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I have a friend in Chapel Hill, NC who is considering a Volt, but is concerned about handling the occasional winter ice storms they have. I live in East Texas, bought my Volt in late December, and have had no experience with my Volt yet on ice or snow. I would like to know from those in northern climes how they handled ice and snow conditions in their 2016/17 Volt. My friend comments that he might need to hang onto an older Honda CRV which is good in snow/ice, but he would have no place to park it. Their main current vehicle is a Prius V, which they will keep.

 

[Dutch]

When you have good tires (or winter specific tires) the Volt has excellent distribution and rather a lot of weight so it's a pretty good winter car.

 

[Jim H]

I had a chance to drive my Volt last winter (Minnesota) both with All Season and with winter tires. I'd rate it as good or better for a front wheel drive vehicle with the All Season tires, due I think to the weight on the drive tires. I'd rate it very good for a front wheel drive vehicle with winter tires on. Ground clearance and absence of all wheel drive are the only factors keeping it from being an all around "excellent" winter driver like our Acura RDX (CRV type SUV) with winter tires.

 

[llninja]

My volt was awesome in year 1 with new tires. Year 2 was a bit slippery, but I never got stuck. I even took the volt out after we had packed snow during Snowageddon 2 followed by a layer of ice. It was hard to stop the car with brakes-only because the antilock brakes became anti brake locks. It was far easier to control the car by popping it into L and articulating the accelerator to speed up and slow down.

So in preparation for Snowageddon 3, it was time for new tires anyway. I splurged and bought new 18" rims, new TPMSes, and new Yokohama Avid Ascends for my spring/summer/fall tire then put Yokohama ICEguards on my OEM wheels. Of course it has barely snowed since. The one time I drove my snow and ice tires in a snowstorm, the car was a beast - braking and traction was off the charts compared to regular all-season tires.

So for your friend in NC, I'd say the Volt is great. Just make sure you have newer tires before winter arrives. I wouldn't pay extra for winter tires in NC.

Funny story: the last time I was in NC was when I was interviewing for my first job during my senior year in college at IBM (1988). We started the interview, it started snowing, they closed the factory, and the entire community emptied the grocery stores in a panic that I've never seen in snowy Illinois. The airport was closed, so I was able stay in the hotel until the airport reopened. The next day, I drove around town in my little Buick front wheel drive rental amazed at how everyone in NC is afraid of the snow.

Needless to say, they rescheduled the interview, I came back, got a job offer, but decided to go to grad school instead. A few years later were the biggest layoffs in IBM's history, so I think I dodged a bullet.

 

[trm2]

I live east of Cleveland on the edge of the snow belt. I'm on my second gen 1 Volt and my wife has a gen 2. OEM tires are just fine if you've driven in snow before and know to give a little more distance.

 

[Sean-a-Tron]

This is my first year with the Volt, only had a little snow last winter. The Volt performed fine with the OEM tires. ABS and TC barely kicked in. From what I've seen, the Volts extra weight from the battery helps it get traction in wintry conditions, when compared to other cars of its size.

 

[HighlanderICT]

My volt was awesome in year 1 with new tires. Year 2 was a bit slippery, but I never got stuck.

Year 1 was the same for me. It did just fine in the cold and snow with the stock all-seasons. The odd day where there was a little too much snow it was a bit slippy. This past winter I put Michelin X-Ice tires on it and it was like a tank !

 

[Dgcan75]

How did the Michelin X-Ice tires impact your range compared to all season? I'm trying to determine which winter tire has least impact on range - from what I am researching it seems like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 are best for that.

 

[llninja]

How did the Michelin X-Ice tires impact your range compared to all season? I'm trying to determine which winter tire has least impact on range - from what I am researching it seems like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 are best for that.

