The "Sonic in the snow" MASTER thread

[Blue hedgehog]

Well Kentucky has had ice and snow for weeks now... up to 7" of snow and an inch of solid ice... no issues here on 20,000 mile stocks. Try driving a rwd side step ranger, fiber glass beds... good luck.

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^Agreed^

I can say the traction level is affected by the type of snow we drive on. Normaly here on LI we get heavy wet snow. Last winter my car was brand new and I didn't have any problems. This year we have had ths polar vortex cr@p and getting a light fluffy snow that seems to be slicker than normal for here. With 19000 miles the stock tires are horendous. Though last week we got 5-6" of the normal wet heavy snow that we are use to. The stock tires did better but still nowhere near as good as last year when they were new.

 

[rodslinger]

I will repeat my early statement. With proper winter driving procedures, I experience NO issues with the stock Tires.

I got out for a while today in the Atlanta area. My street and driveway is a solid sheet of ice but the Sonic handled it GREAT. Most conditions right now are either solid ice, ice with sleet on top or slush. The snow kicks in later. Either way I was pleased with the amount of traction the stock tires and the car overall did provide.

On a side note. My Mazda5 and my Dodge Dakota (2WD) wouldn't get out of the driveway. Both of those are on summer tires also.

 

[Chevyjay]

thats why i hesitate to drop my sonic...

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my sonic have snow up to the roof but i dont have picture

 

[Beastlick]

What do you mean, you are plowing just fine!

 

[Palmaris]

thats why i hesitate to drop my sonic...

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my sonic have snow up to the roof but i dont have picture

You have an oddly shaped Subaru Legacy

 

[Chevyjay]

A lot of snow haha

 

[Trevinator]

anyone having fun with the lift-off over steer you get in the snow with the stability control off? makes for good fun on the back roads!

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

Gotta say my sonic rips thru some nasty stuff with the new tires i put on it last summer. Been very happy with the upgrade from the stock tires. Im just ready for winter to be over and see nothing but clear roads and sunny sky's again!! Ive had enough of winter.

 

[Blue hedgehog]

A pothole caused a bubble in one of my tires. So I replaced the 2 fronts with continental extreme contact DWS. I know its not good to have different traction tires but I couldn't afford 4 new tires.

I'll post up a review tomorrow. We are supposed to get another 2-5" tonight.

Edit:
Well I got called into work early this morning (yeah overtime :banana so I wasn't on the road for any of the snow :sadbanana:. I can say the new tires get much better traction than the stock hankooks. I accelerated harder than normal on a few wet turns (from a stop). The traction control would have normally kicked in but didn't.

 

[TomFromParma]

I ordered some new snows for the car Monday. 4 Goodyear ultra grips with 4 sport edition se-16 so I won't have to worry about mounting and balancing twice a year. Thanks Tire Rack! And now it's going to be over 50 degrees tomorrow...

 

[ClO2Jim]

Running Firestone winter tires - studded - on our Sonic Hatchback
We only have 6-7 foot snow banks along our driveway and 4 foot snow banks along the road (Northern Ontario Canada) - not that much snow LOL
The Sonic has low clearance so it take only a couple of inches before you are pushing it along - No problems with our 2006 Chevy Colorado - 4 WD with winter tires

BTW - We have had snow on the ground since late October

 

[thebaron]

I flat out have to agree with the majority of folks here. The Hankooks are just absolutely dangerous to drive on in the snow and ice. Its an accident waiting to happen no matter how safe you drive with them. By far the worst I have had. Mine won't be on my Sonic next year. Winter is too far over now to change, but it may happen anyway.

I don't like my 16" Hankooks in the snow/ice, but what is the best for all season without paying a mint?

 

[94383Z71]

My sonic with the stock hankooks was the WORST winter driving experience I've ever had. about 4-5in of snow and the car would stop moving. Not stuck mind you, because I could reverse away. Every 10ft it would happen again.

After some Goodyear UltraGuard Winter tires it's a freaking blast! Powers through the same snow in the same lot like it's a joke.

 

[littleturbo]

You can get a great all season tire from firestone affinity touring or a fr710 I have a set of affinity touring tires for my hatch for winter I take off my Bridgestone serinity pluses and use the affinity tourings for cold weather. Couldn't be happier

 

[twall]

Putting the blizzacks on tomorrow!! Maybe this winter I won't be scared to death on my commute to and from work.

 

[shorebreeze]

Putting the blizzacks on tomorrow!! Maybe this winter I won't be scared to death on my commute to and from work.

You won't regret the winter tires. I went with Nokian WR G3 as I needed an all-year solution that was still winter-rated (living in the city leaves one short of storage space). We've had almost no snow so far in Chicago to test it out in, but the little bits of ice and slickness on freeway bridges and so on are no match for the Nokians. Very impressed so far.

 

[twall]

Kinda looking forward to some white stuff now. Not like last year tho, that was ridiculous!

 

[twall]

Blizzacks on and its not snowing ;(

 

[Palmaris]

Kinda ready to start a "Sonic in the Fog" master Thread...

 

[jgrote]

We got a little snow here on Christmas, and it's still falling now. We're up to about 8-10" locally. I'm running Hankook i-pike studded tires on both my Forester and my Sonic. The Sonic isn't as good as the Subaru of course, but plenty good enough to get around and have a little fun at the same time. Here's a pic of what I woke up to this morning.