8th Generation Honda Civic Forum banner

Civic Si + Snow = Near Death

96K views 517 replies 209 participants last post by  DR3W5K1  
#1 ·
I don't know what everyone else's experiences are in snow with this car, but i've been through a few storms now, both with summer tires and now with my new Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70 snow tires and I can honestly say this is the WORST car I have ever owned in snow. Worse than all of the following cars I have owned- 99/04 Chevy Cavalier, 04 RSX Type-S, 05 SRT-4, 99 SVT Contour, 05 Tacoma X-Runner, 1994 Mazda 626.

I don't know if it's the weight of this car or what but when I drive this thing in snow, I brace for catastropic events to occur. This morning we've only got about 2-3" of snow on the roads, they're pretty much unplowed/untreated, and man it was scary driving to work.

The VSA in this car seems to be one of the dumbest and most dangerous of features I have ever seen-- when the car cuts power when I start slipping, the car basically stops and I can't move-- in turn I have to shut VSA off in the snow, just so I can actually move.

I will never ever in my life ever by a FWD car, ever. Under no circumstances should I put myself in this kind of danger for no reason.
 
#2 ·
My fa5 performs like an absolute champ... out of all 3 fwd vehicles, and a rwd jeep, this ones the best performing car in snow. And if you're not shelling out cash for an AWD platform, fwd is the way to go.

What are you experiencing that you believe is sub par?
 
#3 ·
yeah i cant complain about this car either. i just drove through 6 inches to get work and the car is fine. i have crap sumitomo all season with like 5/32" tread left. as long as you go slow there is nothing to worry about.
 
#4 ·
Sounds like someone should put new tampons in before they go out in the snow.

Try driving a Mustang or any other heavy RWD car in the snow and you will realize the civic is pretty damn good in the snow for not being an AWD car.
 
#15 ·
Sounds like someone should put new tampons in before they go out in the snow.
^^^ THIS

My coupe handles like an absolute champ in the snow. I turn VSA off when I have trouble. I did fine in horrible stock tires and I'm doing great on my all season performance tires. (dunlop sp sport signatures)

If you want, my girlfriend can come teach you how to drive in the snow.


Guys- tires, tires, tires. The car is not the issue, it is the tires. Get some good snows- Blizzaks- even on steel wheels and you will be amazed the difference. I had an 04 Sentra Spec V (front wheel drive with LSD) with summer tires- would not even move in any type of snow or slush- I thought it was an absolute death trap. Put on 4 snows- not even the quality of Blizzaks, just basic snows. It transformed the car into an almost 4 x 4- night and day difference!! I was able to start off even on hills with those snows and the front LSD- which the SI also has.
The only time my spec v ever got stuck was when my tires were about 90% bald, we had 10" of snow, and the plow dumped 2 feet of snow infront of my car.

You don't need Blizzaks to drive this car in the winter.
 
#6 ·
Guys- tires, tires, tires. The car is not the issue, it is the tires. Get some good snows- Blizzaks- even on steel wheels and you will be amazed the difference. I had an 04 Sentra Spec V (front wheel drive with LSD) with summer tires- would not even move in any type of snow or slush- I thought it was an absolute death trap. Put on 4 snows- not even the quality of Blizzaks, just basic snows. It transformed the car into an almost 4 x 4- night and day difference!! I was able to start off even on hills with those snows and the front LSD- which the SI also has.
 
#8 · (Edited)
You obviously didn't even read my post- I have brand new Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70's on my car, and yes it is still terrible in snow.

Driving down the highway at 45MPH, the car suddenly started losing control, and I had to slow way down to keep it on the road- with not even 2" of snow on the roads.

The VSA is terrible, it keeps me from getting up hills, and I have to shut it off. There is NO traction with this car. I have to practically run lights and stop signs in order to stay moving because if I stop, it's very hard to get going again.

My RSX Type-S was amazing in snow, which doesn't make sense because there shouldn't be any difference, they're practically the same car. All I know is when there's 2 or more inches of snow on the ground and I have to drive, I feel like i'm fighting for my life.

My RWD Toyota Tacoma X-Runner with the same tires was way better in snow than this car.
 
#11 ·
I'm not surprised that the car was a handful with summer tires.

How new are your new Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70 snow tires? If you've got less than 500 miles on them, they may not be broken in yet.

Google "Breaking-In-Your-Tires" "Tire Tech Information General Tire Information"
(including quotes).

-mr. bill
 
#12 ·
So new that we had a massive snow storm while I was still using summer tires, and I literally had to have the car towed to a tire shop so I could buy snow tires because I tried to drive home on my summer tires and I couldn't make it.

That was about 4 weeks or so ago, and i've probably driven on them for 2,000 miles already, because I have about an 80 mile round trip commute to work and back each day.
 
