How can I improve my car's performance in the snow?

Unfortunately many new cars don't bear nearly as much weight in the front end as they used to. Seems even modern day front wheel cars don't fare well. You used to only have to worry about rear wheel drive. I would recommend shopping tires on tirerack.com. You can find all of the tires that they have for your vehicle by inputting the year make and model alone. You will also see customer reviews, tire specifications, AND ratings. For example, tire A might be rated 6.1 for snow traction and tread life. Tire B might be rated 8.9 for snow traction and 6.1 for tread life. Seeing you are searching for traction and not tire life, I would recommend the more traction. General makes a good tire and they are usually reasonably priced. Stay away from "Stock" tires and brands that hammer you on price like good year and michelin. I always heard Michelin were amazing tires, my wifes car came with them stock and after 30,000 miles they are worn and cracked on the sidewalls. ALSO, make sure that tire chains are LEGAL in your state or any other you may be traveling to and from. Where I live in IL. they are not legal.

I have never driven a Sonata, so I don't know how it handles, but I am a good and experienced snow driver. Yes, FOUR snow tires should make a big difference on your car. I would not mess with chains. You might want to keep a small child-sized snow shovel and a couple of bags of cheap clay cat litter in your trunk, both to balance your car and in case you get stuck (the litter is to throw under your tires so they have something to grip if it is slippery).

When going up or down a hill, put your car in a lower gear. This will help keep it from getting away from you. And learn how to steer is a skid: in the direction in which your rear end is sliding. Don't ever ride your brakes down a hill, take your time and slow down.

Additional Details: If you intend to stay in upstate New York, I strongly suggest that the next time you look for a car, you get the right one: a (used is perfectly fine) Subaru Forester. An Outback or even a Legacy would also be good. What you want is that all-wheel Subaru drive. I have driven a Forester through deep snow which was unplowed and well over my hubcaps, up hill on an unlit country road in the dark of night. The only way I knew where the road even was, was from familiarity with the tree line. My Subaru got me home safely. With four snow tires, that car would go up the side of a mountain.

i'm from Bavaria, Germany, and found out a thank you to force a mild motor vehicle under heavy snow situations. first part of all, your tires would desire to be extra healthful for snow, so use stable iciness tires. A heavy motor vehicle will help you precisely no longer something, because of fact the load of the automobile reduces the snow (on which you would be able to force) to an ice plate (on which you won't be in a position to, in spite of the perfect tires). once you're truly in deep snow, mild weight is an advantage. Use 2d kit in trouble-free terms, even once you have an computerized, and be truly, truly careful with the gasoline. attempt preserving up a consistent velocity. the 2d you develop into D and hit the gasoline, youzr tires will turn on the snow and convey an iceplate from which your motor vehicle won't flow an inch. in case you have a gearbox motor vehicle, you ought to use 2d kit and the handbrake to climb up snowy hills; i'm not sure if this might artwork with an computerized; I in no way drove one. in the adventure that your 2WD is front-pushed, take some sandbags into the rear compartment. this might stability the load of the engine on the front axle and help the rear wheels get a grip to the line, and as nicely, while you're taking a shovel in, might help you get your motor vehicle unfastened once you rather get caught on snow or ice. Throw some stable shovels of sand under the wheels, and you'd be able to artwork it out. happy employing.

It's all about the tires,, Blizzaks would no doubt be your best bet for winter driving.

you need good snow tires with deep tread for traction ! myself i don,t like chains because they keep coming loose ! you should be able to go through the snow with deep tread snow tires on all 4 wheels !

Yes, snow tires and chains would be your best bet. You guys got snow?

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Winter tires make all the difference.