Blue hedgehog
New member
#3 stability control off
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The "Sonic in the snow" MASTER thread
- Thread starter dick
- Start date
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
Yes, that's the button, and those are the lights. It is true that the systems do not turn completely off with that button, if you really spin hard they will still come on. You can kill them and the ABS completely, 100%, by removing the fuse. I'm pretty happy with the "mostly off" TC, though, and personally I leave SC on most of the time.
My GF drove the Sonic in serious snow for the first time today; last year she wasn't a live-in GF yet, and the few times we went anywhere in snow I was driving. But yesterday she took the F150 in, and then had to struggle home with it. This morning I suggested she take the Sonic instead. Man was she happy about that! So much better traction and control than that big pig of a pickup. Now admittedly some bags of sand in the back will help the truck.... but she'd still rather take the Sonic if it looks at all scary out now.
My GF drove the Sonic in serious snow for the first time today; last year she wasn't a live-in GF yet, and the few times we went anywhere in snow I was driving. But yesterday she took the F150 in, and then had to struggle home with it. This morning I suggested she take the Sonic instead. Man was she happy about that! So much better traction and control than that big pig of a pickup. Now admittedly some bags of sand in the back will help the truck.... but she'd still rather take the Sonic if it looks at all scary out now.
Maddmatts
Member
I've now missed two days of work in as many weeks due to the lack of capability and confidence I have in the OE Hankooks in the snow. That's 3 days total in my 14 years of driving. I probably could've made it today driving slow and safe as others have suggested in this thread. It's all perfectly good in theory, but that can fall apart when you start considering the other people you'll be driving next to. In Winnipeg, if you leave more than a 20ft gap in front of you, someone will compulsively fill it.
In 20 words or less: It's time for me to stop being Scottish and buy some actual tires for this car.
In 20 words or less: It's time for me to stop being Scottish and buy some actual tires for this car.
Maddmatts, I feel the same way about the factory Hankooks. Absolutely NO confidence in them at all in the snow. With this major winter storm coming tomorrow (they are predicting 5"-13" of snow for my area) I am at my local Goodyear Tire Center getting 2 Goodyear Assurance Comfortred all seasons on my front wheels. They had good scores on TireRack, and were recommended by Patriot Tire, and the guys here at Goodyear.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Assurance+ComforTred
I will report back tomorrow or Monday with how they handle this snow that's on its way.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Assurance+ComforTred
I will report back tomorrow or Monday with how they handle this snow that's on its way.
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Rude awakening as I think I drive well in snow and Ha! Not in my Sonic! Either I'm still not used to this vehicle ( had it 2 months) And/or it IS awful in the snow! Reviewing all other posts I'm thinking new tires, maybe, AND a trip to the dealership to walk me through my concerns.
Update #1: There was only a light dusting of snow and or a little freezing drizzle/mist on the roads on my way to work this morning. I noticed when pulling away from a stop sign or light that the traction/grip was vastly improved over the stock tires. With the stocks, the car would break loose in even those conditions and spin until I shifted to second gear if I stayed on the throttle. I also noticed that turn in/bite when cornering was amazingly better. The car would "plow" 98% of the time in a turn with any sort of snow or ice on the road with the stock tires. I am already massively impressed with the difference these tires have made.
In the meantime, all hell has broken loose outside and we now have 4"+ of snow on the ground with a total of 8"+ predicted. I will be able to give a snow handling review later once I get home from work. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, all hell has broken loose outside and we now have 4"+ of snow on the ground with a total of 8"+ predicted. I will be able to give a snow handling review later once I get home from work. Stay tuned.
Update #2: This car is a BOSS in the snow now with these tires!! It feels like a completely different car! In conditions as bad as or worse where I was getting stuck with the stock Hankooks, the Sonic now goes through with ease.
After realizing that the car was more than likely completely cured with these new tires, I then turned off the traction control and TRIED to induce wheel spin and to get stuck. Of course the wheels spun more with TC turned off, but the tires still quickly got a grip and the car surged forward. And even trying uphill starts and slow turns (both of which caused me to get stuck before) with TC off I couldn't manage to get stuck.
I will be getting 2 more of these tires for the rears in the spring. This was probably the best $325 I have ever spent on any vehicle I owned.
For those wondering, this second review was done in 5" of snow with a temperature of 31 degrees, and my stock Hankooks are in as good of shape as tires with 20,141 miles can be. I should not have been having the traction issues I was having with the Hankooks.
After realizing that the car was more than likely completely cured with these new tires, I then turned off the traction control and TRIED to induce wheel spin and to get stuck. Of course the wheels spun more with TC turned off, but the tires still quickly got a grip and the car surged forward. And even trying uphill starts and slow turns (both of which caused me to get stuck before) with TC off I couldn't manage to get stuck.
