ice without Traction Control. No Traction Control also allows you to feel the car and anticipate how the car is going to respond. I’ve lived in eastern Canada my whole life and learned to first drive a car in the snow when I turned 16, so I have a lot of experience driving in treacherous conditions (I once drove 5hrs in White Out conditions... terrifying).

I am sure a lot of people may disagree with me. It’s all in how you like to drive, but I’ve definitely saved my own life (as well as many others) driving without TCS on.