Snow and Clearance

estoybob · Mar 15, 2017

Anybody else struggling with this recent snow dump out East? Here in Ottawa, we didn't even get the worst of it, but my little Sonic made a very poor attempt at being a snow plow on my road this morning!
I run all seasons, and normally would get through fine. Does anyone else run into significant snow clearance issues?

bluejay · Mar 15, 2017

this thing is a death trap with just all-seasons with our winters here . i invested in a set of snows and now have no problems .

estoybob · Mar 15, 2017

bluejay said:
this thing is a death trap with just all-seasons with our winters here . i invested in a set of snows and now have no problems .

Do you mount your winters to your stock 17s or put them on steelies? Cruising Kijiji as we speak...

5.0 · Mar 15, 2017

This car is horrid in the snow with any substantial accumulation cause the front air dam is so low it just plows. And I run snow tires on 15" steels. I got stuck today on my street from this storm 300 meters from my house. Had to walk back home and get the snowblower.

Josh89 · Mar 16, 2017

I'm rolling on Pirelli winters on steelies. No struggle what so ever.

Josh89 · Mar 16, 2017

Bluejay is right about allseasons.. they're horrible

Palmaris · Mar 16, 2017

I cannot say much about the all seasons in the snow since I have winter tires. I don't have any fears about driving in the snow but we didn't get the deep snow that Ottawa did.

Since the ground clearance is not very high then it may not take much to get stuck!

bluejay · Mar 16, 2017

steelies . i went with a 15'' tire . made the car really squirmy . i would suggest going with a 16'' tire if ur car came with 17's .

estoybob · Mar 16, 2017

bluejay said:
steelies . i went with a 15'' tire . made the car really squirmy . i would suggest going with a 16'' tire if ur car came with 17's .

Cool! I will see what comes available on the second hand market. Think it's safe to say from everyone's comments that winters may be the difference maker.

cndctrdj · Mar 16, 2017

I have an rs with snow tires on 15 steelies. The car does great in the snow with them. It needs an LSD. The ground clearance is not good at all. We got snow in the north east of USA. Then rain on top so it is rock hard and I feel it hurts the car. But we will see in the spring

dannyg · Mar 16, 2017

I used to live in Maine, I picked up snows on 15" steelies. Worked great. Yes the stock Hancooks are horrible in snow...

carsNskis · Mar 18, 2017

I guess we have had it easy here in Colorado. Winters have been petty mild lately, no ice storms, even the high county is passable in the Sonic...

225/45 r17 General Altimax Arctic on stock RS wheels. Great tires for the dough

GM Performance Suspension hasn't hurt clearance any, I think it made it better than stock because it's glued to the road. So much less float, it's like having hockey skates on versus Chuck Taylors

Maybe a belly pan is in order for those of you who endure real winter conditions?

Hectic · Mar 20, 2017

I took my winters off on Feb 28 while the car was in the shop for something unrelated. We had 2 snow falls afterwards, and it managed. The stock 17s Hankooks aren't the greatest, but are usable. Just gotta be smart with how you drive. Working at a dealership and driving with both all seasons and snows in the winter, I will always recommend you use snows.

With my car lowered, I have had no problems with sliding around or anything. But I've taught myself how to rely on my driving ability and skill rather than the "safety" of snow tires.

SuperSonic15 · Mar 20, 2017

Hectic said:
I took my winters off on Feb 28 while the car was in the shop for something unrelated. We had 2 snow falls afterwards, and it managed. The stock 17s Hankooks aren't the greatest, but are usable. Just gotta be smart with how you drive. Working at a dealership and driving with both all seasons and snows in the winter, I will always recommend you use snows.

With my car lowered, I have had no problems with sliding around or anything. But I've taught myself how to rely on my driving ability and skill rather than the "safety" of snow tires.

I was debating on getting better all-season tires for this winter. However, it was pretty mild IMO for Michigan. So I'll wait til next season. Smart driving with the stock tires makes them usable for sure.

zomby woof · Mar 20, 2017

Hectic said:
With my car lowered, I have had no problems with sliding around or anything.

I want to drop mine with the ZZP springs, but we live in the sticks, and I'm a little concerned about the front bumper in seep snow. We don't get much snow here, but a few times a year it can be a little deep with drifting. I guess I could compensate with taller snow tires. Wasn't impressed with the 17's in the snow for the few days we had it

estoybob · Mar 21, 2017

zomby woof said:
I want to drop mine with the ZZP springs, but we live in the sticks, and I'm a little concerned about the front bumper in seep snow. We don't get much snow here, but a few times a year it can be a little deep with drifting. I guess I could compensate with taller snow tires. Wasn't impressed with the 17's in the snow for the few days we had it

I want to drop mine a couple inches too, but I can't sacrifice the need to be able to drive my car every day in the winter! As fun as it would be, practicality takes the cake here.

TurtleOverlord · Mar 21, 2017

Has anyone removed the little air dam to help with clearance?

I am about to get some eibachs and am only a little worried about the MA winters.
So removing the air dam is my backup

gaparker · Feb 8, 2020

Reply to Josh89

First, I love that yellow color. I didn't know that Chevy ever offered a Sonic in yellow.

Second, my OEM Hankook Optimo H428 are rated incredibly bad for snow: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...Sonic Hatchback&autoModClar=LT#RatingsReviews

Good thing that from the first winter, I've been running Bridgestone Blizzaks on 15" black steelies here in northeast Ohio, USA.

Josh89 · Feb 18, 2020

gaparker said:
First, I love that yellow color. I didn't know that Chevy ever offered a Sonic in yellow.

Second, my OEM Hankook Optimo H428 are rated incredibly bad for snow: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...Sonic Hatchback&autoModClar=LT#RatingsReviews

Good thing that from the first winter, I've been running Bridgestone Blizzaks on 15" black steelies here in northeast Ohio, USA.

Thanks bud

I love the yellow as well. I've only come across a couple over the past 4 years and I'm convinced its the same car I keep seeing lol

The stock all seasons are aweful on these cars, no matter how much snow is on the ground

orangeltz13 · Feb 18, 2020

the yellow sonic rocks

Where did you get the black strip? Wonder how it would look on an inferno orange Sonic.

Snow and Clearance

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