Always Red Dave

Looking at a 2014 Z51 vette with Michelin pilot tires have noticed when dirvng at low speeds backing up and turning that the car shutters and has wheel hop. If I was to put different bigger profile tires on the Z51 rims will it stop all the NONSENSE . I drove a non Z51 2014 vette with the base suspension and larger Michelin pilot tires with more beef on the sidewalls which are also softer and thicker tires and did not have any problems when I put the car in reverse or slow turning motions . The non Z51 car was as quiet as my current 2008 C6 with F55 suspension. Thanks Dave.

eboggs_jkvl

Ackerman effect. It's the way the suspension is built. You can put hula-hoops on the rims and you will hop when the speed and turning radius are correct.

Search Ackerman and you'll get tons of threads discussing it. It's also mentioned in the owner's manual and called "normal" in the book.

Elmer

VaTech68

After mounting Michelin A/S 3's for cold weather use on my Z51, I am no longer able to reproduce the wheel hop experienced with original summer tires. Same size tires were mounted on std Z51 wheels. Not suggesting the this is a cure in all driving situations, but it was a nice side effect for my normal driving and parking. As temp dropped, the summer tires seemed more prone to hop, so the different compounds must have caused a change. Since my C6 had the same issue, I don't consider it to be a problem, just a routine response to tight turns. No big deal.

eboggs_jkvl

It's either hopping or sliding smoothly. The tire is wearing, you might not feel it as much as the OEM Michelins.


Elmer

doug doo wop

Anyone know whether other sports cars have this hopping? When I'm pulling out of parking spots or making tight turns, it's embarrassing. I'm just curious if that happens during autocrossing events?

mikefeeser

I am a C7 Z51 owner and have heard the 'noise' of the tires when the temp drops below 40 degrees. Well, I broke down and bought the Michelin A/S tires - an expense I was not happy about (I had 9,900 miles on the original tires). But . . . now that I have them mounted I am pretty happy with them. Besides no below 40 degree noises, I can now hear the stereo much better, they seem to ride smoother and I am not positive but it seems as though I might be getting about 1.5 mpg more - was not expecting that and the colder temps may contribute to that - not sure.

I do wish GM had given the customers a choice the tires we got with our C7's.

louloumax

last winter the soick tires were ackerman on steroids. this year i put on conti all seasons--no wheel hop and much quieter. after 1500 miles, i am happy with the choice for winter. handling does suffer, so there is no magic bullet cure that does everything perfectly.

fdxpilot

Some Porsches have the problem. Since it only occurs at near full steering deflection, it's unlikely to happen on an auto cross circuit.

Steve_R

Embarrassing? Why?

Wife's Shelby does it at full turn. Other cars do as well. If you don't like it just don't turn the wheel all the way and it won't happen. I've never understood all the worry about it, and will NEVER understand buying new tires to try to prevent it.

bob guzzy

My c5Z does it on all season premium tires so it's not just the c7

Bucknut2006

Even my CTS-V would do it when cold. Not sure why it's embarrassing. More telling that the tires and suspension is setup for performance and not getting groceries.

Greg00Coupe

Me too.... works as described above.

landsteam

I had the same experience when I switched to my cold weather tires (A/S 3's), hop is gone.

Glen e

Agreed, dont care what anyone thinks and i just dont turn lock to lock. My brother's new 2015 911 carrerra does it too, just as bad.

Get over it.....

Red C8 of Jax

If it so Embarrassing trade the car and get a Chev Spark.

doug doo wop

I like getting groceries in my C7 and all the vettes I've had since early 70's. I still say that MOST vette owners do not race, but just want a great looking car along with a little performance. Never had any issues with my two C5's which my wife did not want to sell, but now I have to hear remarks here and there about this car's tires hopping around, headlights and flex plate being replaced,DIC going dark and not enough room for groceries(just kidding about that). But I do love the car and have not had any time to really drive it due to breakin period and now the cold weather. Just hope my tires don't crack, since it sits outside all year. And to get out of my driveway, I have to turn the wheel tight to keep from scraping the splitter, which I have already damaged.

JerryU

It’s not the section width as much as the tire construction. The Michelin’s, especially the Z51 tires, are more like racing tires, they have very low “slip angles.” Most any other tires will “squirm” or move more relative to the tires path and not need as much Ackerman steering, which he developed for horse draw carriages in the early 1800’s!
This is a PDF with 4 pages of pics showing the issues that cause what GM calls “Chatter.” http://netwelding.com/Wheel_Chatter.pdf

Issue is much worse in my Z51 C7 than my Z51 C6 with same section width, but Goodyear and Firestone tires. A number of posters say it goes away with all-season tires. However all you have to do is not turn as sharp when the tires are cold! Make a “K” turn like I do until they warm up, which they do quickly. Perhaps you have other reasons for all-season tires, looking at where you live. But certainly don't spend the money and sacrifice performance just to avoid "chatter!"

markk1

I am not embarrassed when I am pulling 1.1 G's on a corner.....just sayin' (warm roads and tires, btw!)

magredrod

Ditto
Same exact experience after changing to the AS 3s @ 9k miles.

bapd77

Owners manual clearly ststes its normal and does not need service.