[llninja]

Get ready for an EV range hit no matter which snow tires you get. Cold hits your range anyway, snow tires will hurt even more.

What I did when my first set of tires wore out was buy a new tire and wheel package from the tire rack. I was able to pick new rims, a better performing tire (took a range hit, but they stick better to the road) and 18 inch rims look awesome on a volt. They installed the right TPMS for the car and all I had to do was bolt the setup on.

Then I paired the OEM rims with Yokohama ICEguards (I’m partial to Yokohama for some unknown reason - maybe it was those two page ads in car magazines that I read as a kid.) Other people on this forum like Blizzaks or Michelin snow and ice tires (forget the model name). Whatever you get, make sure you put them on after it gets cold and take them off when it warms up or else you with prematurely wear out your snow tires.

The unexpected phenomenon for me was that after enduring snowageddons 1 and 2 on all season radials, as soon as I got the snow tires and was prepared for snowageddon 3, for the last 3 winters I’ve barely needed the snow tires on the car for more than a week per winter. That $600 for snow tires was the best money spent to ward off heavy snow.

 

[Sly Bob]

to the OP, there are a ton of threads here on winter tires. You'd do well if you were to search for them. Go to "Advanced search", search titles only and type Winter Tires in the search box.
You've got some reading to do...

 

[mvanzanten]

Having a complete set of winter tires, and wheels with TPMS is a good, yet expensive option. I did the same thing and it takes me 30 minutes to do a complete swap of my tires. I bought a floor jack form Harbor Freight (make sure you get one with a low clearance) and a torque wrench (100lbs for the lug nuts) The winter tires I have are the General Arctic Altimax with studs. I went with the studded version because we get ice on occasion and being a firefighter, I have to get to work. I treat my studded tires like most people use chains. I put them on when the forecast is for snow/ice, and then I take them off when the weather clears. These tires have been excellent in the worst of conditions.

 

[llninja]

to the OP, there are a ton of threads here on winter tires. You'd do well if you were to search for them. Go to "Advanced search", search titles only and type Winter Tires in the search box.
You've got some reading to do...

Or scroll the the very bottom of this thread to see similar threads.

 

[emg77]

If you buy them at Discount Tire, they will do the swap in the fall and spring for free, as well as the TPMS learning. They will likely match whatever deal you can find.

I bought a used set here on the forum for my Gen 1. I didn't see much of a hit on mileage, but the Blizzaks were great this winter and seem to be wearing really well. But now I have to pay Discount Tire $25 to change them, since I didn't buy the tires there.

 

[Steverino]

I bought my 2011 Volt's winter wheels from TireRack with Blizzaks and TPMS mounted.

Between iininja and I, I think we have managed to dramatically reduce winter snow days in the northern half of Illinois to less than a dozen. There is a 5 mile range hit, but the snow tires make a huge difference when there is snow.

Side benefit: you have a set of emergency wheels in case there are issues with the all seasons.

I'll likely be getting some for my Bolt EV as well.

 

[llninja]

I bought my 2011 Volt's winter wheels from TireRack with Blizzaks and TPMS mounted.

Between iininja and I, I think we have managed to dramatically reduce winter snow days in the northern half of Illinois to less than a dozen. There is a 5 mile range hit, but the snow tires make a huge difference when there is snow.

Side benefit: you have a set of emergency wheels in case there are issues with the all seasons.

I'll likely be getting some for my Bolt EV as well.

Its LLninja.... I'm pretty sure Chicagoland got a lot more snow than I did in east central IL. I've only put the snow tires on 3 times in the last 3 winters, and there was only once where I felt I really needed it.

Plus, having an extra set of tires also makes it easier to rotate them, as the car doesn't come with a spare. Alas, I rotate about once ever 2 years or so, whenever the front tires wear out. I just did my once in the life of a pair of tires rotation last week, putting new tires in the back, and moving the rears with 30+k miles to the front. I love my Yokohama Avid Ascends as they usually get 50-70k miles, far more than the OEM goodyears.

 

[MP81]

Get ready for an EV range hit no matter which snow tires you get. Cold hits your range anyway, snow tires will hurt even more.

To lessen that blow, you can run certain 15" wheels on the 2nd gen Volt.

I run 15" Sonic aluminum wheels and 205/65R15 Michelin Xi3s - overall about 1.5lbs lighter per corner. The cold did most or all of the impact. I didn't see an increase in EV range when I switched back to the OEM 17" 5-spokes and OEM Energy Saver A/S 215/50R17s.

The 205/65R15s are also much cheaper, and the (slightly) narrower section width and taller sidewall will help with snow traction.

 

[Steverino]

Its LLninja.

Right, 11ninja

 

[llninja]

Right, 11ninja

For you, !!ninja

 

[mswlogo]

Get ready for an EV range hit no matter which snow tires you get. Cold hits your range anyway, snow tires will hurt even more.

Really depends on the snow tire. I had Michelin Primacy All Season (a reasonably efficient tire) on my Tesla Model 3 and switched to Michelin X-Ice for winter and saw zero loss on efficiency (same Aero RIMs). They are noted for efficiency. I chose those tires based on Noise, Efficiency and longevity (40K mile Tread Warranty). No tire is perfect. They are also noted to be not the best in wet traction. Nokian R3 are very efficient too but can be on the noisy side, and those do last forever (despite no tread warranty), and slightly down in wet traction.

I plan to order a set of X-Ice for my Volt as soon as my OEM (Ebay Take-Offs) wheels come in. But I keep toying with the idea of going with Nokian R3. But I hate noisy tires. The Volt is way quieter than the Model 3 was, but I'd kind of like to keep it that way. I know Nokian R3 is a bit better in the snow and a bit more money too.

The Performance snows (like a Pirelli Sottozero) are the best in wet traction, but also the weakest in heavy snow. Not sure where they land efficiency wise. I think they are not bad and this is what Tesla sells for winter packages.

 

[sringlee]

What size rims were those Sonics you bought?
Steve in Iowa

 

[LastVolt]

What size rims were those Sonics you bought?
Steve in Iowa

Goto car-part.com They are a junk yard search engine. Pick say a 2015 Sonic and wheels with image. Then pick the 15 inch aluminum ones from the choice as Sonics have had anything between 15-18s over the years. Got nokian R3 195r65 15s. Only about $110 tire, vs $200 for 17s. Rims are about $40 each here and 433 mhz tpms are $40 in ebay. Total package is $600.