Stock tires usage in winter?

[ft86Fan]

Does anybody know how well our stock "Prius" tires will work in winter temperatures? I will not drive in the snow unless I get caught out so worst case is driving with a light coating of snow. I'm hoping I can just save my stock wheels and tires for the winter and then get a set of aftermarket wheels and tires for the summer. Thanks.

[MTeator]

Originally Posted by ft86Fan

Does anybody know how well our stock "Prius" tires will work in winter temperatures? I will not drive in the snow unless I get caught out so worst case is driving with a light coating of snow. I'm hoping I can just save my stock wheels and tires for the winter and then get a set of aftermarket wheels and tires for the summer. Thanks.

They'll get very hard and very slick as the rubber is designed for traction when warm. They're not really Prius tires as we know them, they're a summer tire that's available on a special option package on the Prius in Japan. Sell the stock tires and buy winter tires or one of the better all seasons. I'm on the fence for all seasons or winter tires... if it snows here I just work from home <shrug>.

Come winter though they'll be plenty of people claiming they work fine. Then one day they won't, and we won't hear from them again unless someone finds their facebook posting of their car in a ditch.

[ft86Fan]

Originally Posted by MTeator

They'll get very hard and very slick as the rubber is designed for traction when warm. They're not really Prius tires as we know them, they're a summer tire that's available on a special option package on the Prius in Japan. Sell the stock tires and buy winter tires or one of the better all seasons. I'm on the fence for all seasons or winter tires... if it snows here I just work from home <shrug>.

Come winter though they'll be plenty of people claiming they work fine. Then one day they won't, and we won't hear from them again unless someone finds their facebook posting of their car in a ditch.

I've been driving with extreme summer performance tires on my rear wheel drive cars for years and it can get real scary. The tires basically turned into hard plastic. Now I have a set of winter tires on one of my car during the winter and I don't think I can go back. Was hoping our stock tires will at least stay a little bit soft for the winter but I think you are right that I should just get a set of winter tires.

[OrbitalEllipses]

A dedicated winter tire set will beat any other tire in snow, rain, slush, and even ice. Though that last one really depends on which snow tires you do get. If you've driven an All-Season in winter, a true snow tire will blow your mind.

[dwx]

One good thing about moving south... our last winter the stock tires would have held up fine. When it actually snows or ices (which it didn't last year), I don't leave the house!

Back up north I always had a set of cheap wheels or steelies with Nokian Hakkas.

[MTeator]

I'm holding off on my decision of what to buy until I see what this winter is like.... so far with as brutal as the summer has been with my luck winter will give us a blizzard in kentucky Our climate here is usually about as far north as you'd want an all-season in winter, at least in the city. If I lived in the hills... yeah real winter tire.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by ft86Fan

Does anybody know how well our stock "Prius" tires will work in winter temperatures? I will not drive in the snow unless I get caught out so worst case is driving with a light coating of snow. I'm hoping I can just save my stock wheels and tires for the winter and then get a set of aftermarket wheels and tires for the summer. Thanks.

cold temperatues you should be fine, just deflate your tires a bit and slow down your tempo compared to summer driving

but if there is snow on the ground for considerable amount of time where you are i would swtich to dedicated winters

[Chewie4299]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

A dedicated winter tire set will beat any other tire in snow, rain, slush, and even ice. Though that last one really depends on which snow tires you do get. If you've driven an All-Season in winter, a true snow tire will blow your mind.

Agreed.

[mezdup]

Say we do opt for winter tires, when would be the time to put them on? First snowfall? Towards the beginning of Fall? And if we do put them on, will they be badly worn if it doesn't snow? Any help is appreciated.

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[Chewie4299]

Originally Posted by mezdup

Say we do opt for winter tires, when would be the time to put them on? First snowfall? Towards the beginning of Fall? And if we do put them on, will they be badly worn if it doesn't snow? Any help is appreciated.

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I think it's less about snowfall and more about temperature.

I'd switch when it gets cold enough that IF there were precipitation it would be snow.

Not long after you start seeing frost in the mornings is probably best.

