AdventurePoser

There has been a bit of a cold snap around here (down to 28f at night, highs in the high 30s and low 40s), and very rainy.

Still I needed a Corvette driving fix, so I took the Z51 out for a drive today. I was concerned that the "summer" tires on the car (original OEM rubber) would handle poorly in the cold.

Fortunately, they seemed to run fine. Now, if I could only keep the car clean in this wet, muddy, environment!

Gary barnes 1098

so good to hear people are enjoying these bad boys!!! Hate to hear these people with a cover on them,take me out for an ice cream and put the cover back on! I hate not driving mine and just seeing it sit,but winters here in Ohio and I just can't get myself to run it thru these tuff winters!!! Good luck!!! Gary

AdventurePoser

^^^^Thanks, Gary. I shouldn't whine about our winters here, especially compared to yours. The ride was nice; I left my house, drove along the bay front, and then headed up towards Devil's Churn. Wet, windy, and very muddy in some places.

It was a short ride, about an hour, but at least I got some seat time. Now the Vette is in the garage, muddy and wet. We should have some pretty heavy rain the next few days, but then, a few days of partial sunshine. I'll roll 'er out, wash, and a fresh coat of wax.

She'll look great-until I take her out again.

Z06NJ

Which driving mode did you have it in? I'm assuming Weather, right? I always it take it super easy in the Rain.

Since I put my ride away today for the Winter, my fix has been the CorvetteForum. Looks like I'll be spending a lot of time here waiting for the Spring!

2vette2

Any concern about driving summer tires below the 40 degree warning in the owner's manual? I drive mine year round too, but have been hesitate to use it when the temps drop.

YO-EL

Don't get too confident..
There's a reason there's a warning in the owners manual!

r1eater

yeah these tires dont do well in the cold, i went into a turn and it began to push on me, luckily I recovered but it scared the crap out of me. I had to remind myself that the weather was cold and I had to respect the car even more because of that. I wasnt even going very fast.

AdventurePoser

I completely forgot about the "weather" mode.... The car is always is "sport" mode.

In the mid forties, but I took it easy. It was a fun cruise even at 5 tenths...

Foosh

Yes, you can "granny" drive with OEM summer tires in cold weather. But it's not just about maintaining traction, when going straight. Sudden maneuvering and stopping could ruin your day.

Good UHP all-season tires return the car to almost summer performance levels on cold, pavement, absent frozen precipitation.

VETJAZZ

Drove mine 1,800 miles home from the museum in sub freezing temps, snow, sleet and rain with no issues. Well, she did get dirty!

Vetteman Jack

Be careful out there if driving when the temps get cold or the weather gets bad.

ExRedRacer

What was the temperature when that happened?

Foosh

Yep, I drove mine deep into November on the OEM PSS. As long as I drove slowly without any abrupt acceleration or maneuvering, it was no problem, but any attempt to have a little fun with the car resulted in a lot of slipping, sliding, and traction control lights flashing.

Michelin PS AS3+ tires have completely eliminated that, and I can now drive the car on cold pavement in a normal, spirited fashion.

owc6

I drove mine today (this evening) at 27 degrees. I had it in W and was very ginger upon acceleration. I gave plenty of space between my self and the car in front ( like I always do) for stopping. Didn't have any problems with traction.

Not the first time, even though I hate driving with these tires when it's under freezing temps. When it gets this cold, we would normally take the blue one out, but it's on the fritz.

Mikec967

I remember reading on the Camaro forums awhile back, the guy's owning ZLs complained their tires would actually start cracking on the side walls when I got cold.
I couldn't take not driving all winter. Put all seasons on and plan to keep in garage if snow is on the streets and a while after so the salt clears.

LIStingray

The fall off in tire performance is steep as the temperature drops..
Temps in the mid-40's if the roads are at least that warm isn't too bad if you don't expect to really get on it (i.e. full throttle acceleration, turns above 0.8g). Most of us in the Northeast use our cars on nice days with temps down to 40 degrees; otherwise the car would sit from Halloween until Cinco De Mayo.
Once the temps drop to the mid-30's, it is much more like being on ice (and yes I have had mine out in those temps) - I am pretty sure my Grand Cherokee will pull more G's in a turn at those temps than the C7.
Looks like the winter of 2016-17 will be a long one for the NE - yesterday it didn't get above 34 degrees, and we are looking at some snow this afternoon/evening - hoping it is not so, but the C7 may have seen its last drive of the year last weekend.

davidtcpa

I'm sure she did!!!!!

YO-EL

Guys will spend $50,000-$80,000 + on their Vettes, but won't drop $1000-$2000 for another set of rims & all season tires...

Incredible...

JerryU

Before anyone reads the OP and thinks they can drive the same when cold, especially when wet, here was my experience the other day with my DD!

Had my 3 year old Z51 out when it was only 47F and a slight drizzle. Just enough to have the wipers on slow intermittent. When below 40 I usually switch to Weather mode but just kept it in it's normal, Sport mode. At the end of our 2 mile long 25 mph limit road I enter a 4 lane divided highway. I crossed into the center divider at <1/4 throttle and the rear stepped out slightly. Same when I entered traffic when there was a gap, light throttle initially and rear slide slightly. Used more throttle to get up to speed when the car was straight.

Have to make a turn to another seldom traveled rural road that starts 100 yards from where I enter. The brakes stopped fine and I used a bit more throttle when I entered the road using both lanes (no traffic in sight on the 1/2 mile long, straight road between two farm fields.) Again the rear slid slightly but the nannies caught it. Fun for me because I knew what was coming. In ~5 miles the tires warmed up and all was back to normal.

As mentioned that was at 47F and I usually don't don't use Weather mode until it's below 40. I seldom have to drive when it's below 35 but then I am very careful until the tires warm-up from driving.

Last year was at a night meeting and it was about 30F when I left, tires never did warm enough to come close to normal traction. Drove all the way home in Weather mode taking turns carefully! FWIW

Curahee

There were reports of OEM tires cracking in cold weather back when the C7 first came out. Anyone experiencing this lately?