DanMan35

First time ever owning a Corvette and I've noticed that everywhere I drive the car seems to be kicking up rocks like crazy. Granted my area has a lot of construction and I do live in the desert but my daily driver doesn't do this at all. Is this because of the wide tires? Looks like I'll be investing in a touch up paint kit sooner than I thought.

Tech

Wide soft tires. Look into 3M film or XPEL.

Mordeth

Wide + sticky tires = sand blasted rear fenders. Invest in APSIS front mud guards and ZR1 style side skirts to reduce/ mitigate the damage.

08mojo

Definitely get clear film paint protection for the car!

rockinSeat

While on this subject, has anyone gone so far to cover their fender wells with carpet? Even after all the clear bra, guards, and skirts, it probably sounds worse than it is.

Question 2, do all the rocks damage the tires? They are not only stuck between treads, they are embedded in the soft tire.

LMB-Z

Do rocks damage tires? Yes, they wear them out over time. If you do not run over the rocks, your tires will last until they dry rot, so will your car.

dkz

Majority of the noise is from rocks hitting the wheel house, wheel well, whatever you call it black thing under the fenders.

Sox-Fan

Sticky tires as everyone has said, but I did notice that the short period of time that I drove it with toe-out in the front end it was way worse.

Landru

Previous Corvette was an '06, moved to an area using a LOT of sand on Winter roads. Took forever for the stuff to wash away, in the meantime on every turn I could hear sand literally blasting sides.
Exposed white gelcoat (?) against VR, not cool.
Bought a pair of front mudflats from GM, worked stopping further damage, existing body shop help.

For my Z06 I was determined to get in front of this, immediately.
Like stated above, bought a set of guards from Apsis.
Best spent 'mod' money to date, hands-down.

While rear brake ducts have taken a beating w/ fair amount of road rash, considering it's an '08 w/ 54K too.
W/o Apsis both sides would've had paint scrubbed off long ago.

Get a set from Apsis, ~$300 when I acquired mine, might be less now but do get something, be it Apsis or Xpel/3M etc.
You'll be thankful you did.

Wndotintman

What kind of tires are on your car? I have noticed that michelins pick up pebbles much more than nittos. I have heard others complain of this also.

LeftLane Z06

Get rid of them stock tires...The tread is small enough to pick up small rocks. Tires with bigger thread wont pick up small rocks.

DanMan35

^^ I have Michelin Pilot Sport tires. 335 25 20 in the back and 285s up front