[Jidonsu]

I'm leaning towards winter tires myself, or just driving my other car (Accord) with all seasons. The problem is that I'm in CT and we may or may not get a lot of snow or cold temperature. I'd rather not drive on my winter tires when it's warm out.

[b1pkkf26]

Yeah I'm definitely running snow tires, even though here in toronto, we had barely any snow last two season. More worry about the temperature and first time driving rwd, better be safe then sorry IMHO.

[tinger00]

I already pulled the stock tires and threw them on my 17x8 wheels that were my dedicated summer tires for the car I just traded-in, a AWD Forester. I drove during the winter here in Chicago with dedicated snow tires on the Forester and will definately be throwing some Snow Tires on the stock 17x7 wheels for the FRS. They even made a huge difference.....

[tinger00]

Originally Posted by mezdup

Say we do opt for winter tires, when would be the time to put them on? First snowfall? Towards the beginning of Fall? And if we do put them on, will they be badly worn if it doesn't snow? Any help is appreciated.

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I usually put them on when the temps hold steady under 55 deg. Snow tires have better traction than all seasons at that temp. Here in Chicago its usually last week of October - 2nd week of November.

[ShoGun]

While we're on the topic of weather. How well do the stock tires hold up in the rain? Or ability to avoid hydroplaning ?

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by mezdup

Say we do opt for winter tires, when would be the time to put them on? First snowfall? Towards the beginning of Fall? And if we do put them on, will they be badly worn if it doesn't snow? Any help is appreciated.

Typically when it gets below 40 degrees Fahrenheit is when summer compounds become useless. Thought last winter, it snowed right before Thanksgiving here. Betcha everyone was caught pants down, too. I certainly still had my summers on at that point, but luckily it only snowed north of where I was at the time.

[Furtive]

I'll be definitely getting winter tires for mine.. Alaskan weather sigh*

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Furtive

I'll be definitely getting winter tires for mine.. Alaskan weather sigh*

More like you'll be getting summer tires for yours

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by ShoGun

While we're on the topic of weather. How well do the stock tires hold up in the rain? Or ability to avoid hydroplaning ?

I had some initial issues that I later decided was a combination of new tires and dealer induced detailing goop on the threads.

After the tires were broken in (about 500 miles) they seem to do fine in the rain. I drove in a blinding rainstorm at around 1000 miles with absolutely no issues. In fact, I had to remind myself to slow down. More details in my Owner's Journal here.

[mla163]

Considering that this is a light, rear wheel drive car with "summer" tires stock. I am planning on getting dedicated winter tires.

It rarely snows heavily here in VA, but I wouldn't want to drive summer tires when it dips below 40 degrees.

The skinny stock wheels make the most sense for mounting winter tires. The problem is - what do you do with the stock tires?

I had the same problem on my WRX. It came with crappy all seasons. I tried my best to cook them off at a few autocrosses. I ended up running them reluctantly for 60000 miles.

[tinger00]

Originally Posted by mla163

Considering that this is a light, rear wheel drive car with "summer" tires stock. I am planning on getting dedicated winter tires.

It rarely snows heavily here in VA, but I wouldn't want to drive summer tires when it dips below 40 degrees.

The skinny stock wheels make the most sense for mounting winter tires. The problem is - what do you do with the stock tires?

I had the same problem on my WRX. It came with crappy all seasons. I tried my best to cook them off at a few autocrosses. I ended up running them reluctantly for 60000 miles.

I was thinking the same thing.. I already dismounted the stock tires and mounted them on a set of 17x8's that I was using on the Forester. I hope they wear down sooner than later.

[mike2100]

I'm thinking about moving the stock tires over to a set of lightweight aftermarket wheels and mounting a set of all seasons on the stock wheels. Even after I move to Maryland I can't see the need for winter tires. Driving around on winter tires waiting for it to snow when it might not does not sound like a fun way to spend 3 months.

I drove my Miata home from work one day in about 6-8" of snow with high performance all seasons (Falken Ziex 912). No stability control, no traction control, no ABS, a limited slip differential, and an empty trunk (no spare)... yeah it was fun. I made it home without incident but didn't get over about 30mph.
I figure with all the nannies I can at least get home on all seasons with this car.
Then if I need to get back to work I'll take the wife's Impreza