How did your Sportage perform in the snow? And what winter tires do you have?

witchywoman · 03-25-2011, 06:38 AM

As winter is , hopefully, coming to a close (I type this as it is 15 degrees in Upstate, NY right now....

) I am wondering how everyone fared this winter in their Sportages in the snow and ice?

I'd love to hear some feedback.

Also, I am a die-hard believer in studded tires. What tires did y'all use as well?

Thanks folks

Muppetz3 · 03-25-2011, 07:29 AM

I live in Rochester, so not far from you. I had 150 miles on mine with the stock tires and it did ok, last snow was all ice, stopping and turning was fine. But going the traction kept kicking in, next year I will get a set of rims/snow tires. When I did that for my Mazdaspeed3 I was amazed how well it did.

Mooseski · 03-25-2011, 07:43 AM

I live in Latham in the Albany area. I have to say that the tires are the one thing that I'm not impressed with on the car. I noticed a lot of slippage in the snow. Luckily the traction control kept kicking in. I would be great if manufactures offered a choice of tires depending on what area of the country you live in. Here is the tire rack review of the OEM tires.

EvilTwin · 03-25-2011, 08:27 AM

Has anyone here driven a 2wd Sportage in the snow? If so, how would you rate the traction control?

My current vehicle, a 2009 Chrysler minivan, has the best traction control I've ever experienced. It is an amazing car in the snow considering it has front wheel drive and stock tires. I used to have a 1999 Buick Regal and that car had the most annoying, intrusive, and useless traction control of any car I've ever had.

I would shell out the extra bucks to get an AWD Sportage but I want a manual transmission.

Zengoalie · 03-25-2011, 12:38 PM

Only have had my 2WD manual transmission for 2 weeks now. We did have a little bit of snow (I'm in New Hampshire) since I picked it up. Didn't have any problems. I came from an AWD Subaru, so was a bit wary of not having AWD, but I didn't have any trouble. Granted it was just a dusting, but there were some slick spots/ice and the traction control kicked in a little. I couldn't give a detailed report because we just haven't had enough winter weather since I got the Kia.

jflarin · 03-26-2011, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by witchywoman

I am wondering how everyone fared this winter in their Sportages in the snow and ice?

Toyo observe (open country) GO2+.

However, since I had the sportage AWD for only 3 weeks, I can't say I encountered a lot of snow.

I need AWD because of my driveway (I live in the country) and in the few serious snowfall we had in the last weeks, I couldn't turn on the traction control. I guess the AWD is so good it transfers power to the 4 wheel before slippage occurs.

I also have Go2+ on my Venza AWD an my previous car and they perform very vell in snow (on AWD trucks at least).

When I purchased the Sportage, I asked for one of the follownig tire: Toyo, Yokohama, Nokian or Gislaved. Although I never used the last 2 brand, I received recommendation from expert in the field. You can't go wrong with those).

jf

witchywoman · 03-26-2011, 09:43 PM

Yes, I had Nokian Hakkapellita tires on my Touareg and they were invincible!! LOVED my Nokian snow tires!

dcb73 · 03-30-2011, 09:08 AM

I have the stock tires on the AWD, and I have to admit it handled nicely.
I was never a believer in AWD... but the wife insisted with the addition of our daughter.
I am now a believer.

hockeyrules · 03-30-2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilTwin

Has anyone here driven a 2wd Sportage in the snow? If so, how would you rate the traction control?
.

I bought my FWD LX Sportage with stock Nexus tires in November. I drove it to Silver Star Mountain in the snow and to Whistler several times in the snow. Generally on the road , in a few inches of snow, it handles well. I had a harrowing drive back from Whistler about a month ago, at night, when the snow was falling so heavily that I could only use fog lamps. There was at least 2-4 inches on the highway. I had no trouble even going up hills - I never lost traction. When I have had trouble, twice, is when I am starting from a stop at the bottom of a snowy/icy hill. I've been stuck twice. My 4WD Pathfinder would have been able to go up. Both times I could get up the hill by backing up and taking a run at it.

altaski · 03-30-2011, 08:50 PM

My EX awd performs very well. Better than my last car a mazda cx7 awd. Very stable in corners and stopping, all with stock tires.
One drawback, since lower plastic is curved in and no flat area to block rocks flying up, results in severe rock chips on doors. Extra large mudflaps do NOT help. It's a body design flaw.