#13 ·
I just drove to work this morning in 6 inches of snow with all-seasons and it was not even an issue. Yes the VSA can be annoying at times, but that's why they give you a button to deactivate it. But to say the Si is worse in the snow than an RSX which I also previously owned is a fallacy and I totally disagree with that statement.
 
#17 ·
This is my 3rd winter with my FA5 and w/ the same set of 205/55/16 Winterforce tires.

Always driving in ~ 6"+ down/up hils, starting out, stopping... no issues...

Go's like a champ and this is the tires' 3rd winter.
 
#18 ·
I drove last winter in this car and didn't have any problems, and some of those storms I was driving around in were 3-9" at times. Much more then 9" and this car doesn't do so well for simple lack of clearance. I was on the Stock Michelin tires last winter too, which aren't good tires in the winter, but they weren't as bad as summer tires either.

This year I have Continental ExtremeContact DWS which aren't dedicated winter tires but are very good in the snow we get here (don't get enough snow for me to justify snow tires). So far I've only had the DWS tires in about 3-4" of snow and they handled great.

shaX, I don't know how you try to drive in the snow, but keeping sensible about it and this car is no problem at all from my experience.
 
#89 ·
x2, i put DWS's on my car about a month ago and they handle great in the snow.. I'm flying by everyone comfortably and I'm also able to stop when needed.. In winter, it's not the type of car that matters, it's what kind of tires you have ON YOUR CAR that matters.. Unless your car is a POS, then you're out of luck..
 
#20 ·
not true, i am having trouble as well.

Chicago got a bit of snow..not much on the ground but it was snowing all throughout.

Car is very reluctant to start on hills, as OP mentioned..it just sits there..now i have to brake, turn off VSA (people behind me start pulling up and getting pissed) and now go again..all very annoying.

Likewise..few times where i was making a right turn..and car is again reluctant to go, or just slides around, which kind of sucks when you are trying to make a rt. turn on red.

idk if it "sucks" but i personally don't feel as safe in it than my old car (2000 accord v6)...which doesn't make sense, since that car had worse tires, more torque, and no traction control.
 
#28 ·
not true, i am having trouble as well.

Chicago got a bit of snow..not much on the ground but it was snowing all throughout.

Car is very reluctant to start on hills, as OP mentioned..it just sits there..now i have to brake, turn off VSA (people behind me start pulling up and getting pissed) and now go again..all very annoying.

Likewise..few times where i was making a right turn..and car is again reluctant to go, or just slides around, which kind of sucks when you are trying to make a rt. turn on red.

idk if it "sucks" but i personally don't feel as safe in it than my old car (2000 accord v6)...which doesn't make sense, since that car had worse tires, more torque, and no traction control.
Common sense tells you that if you're in stop and go traffic in snow then you need to have your VSA off to begin with. I learned this after my first time trying to start the car in the snow. The only time I keep VSA on if it's snowing, is when I'm on the highway. That way my vehicle can help correct me if I don't notice I'm sliding or if I get into an uncontrolled slide. Otherwise keep it off.

THE SWITCH IS THERE FOR A REASON.
 
#22 ·
lol, tires make a huge difference from what i hear.

i'm on the stock all seasons.

like i said.. after i get going, it's fine.. i don't feel the instability the op is describing at 35mph ... but starting off is sometimes impossible. i've learned to just turn vsa off if i feel i might have a hard time starting, and than turn it back on once i'm going...
 
#23 · (Edited)
THIS IS WRONG -> The Civic does *NOT* have traction control. <- THIS IS WRONG.

NEVER MIND. It does have traction control. From the Owner's Manual:
The vehicle stability assist (VSA) system helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering if the vehicle turns more or less than desired. It also assists you in maintaining traction while accelerating on loose or slippery road surfaces.
VSA stands for "vehicle stability assist," which should only be active when the car is yawing. (And when accelerating on loose or slippery surfaces.)

-mr. bill
 
#25 ·
During snow my Si gets parked and the 89 Accord takes up the task of nearly being hit by morons all the time.
 
#30 ·
I got to agree with everyone else i picked up a set of Michelin X-Ice 17's and my FA5 drives like its on tracks I have always had jeeps in the snow first year without one RIP Green Monster.... that i was gonna be SOL but not so. any ways i drove into work in Boston this morning in like 10 inches or so with about 3-4 on the roads no issues and i have taken it up to ski in NH and VT a couple times this year no issue what so ever on any of there hills which are a hell of a lot better.

just got to learn how to control a car in the snow not to heavy on the pedal and power in the turns is a good thing with FWD!! I got to say I am impressed with it maybe it makes a difference having the little extra weight in the sedan just my .02
 
#34 ·
Got several inches of snow in south Carolina the other day and I had to drive home after third shift before the roads were clean or even salted and I thought it did very well. Lived in Florida all my life. I'm a n00b in snow driving and a n00b to manual cars.