★★ warning - c7 z51 cracked tire tread ★★
02-15-2014, 09:17 AM
#41
Race Director
Thread Starter
Sizes for the base C7 use a single tread rubber compound; while Z51 cars feature side-by-side tread compounds for near-racing-slick dry grip/handling. Steel belt angles used for the base C7 emphasize ride & treadlife - angles used for Z51 tires focus on increasied performance and at-the-limit handling.
02-15-2014, 09:26 AM
#42
Le Mans Master
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As said many times before, if no one bought a 2014, there would be NO 2015.
02-15-2014, 09:59 AM
#44
Melting Slicks
So you drove your vette in...below freezing conditions when it's common knowledge that you should never ever drive summer compound under 40 degrees F?
And you think warranty should cover this?
First thing I'd do for the vette would be to buy another set of wheels and have all seasons on them for winter months if I was going to drive a Summer Rubber equipped car.
Every car I drive I put an ultra performance all season tire on during the cool months. Just incase, for this exact same reason. This isn't something new to the compound on the Z51 C7.... You run this exact risk on ALL summer rubber.
That's why they tell you to never drive on them below 40 F temps.
And you think warranty should cover this?
First thing I'd do for the vette would be to buy another set of wheels and have all seasons on them for winter months if I was going to drive a Summer Rubber equipped car.
Every car I drive I put an ultra performance all season tire on during the cool months. Just incase, for this exact same reason. This isn't something new to the compound on the Z51 C7.... You run this exact risk on ALL summer rubber.
That's why they tell you to never drive on them below 40 F temps.
02-15-2014, 10:31 AM
#45
Melting Slicks
It is a problem with any summer, high performance tire. It happens on Goodyear Supercar tires used on the ZL1 Camaros. GM put out a TSB on these tires a few years ago, It say, in part, "It is recommended for these tires to be stored indoors at temperatures above 20 deg F (-7 deg C) when not in use. If the tires have been subject to 20 deg F (-7 deg C) or less, let them warm up in a heated space to at least 40 deg F for 24 hours or more before installation or driving the vehicle. Inflate the tires only after they have been warmed above 40 deg F (5 deg C). Do not place tires near heaters or heating devices used to warm the room where the tires are stored. Do not apply heat or blow heated air directly on the tires. Always inspect tires before use after storage periods."
Last edited by SRQStingray; 02-15-2014 at 10:36 AM.
02-15-2014, 10:42 AM
#46
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
The copy I have of the Owner's Manual says no such thing. IN FACT, the only reference to "summer tires" is in Section 10-46:
If there are issues with cracking due to "normal" cold temps, GM has a problem with the NTSB
Summer Tires
High Performance Summer Tires
This vehicle may come with P245/
40ZR18 and P285/35ZR19,
or P245/35ZR19 and P285/30ZR20
high performance summer tires.
These tires have a special tread and
compound that are optimized for
maximum dry and wet road
performance. This special tread and
compound will have decreased
performance in cold climates, and
on ice and snow. We recommend
installing winter tires on the vehicle
if frequent driving at temperatures
below approximately 5°C (40°F) or
on ice or snow covered roads is
expected. See Winter Tires on
page 10-44.
High Performance Summer Tires
This vehicle may come with P245/
40ZR18 and P285/35ZR19,
or P245/35ZR19 and P285/30ZR20
high performance summer tires.
These tires have a special tread and
compound that are optimized for
maximum dry and wet road
performance. This special tread and
compound will have decreased
performance in cold climates, and
on ice and snow. We recommend
installing winter tires on the vehicle
if frequent driving at temperatures
below approximately 5°C (40°F) or
on ice or snow covered roads is
expected. See Winter Tires on
page 10-44.
02-15-2014, 10:50 AM
#47
Melting Slicks
And what, you think that "recommendation" was just them blowing smoke up your backside?
There isn't a summer rubber made that I'd drive under 40 degrees F.
Most of us that have driven summer rubber, have at one time or another been snake bit by cracking tires. I was lucky enough to not have mine crack before I swapped my AS tires on.
This isn't a Corvette Issue.
ALL summer rubber can do this under the conditions the lionshare of North America has had this winter.
I had a set of Coopers do it, (I left them inflated DOH) a few weeks ago. AFTER I took them off the car.
There isn't a summer rubber made that I'd drive under 40 degrees F.
Most of us that have driven summer rubber, have at one time or another been snake bit by cracking tires. I was lucky enough to not have mine crack before I swapped my AS tires on.
This isn't a Corvette Issue.
