[swandy]

Hi. Just placed an order for the CT200 coming from an RX350.
Aside from the usual concerns about coming from a bigger and more powerful car, I have a concern about driving in snow/rain. We live in NYC (not the best winters lately) and on a hill. The RX350 is AWD, has that switch for ECT SNOW and you can switch the transmission into a lower gear for traction in the snow - like when trying to get up the hill. From what I see, the CT200 has none of these options. So I am a little concerned about how it would handle under these conditions. Anyone have any experience or read anything about it?
Thanks, Steve

 

[farawayfan72]

Tough to say, most Prius owners (similar hybrid drive) report in snow is ok with good all-weather tires, they say it's more difficult with the stock tires. google some Prius info, it's not exactly the same, but should be similar, I'd think, and has quite a bit more time on the road in all seasons...

 

[Bob259]

I had similiar concerns coming from a Highlander Hybrid and living on a hill. However that said, the wife had a 05 and now a 10 Prius and we put winter tires on them and have had no problems at all, so that made me believe with winter tires I would not have a problem.

The stock tires will not make it in the winter in the NE, the compound in the stock/summer tires is to hard and there are not enough grabbing surfaces to get you through safely in any kind of snow or winter driving conditions.

Oh, we ended up having a snow storm right after I picked up my CT.... while with new tires it got through it was not a comforting experience in the wet snow and stock tires.

 

[Mr. Nelsby]

Yeah, I came from a 2005 prius and the winter was pretty much over by the time I got my CT. That said, the old prius was quite acceptable in our Boston winters. Never had a problem starting up and was quite dependable even in the worst snow.

That said, if you are coming from something with 4wd, it will definitely feel like a step down in terms of traction. One of my exes had an SUV and I drove it in the snow and I kind of understand the logic of why so many people like them in the snow.

Still, with the wheel-stability-control thing, the Prius never got stuck in the snow at times I saw many rear-wheel-drive cars spinning their wheels and slipping all over the place.

 

[Kostamojen]

Just get a spare set of wheels (16") with winter tires installed and you will be fine.

 

[jimmyc13]

Mr. Nelsby, did you get winter tires for the Prius or were they all seasons? I too am from Boston and am thinking of getting some winter tires for the CT.

 

[swandy]

Thanks to those who responded. I did put in a call to my salesperson about the tires - he used to work for Toyota before Lexus - and he said that the tires that came on the Prius were not the same as the ones on the CT. Those (Prius) were harder and less tread because they were designed for mileage. The ones on the CT (according to him) are normal, all weather, steel belted radials. Guess we will see.

 

[Boldlygo]

Up here in 'snow belt' country (Central Ontario), we don't even think twice about putting snow tires on. I have always put snows on (on separate rims) even on my cars that have all-wheel drive. So many tests have proven that cars without snows take much longer to stop in adverse conditions, and in Quebec it's the law!
So I hoping to find someone who is wiling to sell the base 16" rims with TPMS to me to mount the snows. Even though my CT200 comes with 17's, I will drop down to 16's for the snows.
I don't foresee any problems with good snows on.

p.s. This makes your factory tires last longer too!

 

[Georgianyc]

Curious to see how you like the car and how it is performing? I am thinking of purchasing it and i live inNYC . Concerned about how it will handle in the snow. It appears to be very low to the ground.

 

[Pagy]

My CT arrived in Feb and i did put snow tires on it right away.

It's hard to comment about how it handles in snow because i think if you gave 10 drivers each a month driving in snow, they'd have a different experience to share based on how comfortable and experienced they are driving in snow.

I would say it was not better or worse than any other car i've driven in snow. it won't be as good as an SUV and it wont be worse than a mustang... any car that low would present the same issues in deeper snow. you can't switch off the traction control to my knowledge so spinning it out of some situations would be impossible but that said someone pushing works better anyway.

I will say this though, for a smaller car, its weight probably makes it easier to drive than other cars its size.

 

[sdale944]

These Blizzak tires have transformed every front wheel drive car I've ever owned and will be my choice for my CT200H....unless someone has any experience with the new Dunlop DSW tires that are highly rated?? I play a lot in the mountains and last winter my GTI with Blizzak's went everywhere our family AWD Venza would go without any problem at all.

SuperView of the Bridgestone Blizzak WS70

 

[sdale944]

I did forget to ask however...I'm rather concerned by the low ground clearance of the CT200H compared to my old GTI?? Any experience?

 

[jennypenny]

yes. its pretty low. i scrapped the bottom of my CT last week with 2 passengers over a bump.

i almost cried.....