In the winter, it's not the tire that kills your range, it's the cold. Cold batteries don't operate as well, and the Volt has to heat the battery with the resistive heater or from engine heat. I also like to be warm in the cabin. My winter range is about 2/3rds to 1/2 of my best mild climate range. So that extra range you seek with winter tires is like refinancing the house to save the enough in interest to pay for a happy meal. The winter range will suck no matter what tires you put on it. So pick one and drive safely.

 

[hellsop]

FWIW, I noticed no more loss with new snow tires last winter compared to the pretty worn original Goodyear FuelMax tires I put up with during the '15-16 winter. The ride and reliability were incomparably better, though.

 

[Dgcan75]

Thanks. What I was researching was that different winter tires can impact EV range as its about rolling resistance but if it is really negligible then I will probably go with the Blizzak WS80 ir Michelin X-ice. The Nokian were the supposed first winter tire developed for EV cars so wasn't sure if it was just a gimmick to charge more

 

[llninja]

Thanks. What I was researching was that different winter tires can impact EV range as its about rolling resistance but if it is really negligible then I will probably go with the Blizzak WS80 ir Michelin X-ice. The Nokian were the supposed first winter tire developed for EV cars so wasn't sure if it was just a gimmick to charge more

Another tire to throw into the mix is the Yokohama ICEguard. I don't know why I'm partial to Yokohama, but tire wear on my all season tires is phenomenal compared to the OEM Goodyears and the price for the winter tires was right (cheaper than Blizzaks and Michelins). Since we barely got a dusting of snow the last two years, I can't say much about tire wear or performance other than the car is awesome with snow tires. They've been on the car less than 2 weeks, probably less than 1000 miles.

 

[Dgcan75]

Also, did you by OEM wheels/rims for the winter tires, non-OEM wheels/rims or just use the OEM wheels that came with the car and just buy winter tires? When I go through the chevy online tool, I can't find any OEM wheels for a Volt.

 

[llninja]

Also, did you by OEM wheels/rims for the winter tires, non-OEM wheels/rims or just use the OEM wheels that came with the car and just buy winter tires? When I go through the chevy online tool, I can't find any OEM wheels for a Volt.

I bought aftermarket rims for my all season radials (went to 18" - looks awesome - follow the link below for pics) then used the OEM wheels on my winter tires. Alas, I have a g1 and you're looking for g2 wheels.

http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?291073-Angeling-out-my-volt-part-1-wheels&highlight=angeling

 

[HighlanderICT]

How did the Michelin X-Ice tires impact your range compared to all season? I'm trying to determine which winter tire has least impact on range - from what I am researching it seems like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 are best for that.

I did not notice any huge range drop due to tires although I am sure there was probably a few Km ... I just put it down to the colder weather as that's the real enemy

Also, did you by OEM wheels/rims for the winter tires, non-OEM wheels/rims or just use the OEM wheels that came with the car and just buy winter tires? When I go through the chevy online tool, I can't find any OEM wheels for a Volt.

I just bought the tires this past winter and had the shop fit them to the OEM rims to save a bit of cost. They put the original tires back on the OEM rims after winter. This year, I am going to buy a reasonably priced set of winter rims (no need for anything fancy in the slush and snow) and have them fit the winter tires to those.

 

[PilotAlan]

I changed out the OEM tires for Continental DWS tires. The Volt was a tank in the snow. The OEMs suck in snow.

It was the first 2wd vehicle I had owned in over 15 years, and was worried. It was awesome. Drove in some of the worst conditions we had experienced in years (snow on warm road with high winds, melting then icing over, with snowdrifts in places). It was fine, by far the best 2wd vehicle I had ever seen. Went through 12 inches of standing powder without issues.

Because it's electric, the traction control can finely adjust power to the wheels several times a second, and individually by wheel. The result is the best 2wd snow capability I've seen anywhere.

 

[SoCalBeach]

Needless to say, they rescheduled the interview, I came back, got a job offer, but decided to go to grad school instead. A few years later were the biggest layoffs in IBM's history, so I think I dodged a bullet.