I will be getting 2 more of these tires for the rears in the spring. This was probably the best $325 I have ever spent on any vehicle I owned.
For those wondering, this second review was done in 5" of snow with a temperature of 31 degrees, and my stock Hankooks are in as good of shape as tires with 20,141 miles can be. I should not have been having the traction issues I was having with the Hankooks.
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mitdr774
also a dinner prick
My only major complaint about driving in the snow with my Sonic is that the air dam is not exactly designed to take the abuse of snow. I will have to replace it in the spring for sure, but have tucked it back in for now.
poor quality picture due to lighting and an old phone.
poor quality picture due to lighting and an old phone.
I'm still on the stock tires and am determined to save up the money to replace them ASAP. I've survived all my years of driving with cheap all season tires with no issues, even in snow storms as long as I used some common sense. I even managed last winter alright with these. This is the first "real" snowfall I've had to drive in with my Sonic and also the only time I was actually afraid to be on the road.
I've never been stuck in snow before, but I managed it three times last Thursday. Tonight I had the neighbors (and my mom) laugh at my attempts to get this thing up the driveway in the two inches that had accumulated since it had been shoveled.
I've never been stuck in snow before, but I managed it three times last Thursday. Tonight I had the neighbors (and my mom) laugh at my attempts to get this thing up the driveway in the two inches that had accumulated since it had been shoveled.
Blue hedgehog
New member
Well, I guess I was wrong:sadbanana:
I don't know if it has anything to do with 18k miles or the type of snow we got Thursday night into Friday, but I'm thinking I may need snow tires or at least a good set of all seasons. The snow was light but packed well. After plowing, walking on the snow was like walkning on ice.
On my way to plow snow, the heavy snow had just started and the roads were covered but for the most part plowed. I had no issues. Not even driving through the untouched parking lot I had to plow. After my 4 hour shift (had to go to my normal 9-5) I got stuck on flat ground in about 5-6" of snow. Luckily, someone with a plow cleared the snow in front of me and pushed me out. A mile or 2 later I almost got stuck at a traffic light. Again about 5" of snow, on flat ground. It took 2 green lights to make it through the intersection and almost a third.
Now I'm trolling the fs threads for a set of rims to mount snow tires on. If I can't get a good deal on rims I'll have to go with all seasons. Mainly because snow tires for the 17" LTZ rims are too expensive and I don't want to deal with dismounting and mounting every winter and spring.
I don't know if it has anything to do with 18k miles or the type of snow we got Thursday night into Friday, but I'm thinking I may need snow tires or at least a good set of all seasons. The snow was light but packed well. After plowing, walking on the snow was like walkning on ice.
On my way to plow snow, the heavy snow had just started and the roads were covered but for the most part plowed. I had no issues. Not even driving through the untouched parking lot I had to plow. After my 4 hour shift (had to go to my normal 9-5) I got stuck on flat ground in about 5-6" of snow. Luckily, someone with a plow cleared the snow in front of me and pushed me out. A mile or 2 later I almost got stuck at a traffic light. Again about 5" of snow, on flat ground. It took 2 green lights to make it through the intersection and almost a third.
Now I'm trolling the fs threads for a set of rims to mount snow tires on. If I can't get a good deal on rims I'll have to go with all seasons. Mainly because snow tires for the 17" LTZ rims are too expensive and I don't want to deal with dismounting and mounting every winter and spring.
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5.0
Member
If you step down to a 16" rim the tires are cheaper. That's what I did and saved $150 on a set of 4 tires and rims.
Blue hedgehog
New member
I was looking on tire rack to see the prices. Not many listed for the 17's. I did look up for a ls with 15's but I would need rims ($50 per steely)making it about $100 more than all season 17's. I don't mind changing the size for the winter since the potholes arround here can swallow 2 sonics, but money is extremely tight right now.
TurboSonic18
Member
I need to get some winter tires next season for my Sonic. My spirited summer driving on the all seasons left them a little worn for winter. I can barely get up my driveway if there's snow on it... 
First experience with my '13 Sedan 1.4T Auto in snow this week, in conjunction with -15 temps.
In a word: @%^&*!
These stock tires [CENSORED] suck!
Chevy should be ashamed to supply POS like this. I'm galled that with only 2,100 miles on the vehicle I should have to buy a new set of tires.
Frosts my nads.
In a word: @%^&*!
These stock tires [CENSORED] suck!
Chevy should be ashamed to supply POS like this. I'm galled that with only 2,100 miles on the vehicle I should have to buy a new set of tires.
Frosts my nads.
