LIE2ME

Now, I know the Z-51 equipped cars come with summer tires, but how about the Non-Z51s? Are they summer or all weather tires?

mjw930

They are summer tires and carry the same temp warnings as the Z51 tires though the compound is a bit less aggressive so it's not as quick of a drop off under 40 degrees.

pkadams

I had the same question. I have an appointment in Columbia on Tuesday to get some work done on my new C7 and I am wondering if I can safely drive my car or not. They are forecasting temperatures in the high 20 degree to low 30 degree range??

Jim Barker

Recently had mine out in 29 degrees and found caution to be the word. This combo of tire and torque is the worst I have driven compared to all three C6's previously owned. Can't imagine adding rain or snow to the equation as bad as it is in the dry! Tire pressure was at 30 psi, higher would help a little I think.

Greg00Coupe

After last winter............ I'm talking driving in temps in the 30s and 40s.... I got all season tires this year. Not preparing for snow driving per say but the car is dangerous sub 50 and tires can crack sub 20s.

Larry/car

Driven my base at 32 degrees, no problems. Did drive it like a Buick. C6 was real bad with GY F1s, got my attention more than once! Here we do not get sustained temperatures below freezing. I think below freezing I am going to use the weather mode, so far I have only used this mode in the rain. We will see.

AORoads

Take these posts as warning and be very careful out there. We don't want to "read" about you, if you know what I mean.

Sallye M

My 2014 C7 is my daily driver. I recently changed out my OEM base tires/wheels to OEM Z51 tires/wheels.

The last few days the temperature has been in the 30's and 40's in Austin. I haven't noticed a lack of traction just more tire hop/chatter on turns (that aren't that tight).

When the ground is colder for longer I may be more cautious but in Austin that won't be for a while so I'm still enjoying normal driving for now.

pkadams

I am more concerned about tire damage than driveability issues. I have read that driving on these tires below a certain temperature (I think 20 degrees) can cause damage to the tire. Although I can not confirm that at the Michelin web site. I can drive slowly if neccesary but I don't want to damage brand new tires.

kp

Like any other summer tire they are not meant to be used in cold temps or snow. I have not seen or read any cracking/damage with the base size C7 tires in colder temps but several people here have had problems with the Z51 compound tires (cracking) in cold temps. Since the cars are delivered in the winter and it was pretty cold last year most likely some cars seen below zero temps on transporters.

I've had my base car out in 15 degree sunny weather last year, it by no means turned into a death machine and they performed fine all summer. It was 23 this morning when I drove it and I dont even give it much thought to be honest.. I wont drive the car in snow/sleet/salt so I cant comment on that.

Now the '13 GT500 Goodyears I had previously were flat out dangerous under 40 degrees and they were also prone to cracking in cold temps.

clegg

Page 10-50 from my 2015 manual.




The Tire Floor Mats should keep the tires comfortable this winter

fdxpilot

The original bulletin only addressed the Z51 tires, but was revised to include the base tires also. IMHO Chevy was just covering their butt. My wife drives her C7 every day that it's not raining, icy, or snowing, in temps down to the teens. While there is a noticeable drop in traction, grip, and braking as temps drop, there has been no noticeable damage in just over 12k miles of use. In fact, on the day we took Museum delivery, it was 18 F when we arrived at the Museum and was about 30 F when we drove off.

BTW - there have indeed been pictures of cracked tires on newly delivered Z51s, but if I remember correctly, they were in Calgary in Canada and Minnesota.

Vetteman Jack

Would be great if Chevy would start offering the option of having all-season tires on the car right from the factory. Hate to buy the car and then have to purchase another set of tires to drive in the colder temps if you live in an area where that occurs.

clegg

This.

EcoBrick Bob

The Pilot Super Sports on both the Z51 and Base car are identical in tread specs. You can verify this at TireRack when you check out specs on both. The only difference is that the Base car comes with 18" fronts and 19" rears. Z51 has 19" fronts and 20" rears. Since the tires are the same diameter for both cars, the Z51 has shorter sidewalls and hence a lower aspect ratio tire.

I have 3 other cars with Pilot Super Sports that are non-run flats, but have same tire compound. They are the greatest Summer tire in both wet and dry conditions, even when they get close to the wear bars.

Definitely wouldn't drive them when it is below freezing as they get hard and don't bite like an A/S tire. I even noticed it at the strip when the temp was in the high 30's. Got some hop, which meant they weren't hooking up like when it's 70+.

Supersonic 427

[QUOTE=EcoBrick Bob;1588270830]The Pilot Super Sports on both the Z51 and Base car are identical in tread specs. You can verify this at TireRack when you check out specs on both. The only difference is that the Base car comes with 18" fronts and 19" rears. Z51 has 19" fronts and 20" rears. Since the tires are the same diameter for both cars, the Z51 has shorter sidewalls and hence a lower aspect ratio tire.


I once thought that too! However, if you read more you will find that the Z51 tires are of a different compound.

-CM-

From another thread:

c6miller

I left Mars Hill, North Carolina this AM, it was 25F (was in my C5 with Michelin Pilot R/F tires), it did not get over 45F for most of the trip back to Atlanta, had no issues at all. You just have to drive carefully in those temps.

ckwhite

Geez!
Are you suggesting these tires could be damaged if transported in winter at temps lower than 20 degrees? Easily gets that cold in Toledo & other places en route.