Who's driven 4th gen in the snow?

Actually this advice was for winter driving specifically. But I read it back to "manual-time", way before any E-traction/stability controls and any legislation.
My understanding of this advice is that deceleration control is more important then accelaration,
IMO and YMMV

 

These OEM tires on my Gen 4 are absolutely worthless in the snow here in the mountains. Try going up a 20% grade with these, and you'll be walking very soon. So what's the best snow tire for the Gen 4 Prius guys???

 

Best can vary. I'm likeing our X-Ice because they're well mannered on bare pavement as well, but maybe they're not the deep snow traction leader. They're decent though.

 

IMO for 20% grade and non-4WD car the best snow tire would chained tires or at least studded tires.

 

I use Bridgestone Blizzak ws70s on mine; others have suggested Michelin X-Ice. I suspect both will be a significant improvement over OEM tires. I have a set of radial chains, but have never had to use them.

 

Greetings from snowy Finland..In my current Prius using Nokia Hakkapeliitta 8, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 - Winter Tyres / Nokian Tyres perfect winter tyres..actually quiter than OEM summer tyres

 

For those of you that are deep in northern climes, of course get 4 good snow tires (the hakkapeliittas above are very good, the Finns know snow) and a set of rims. For those of us in climes with periodic snow I suggest that replacing their OE tires with a set of Nokian WRg3 tires is a good compromise. They are all-weather tires that are LRR, work as well as most snow tires in snow/ice and can be used year around for their 50k+ miles service life. I have been happy with the performance of their earlier WR and 2 sets of their WRg2 tires on my 2004 Prius and as stated earlier due to a Toyo tire failure, now have a pair of WRg3s on my 2016 Prius.

I know that experts say to never use snow tires on the front with normal ones on the rear. I believe that rear toyos with 3400 miles will have sufficient side to side traction to maintain stability, but as an engineer, I will test that assumption when there is a snow cover here in CT.

JeffD

 

Maybe you're between 6 and 7 mm? Or you measured independently with a tread depth gauge? I think the Nokia tread indicators in mm, anyway.

 

Here's my two cents:

 

Nokia hapa8 with studs, frozen dirt and snow roads, and some 6" plus snow, lower than the gen3 by .9" but still a beasty, good traction, excellent stability control--it just stops, very pleased, studs are for stopping.

 

The traction control is really loud. It kind of clunks and grinds. Little jarring but not the end of the world.

And yes I've youtubed it and mine isn't damaged.

 

Which means it's more tread depth than you expected, that's good.

 

My Gen 2 was horrible. Once the tires started spinning it would remove power to the wheels. That and the low ground clearance would keep my Gen 2 grounded on any snow days greater than a few inches. That said, in the NYC area I drive in most roads get plowed well enough for the prius. I hope my gen4 is better. I think we can turn off the traction control. It will be interesting to see if I can move in snow with that off.

 

Gen 3 improved traction control. With 4th gen yes believe you can turn it off, but I wouldn't assume it would be better, turned off. Maybe only when you're royally stuck?

 

From the 2016 manual:



Of course, people here already read that.

 

My gen 2 was the same, until I put snow tires with studs on, then it was a winter beast. Same with the gen 3 +4, the interface between the car and the planet is your problem, not the car.

 

Seems like sage advice, still I'd hazard no one's ever done that.

They also mention using wheel chocks (for the wheel diagonally across from the flat) when jacking up a corner due to a flat (assuming you have a spare). I purchased a light-weight pair expressly for emergencies, stow in the car. Have had occasion to use them for that purpose.