Icewind Dale

I just got my 2004 vette this summer. I live in wisconsin where it gets below zero. I plan on only driving the vette this winter when there is no salt or snow on the road. I was wondering what your experiences were driving in the winter. Or if its a bad idea. Is winter any harder on a vette than your average car? Also how do you guys (and gals) wash your car in the winter considering most of you are against automatic car wash's. Thanks in advance! Corvette Forum Rules!!

Oldvetter

I drive mine year round. One thing to note however is the tires, most high performance tires are summer only and do not handle well in cold (near freezing weather).

One exception in a run flat is Michelins, they make a all-weather (even snow rated) runflat tire. It is a good tire also.

Goodyear makes runflat snow tires also, but you should only run them in the winter. Very few people use these. Practically you can't drive a C5 in snow over a couple of inches deep because of the ground clearance. There was a member who drove in a snow storm and packed an incredable amount of snow into his engine compartment. I think they nicknamed him "Snowman".

I must admit that I have "washed" my car using hot water (ran hose to sink in garage). I even washed it once in the garage, using limited water. Can't leave the hose out though, it will freeze.

lil vette

I drive all year round.......no problema
.

BOTYNV1

That's my standard plan and seems to work well. I usually wait for a rain to wash the excess salt off the road

Wah

You'll be in for a little surprise.

At very cold temps, the engine produces more power. Couple this with ultra hard, traction-worth-of-nothing tires and ultra thick diff oil (which makes the LSD real stiff) you have an interesting car to drive.

The slightest throttle will spin the rears. Inside rear tire will drag on corners, especially tight ones. And, don't try taking corners too fast, the front tires warm up a lot slower than the rears.

94legaleagle

Talk to the guys in Minnesota, but my advice is park it and MOD it! Here in the good 'ol frozen tundra of North Dakota, mine gets a bath and begins hibernating in the late fall and doesn't come out and see daylight until the snow is all gone.

Vampyre

I wish I could drive all year, we have a hard winter here in NY and they use salt and lots of nasty stuff on the roads..

No way I am going to drive...

I store my cars, owned the car for 5 years and only put 20K on it... because of winter months..

0Doug@MorosoPerformance

I drove mine during the winter when I was in Conn. I would run it through a car wash every month to get some of the salt off. I do remember that the active handling warning light would come on until things warmed up, usually about 20 minutes of driving.

leadfoot4

I've got a 4 wheel drive pick up for winter...........

patrickboyle

Hello my Wisconsin friend !

Park it ! Salt (at least up here) is a constant problem. My car gets parked in late October & comes out in late May. Drive the 4x4

TheDEfan

I work from home so the Vette says covered up and in the garage during snow and rain storms.

02MillenniumVette

Trainman-2

mschamberger

I put these on sometime in December and run them through February. Unless the snow is over 3", then I hitch a ride with my neighbor. Don't listen to the whiners who say you can't drive a Vette in the snow. It does just as well, if not better, then any other powerfull rear wheel drive. As long as you have appropriate rubber on the car.

omarcoolguy

i live in chicago.....i drove mine last winter for the most part....but at the time my car wasnt lowered ....now i can see a problem if there is more then 2inch of snow.....but other then that just keep it clean and ull have no prob dont listen to these guys about not driving it....i see camaros t/a;s and mustangs all winter long.....we live in the midwest its part of life...

Buckskinner

ain't no problem drivin in tha winner, ah does it all tha time. now'n then thar a bit o ice but usual melt afer sunup.

Vetteman Jack

As long as you keep it out of the snow/ice/salt, winter driving is not bad. I agree that when the temps fall the tires will get slippery, so be careful.

rad928music

I have a older car and mine doesnt handle as good as yours but i have drivin in the winter up here in minnesota, but i would make sure you PICK your days to drive and watch the weather cause if you get stuck in a snow storm you'll wish you didnt drive it, watch for icey roads and pick your routes before you go out driving, get some good winter tires,
And Last But NOT LEAST! watch out for people in 4x4's, SUV, MiniVans
Most people who dont drive corvettes and no nothing about them will take offense to see you driving in the winter and will tailgate and do silly s..t to try to intimidate you...
But thats not new lol

BAND1T

A few years ago, my wife and I were spending our anniversay up in Vail over the Memorial day weekend. The day we were leaving it was raining, by the time we got ready to leave, we were having one of our freak snow storms. Snowing and accumulating all the way up both sides of Vail pass, then all the way up the mountain to Eisenhower tunnel.

Just took it easy and didn't have any problems at all, of course that was the slowest I have ever driven the vette too!



TJ

waupachino

Driving it in the cold is no problem. If you are worried about the cosmetics of the car, I would recommend staying away from the salt also or make sure to wash it off as soon as possible. I wouldn't recommend driving it in the snow, ice, or if there is a chance of it. They don't seem to fair very well in these conditions and sliding into something can become a very expensive mistake.