You wouldn't have lost out, IBM would have paid for your grad school. They only hired the best engineers from the top tier schools. I was around when IBM laid off a bunch of their older people (50+). Those IBM employees hired in the 1970's were truly professionals and understood how to run a business cost effectively. The two I worked for got full retirement at 50 years old. Then they double dipped by getting another high paying job.

My funny story: My father lost control at about 20 mph driving down an icy New York thruway off ramp near the Father Baker bridge in Buffalo. The car turned sideways with the tires perfectly located in the snow and iced filled ruts. The fun filled experience continued as my dad skid thru a 90 degree turn sideways staying in the ruts. Just before the stop sign, my father got it straightened out and stopped. His front seat passenger was telling a story and even with all the driving excitement, he never interrupted his story telling. When the car stopped at the stop sign, the story teller's only comment was "Nice driving George."

 

[llninja]

You wouldn't have lost out, IBM would have paid for your grad school. They only hired the best engineers from the top tier schools. I was around when IBM laid off a bunch of their older people (50+). Those IBM employees hired in the 1970's were truly professionals and understood how to run a business cost effectively. The two I worked for got full retirement at 50 years old. Then they double dipped by getting another high paying job.

My funny story: My father lost control at about 20 mph driving down an icy New York thruway off ramp near the Father Baker bridge in Buffalo. The car turned sideways with the tires perfectly located in the snow and iced filled ruts. The fun filled experience continued as my dad skid thru a 90 degree turn sideways staying in the ruts. Just before the stop sign, my father got it straightened out and stopped. His front seat passenger was telling a story and even with all the driving excitement, he never interrupted his story telling. When the car stopped at the stop sign, the story teller's only comment was "Nice driving George."

My ex-boss worked for IBM, went to grad school paid for by IBM, but when he finished his PhD, IBM told him good luck and to not come back to IBM. So he left grad school debt free, but jobless, only to be picked up by. A small company that got acquired by a huge large company where he had a great career. Sadly, the big company decided to move our small office south to a bigger city in Texas and both he and I decided to stay where we've not lived for 20+ years, and we're both rebooting our careers on different paths.

 

[JRRF]

Funny story: the last time I was in NC was when I was interviewing for my first job during my senior year in college at IBM (1988). We started the interview, it started snowing, they closed the factory, and the entire community emptied the grocery stores in a panic that I've never seen in snowy Illinois. The airport was closed, so I was able stay in the hotel until the airport reopened. The next day, I drove around town in my little Buick front wheel drive rental amazed at how everyone in NC is afraid of the snow.

I worked for IBM in Houston in the early 80's the first (and maybe only) time it snowed there. And when I say it snowed, I mean you could see it in the sky, and almost nowhere else. The facility shutdown, everyone in the city went home in a panic at the same time and got stuck in a huge traffic jam. I stayed in the office working until later in the afternoon. When I left all the flakes were gone, the roads were a little wet, and I drove home as usual.

As for snow driving in the Volt, it is a front wheel drive car, and since it still has an engine up there it will perform well as most FWD cars do. All season tires are mediocre at best, though not illegal to be out in. Put any set of reasonable snow tires on any car and it will perform terrific. In NC, unless you are an EMT or ER Doc and need to be out in the heart of a storm, it's hardly worth it.

 

[irev210]

How did the Michelin X-Ice tires impact your range compared to all season? I'm trying to determine which winter tire has least impact on range - from what I am researching it seems like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 are best for that.

I went from 41MPG to 38MPG or so with my Michelin X-Ice on my '16. When it was colder, the MPG was much worse.

As for snow and ice, the car is heavy and FWD. It isn't going to do as well as an AWD car on hills and such but I thought it was fine.

I did a lot of road travel and the volt held up just fine in sub zero degree weather, though I will note that the factory windshield wiper fluid starts to freeze up at around -5, so just FYI.

The biggest issue if you are driving through a lot of snow is the limited ground clearance, as the car sits fairly low. Traction on major roads was never an issue.