ALL summer rubber can do this under the conditions the lionshare of North America has had this winter.
I had a set of Coopers do it, (I left them inflated DOH) a few weeks ago. AFTER I took them off the car.
02-15-2014, 10:56 AM
#48
Racer
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02-15-2014, 10:56 AM
#49
This is a characteristic of this type of tire and will be the same on the 2015, 2016, 2017 and onward cars unless they opt to put crap tires on it. Personally, I'd WAY rather have the best tire available and simply use it as directed in the conditions it was intended to be used in.
02-15-2014, 11:03 AM
#51
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
And what, you think that "recommendation" was just them blowing smoke up your backside?
There isn't a summer rubber made that I'd drive under 40 degrees F.
Most of us that have driven summer rubber, have at one time or another been snake bit by cracking tires. I was lucky enough to not have mine crack before I swapped my AS tires on.
This isn't a Corvette Issue.
ALL summer rubber can do this under the conditions the lionshare of North America has had this winter.
I had a set of Coopers do it, (I left them inflated DOH) a few weeks ago. AFTER I took them off the car.
There isn't a summer rubber made that I'd drive under 40 degrees F.
Most of us that have driven summer rubber, have at one time or another been snake bit by cracking tires. I was lucky enough to not have mine crack before I swapped my AS tires on.
This isn't a Corvette Issue.
ALL summer rubber can do this under the conditions the lionshare of North America has had this winter.
I had a set of Coopers do it, (I left them inflated DOH) a few weeks ago. AFTER I took them off the car.
That's why they tell you to never drive on them below 40 F temps.
02-15-2014, 11:08 AM
#52
Melting Slicks
I was thinking of the Camaro manual there. Which SRQ copy pasted.
But they out right Recommend installing something other than summer rubber on the car right there in the manual. Right there in your copy and paste.
What did you think they did that for? To fill up a page? To stimulate the economy by tricking you into buying winter rubber? (reason they recommend winter rubber for winter conditions? They perform leaps and bounds better than AS tires. but they also suck tremendously in summer conditions. AS are just a middle ground but they in turn do leaps and bounds better than Summer rubber in winter)
Last edited by MavsAK; 02-15-2014 at 11:12 AM.
02-15-2014, 11:11 AM
#53
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Dude, just about ANYONE will tell you that's even half car literate to not drive summer rubber in winter conditions.
I was thinking of the Camaro manual there. Which SRQ copy pasted.
But they out right Recommend installing something other than summer rubber on the car right there in the manual. Right there in your copy and paste.
What did you think they did that for? To fill up a page?
I was thinking of the Camaro manual there. Which SRQ copy pasted.
But they out right Recommend installing something other than summer rubber on the car right there in the manual. Right there in your copy and paste.
What did you think they did that for? To fill up a page?
"I can't so I'll offer this spin up instead."
In the meantime, think I'll contact Michelin directly and see what "they" have to say
02-15-2014, 11:18 AM
#54
Melting Slicks
Translation "I'm illiterate and would rather blame GM for my problems, because I don't know jack about cars. How dare you and SRQ point out all summer rubber can do this. waa"
02-15-2014, 11:21 AM
#55
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02-15-2014, 11:22 AM
#56
Burning Brakes
The tires are made to a specific GM spec.
02-15-2014, 11:24 AM
#58
Melting Slicks
Do you read what you write?
Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck. Context says? He blames GM.
02-15-2014, 11:29 AM
#60
Then why would GM f'ing sell them with ONLY that option?!!
I'll tell you why. They were so dead set on setting handling benchmarks to be posted up by the reviewers that they made those the standard tires with full knowledge that they were ENTIRELY unsuited for winter in most of the U.S. Mine have scared me to death on DRY roads this winter and I hate them.
IMHO, these should have been optional with a good four season tire standard.
Bad judgement.
I'm actually a little angry about this. I fully understand what these tires are meant for, but I can't fathom any car company selling a car with the ONLY tires available being 2-3 season tires.
I'll tell you why. They were so dead set on setting handling benchmarks to be posted up by the reviewers that they made those the standard tires with full knowledge that they were ENTIRELY unsuited for winter in most of the U.S. Mine have scared me to death on DRY roads this winter and I hate them.
IMHO, these should have been optional with a good four season tire standard.
Bad judgement.
I'm actually a little angry about this. I fully understand what these tires are meant for, but I can't fathom any car company selling a car with the ONLY tires available being 2-3 season tires.
three of my last four BMWs have had them (03 Z4, 07 335 & 09 Z4) - my current X5 doesn't - but they do come on the X5M.