Greg00Coupe

For what it is worth...... many folks have enjoyed their new cars for many warm months. Now that it is getting cold you may wish to consider that the C7 has summer tires which result in three conditions:

1. Wheel hop when turning in a parking lot
2. Lack of traction, acceleration and braking
and
3. Potential tire cracking.

Thought I post this opinion and the link below for those who don't want to do a search. Myself I am changing out to cold weather tires this winter. Just could not drive the car with confidence last winter. Yes I love driving it everyday and chose to do so!!!

http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/?p=2923

LIStingray

No worries for me - I just don't drive it if the temperature is below 45 degrees.

Racerdj

Extreme acceleration with temperatures under 50 should be avoided.

stingraymyway

Living in the East TN area, it could be below freezing one day and near 70* a few days later. I'll enjoy the warmer days and hope there's no road salt to deal with.

lsp408

I wouldn't mind get a set of winter wheels n tires. But they are pricey. If I want the same black z51 wheels.

RedC5

What's the latest with the non-Z51 tires - confirmed no one with cracking at cold temps? This is a huge factor for me considering a C7 to replace the C5. I don't want to go out and spend another few grand on wheels and tires for cold temp days in Michigan. All the other attributes of summer tires in cold weather I know I know...

AORoads

...and braking, and curves, too, at racing speed.

mdiiulio

The link provided specifically mentions 2014 Corvette and Corvette Z51. They both use Pilot Super Sport ZP tires. Now I'm no tire expert, so correct me if I'm wrong (seriously... do it) but I have no idea where this presumed distinction between Standard and Z51 tire compounds started. Maybe the lower sidewalls and thus decreased elasticity makes Z51 tires more prone to the cracking, but the compounds are the same.

-CM-

No, the compounds are not the same. The below excerpt is from this page on the Michelin site.

Unlike the MICHELIN tire fitted to the standard 2014 Corvette Stingray, the Z51 tire features a custom dual-tread compound and pattern that achieves near-racing-slick grip and handling levels, while providing longer tread life and wet handling capabilities.

mdiiulio

Finally, been looking for that info for a while now.

Back on topic, the techlink article still mentions both models specifically, so I assume that Z51 tires are more susceptible to the cracking.

Weasel

I called the Corvette King in my area, completely revved-up as far as getting new all-weathers for my non Z51 coupe and was told, "Uhh, well we haven't really done anything like that yet". I'm still in the market for the set of all-weathers but it's a lot of work to do so.

Greg00Coupe

For 2K you can get an extra set of tires, sensors and wheels. I track my car 4,5 times a year and expected to have burned through the stock tires and was just planning on replacing them with all weather. But they have held up so well I'll just go ahead and get the second set.

You just cannot have both soft summer tires and a safe winter tire, need a second set.

Plus its a nice change up!!!!

I just want to drive the car as much as possible and will be flipping it soon and no one ever asked on a trade if I had ever been in winter weather. Will be interesting to see what a good all weather tire does.

Woodson

You can get knock-offs for much less. That's what I did and got them in black to change up the look for winter.

perrazi mx-15

if you don't want the full snow tires, Michelin makes an as-3 tire for the z-51. just put some on my 2014 to drive through the cold months.

pegleg2

Since my car will be delivered ...hopefully this week...and it is almost winter here, I bought a set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 already and will have the dealer put them on as soon as it rolls off the delivery truck. I got them from Discount Tire....$1106.00 delivered. (Z51 19" & 20").
There is another thread out there that gave a very favorable, detailed report on his experience with driving on summer tires vs. all season and experience in some snow which helped in my decision.
To a not extremely aggressive driver, it sounds very reasonable to use the all seasons and my dealer will change them out for just $50 a pop for his customers.

$$$frumnuttin'

Hey dude (Joe), you gettin' a C7!?

Jerry


I went all the way 'winter'...no point in all seasons as they are a step down from the stock tires during the nice weather....run them both for best results all year 'round.

RedC5

Jerry

The C7 itch is getting real bad!!!
But need to be able to drive this beast to work in weather like today!!
Tires limitation? I drive the Runcraps in any weather!

billeee

Now I'm wondering which tire design is used on my ZF1 option car. Anyone have info on that?

Glen e

you get the std z51 tire

yell03

I think that Michelin put that out press release out early and that once the 2014 Corvette was available the tires were exactly the same, just different sizes.

If you go on Tire Rack that exact tire is listed for both Base and Z51.

I could be wrong, so please correct me if I am wrong.