ExRedRacer

About to go into the colder season around here with a set of "Summer Only" tires on the car. I would never drive on frozen, icy roads...only if it's a clear day and the roads are clear would I ever venture out in the Vette in the winter.

Have any of you driven your Summer Only tires on clear, dry, but cold roads? Does the temperature itself have a negative effect on the tires or is all that just a warning to stay clear of wet, snowy/icy roads?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

AaronZ51

Joe - While I don't own a C7 *yet*, until last winter, I've driven my C6 with pilot super sports year-round since the tire came out (about four years or so). I've not had any issues in colder and/or wet weather. But I am conservative on the throttle, only use at most about half-throttle on acceleration and usually less. My car has a bit more HP and torque than a stock C7 Stingray so it should be about the same driving experience.

ExRedRacer

Thanks, Aaron.

I've been debating whether or not I need to get a set of all-season tires for colder weather driving. Think I'll hold off on that for now, at least.

HDLARRY

My past experience has been that when the temperatures drop down into the 40's the soft summer tires get less flexible. You'll find they break loose much easier so be extra careful.

Kamran

Drop the air pressure by a few psi in the tires for better traction in the cold, along with lowering speed. Lower pressure also works the tires more to help warm them up.

In snow, I don't hesitate to drop the pressure into mid to high 20's (haven't tried it in C7 though).

HeyDanNiceShot

I used to daily my C6 Z06 year round unless it snowed or was icy. You just go slow and don't drive like an idiot and it's usually fine. My C7 Z06 is MUCH more stable than the C6, so I'm not sweating it. Though this current situation has me missing my GTR a little.

AaronZ51

That's what I did. Last year a member was selling a set of stock wheels for $300 so I picked up those and mounted Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP. Full set was about $1,300 and very good in the wet. Also keeps me from laboring quite so hard in the spring polishing my wheels.

bhk2

NOWUCME

Temp. does make a difference for the type of tire. Nothing will help much on Black Ice or snowy/Ice conditions with a Vette, especially with hills and traffic. IMO In Spokane we usually go to the Winter tire for snow and ice to get some traction, Vettes are sleeping in the garage, in the more challenging weather conditions.

Not sure on your tire size, this applies to Summer vs A/S vs winter tires in general.

I just purchased a set of the Continental A/S DWS06 for my C6. Seemed to be in the top 3 from Tire Rack, good for lower average temps and wet weather. Also comfort and ride noise was a factor more than very aggressive driving for me. And wear and reasonable price.

Of course you have to consider the maybe wider than average tires that go on a Corvette, and the weight and torque plus rear wheel drive vs some front wheel drive.


Temp. factors with tires

DidntSettle

Ive used Nitto 555's and Hankook Ventus V12 Evo's all year round. Never had a problem rain or shine. The Nitto's were not the greatest in the rain, but then if you don't ask them to get crazy, you'd be fine.

NOWUCME

From what I read it's a miss-conception that summer tires are softer than say A/S. It depends on the compound, and that is usually softer or with some sticky silicate in the A/S. That keeps them softer when the temps go down vs the already harder summer tires which only get harder when the temps go down. JMO

KenHorse

Before I wore them out .....I drove my Z51 in everything but snow but did see temps around the high 30's to low 40's with no issues. Just used a little common sense and realized they weren't gonna be all that sticky when cold..

(now I have non RF Pilot Sport A3s on my Z51 after burning through the factory tires at around 21K miles)

JETninja

I ran Nitto NT05's on my C5Z and my M3 and drove both at times during the winter (when the M3 was down had to drive the Vette) and no issues at all, just drive smart. They work great in rain too.....