Traction Control - better on newer Priuses?

There were major changes in the traction control from Gen 1 to Gen 2. Just refinements since then.

It's been observed before that it's not designed as a system that can find the traction limit for you no matter what you do. It tries to follow your lead on the go pedal, and if you lead aggressively, it can end up in a dig-sulk-dig-sulk cycle that isn't helpful.

It ends up being most useful if you view it as a sort of narrow range of error correction around your own efforts to find the appropriate go-pedal input. As long as you are trying to find the right input that would not spin the tires even with no TC, the TC has your back if you overshoot slightly.

Under some conditions, there isn't a go-pedal input that will get you started safely in front of another car that's coming fast. In such conditions, it can be more realistic to wait for a better gap.

 

I had numerous 2gen, 3gen, and now a 4gen. In my opinion, the 3gen is better than the 2gen and the 4gen is better than both.

 

I've had very good experiences with my 2008 Prius in the snow and slush. I would go so far as to say it is one of the best cars I've driven in these conditions.

I think the key is sensible driving techniques for the conditions. The traction control helps me to drive confidently in bad weather conditions. I've not had any problems with it.

We have all four seasons where we live and the Prius is my daily driver so I get plenty of experience in different conditions. I've been using the Prius for 10 years now. The one problem we encountered was about a year ago when we received over a foot of snow. This was just too deep to take the Prius out until the snow was knocked down by snow plows

I always wonder the condition and types of tires people have on when their traction control acts up. I'm not discounting anyones experiences just adding my own positive experience.

 

You would not be the first person to describe that as how the car feels like it's behaving, from the driver's seat, when you're frustrated and in a hurry. That doesn't mean it's what you would learn by instrumenting the car, or catching it carefully on video. The TC has allowed controlled amounts of slip in every generation starting with Gen 2, while selectively braking the more-slipping side. Videos are available of Gen 2s pulling vehicles out of sand, plowing snow, etc., where the TC behavior can be seen.

Or, if I've guessed wrong and you were speaking precisely with "I've found that the system allows absolutely NO wheel slip, and applies the brakes when they do", then that would be a genuinely interesting report, given enough detail to understand your methodology.

 

An issue on my 2004 that I have had to learn to compensate for is wheel spin on certain pavement markings. Particularly at intersections where the stop line and/or a crosswalk are done in the thick hot-melt paint. I will experience wheel slip when accelerating from a stop and hit one of those markings. Dry or wet pavement. No matter how slow I try to accelerate. With three different sets of tires.

I just live with it & consider it a quirk of the car. Curiously, it has never triggered the stability/traction alarm.

The only time the stability/traction alarm has been triggered was one time when my wife was driving. We were taking an exit from I-95 in the Charlotte NC area, and going around the ramp an alarm sounded and a light started flashing. I had to look it up in the manual to find out what it was! The couple of times we have taken that exit since, I reminded her that this was the place to check the traction alarm

Since then we have moved from Atlanta to Maryland so we don't encounter that exit any more.

Regarding snow in Atlanta. Having grown up in Ontario, Colorado & Maryland, and spending a year in Alaska, I have had far more snow experience than the average Atlanta driver. So during Snowmageddon 1 we just stayed home for a few days. For Snowmageddon 2 we cleverly planned to be spending that week at a beach resort near San Diego, CA. Sent a lot of lovely beach pictures & snarky comments to our co-workers.

Now being retired in Maryland, staying home until the snow is cleared is the plan.




-Graeme-
2004 Prius with >190,000 miles.
Sent ?.

 

I too have had a positive experience on my 2006. I drive like a 80 year old man when the snow and ice hits, so I’m never in a hurry. I prefer the conservative nature of the TC, and the stability control has saved me at least once when driving in ice rink like conditions.

We don’t see snow that much in SW Missouri, but if we do I’d just drive the FJ Cruiser. Otherwise, the Prius works just fine.

 

Nah, just invest in a decent set of snow tyres on their own set of rims! I had exactly the same problem on my 2009 Gen II back in the winter of 2014/2015 (remember that one?), and its tyres (60% worn Michelins) were about (as my old Dad would put it) "as useful as a one-legged man at an arse-kicking contest!". The next year I was ready and waiting with a set of new Blizzak WS80s, one of the best decisions I've ever made w.r.t. motoring! This year I replaced the WS80s with Antares Ice Grip 60 (studded) even though the Blizzaks had another season or two in them, but all the ice-storms and crud we've had dropped on us here in the NorthEast, boy am I glad I did! (…but, as they say, YMMV!!!

 

If it happens a lot could it be your tires? Some brands of tires tend to spin more than others I’ve noticed. Any time I drive my 2005 Tacoma in the rain I have to be very careful. And those tires are almost brand new, I don’t drive that truck very much. Maybe 2000 miles a year?

 

well, in my opinion its kind of silly to sell your car because it doesn't perform well in the snow when you live in Atlanta...

I drive in the snow 8 months of the year, and yes the traction control always cuts too hard. So if you give it 30% and the pavement can only take 20% it might cut back to 10%. Then if you decide the car isn't moving and push the pedal to 80%, it further cuts it back to 5%. You really have to be gentle on the gas and just back off/reapply when it starts to slip, instead of pushing the gas pedal down further.

I think the main reason is that Toyota is very conservative and doesn't want the CV joints to snap, which would happen if they were allowed to spin up and suddenly grab traction IE wheel hop.