Mcgorty

Im new to this forum. Im considering a purchase of a 17 grand sport 2lt. I test drove a grand sport 3lt and z51 2lt today. I drove the grand sport first. I love evrything about the car except the tight turning tire chatter that occurs. The dealer told me it was due to the " sticky tires" the grand sport has. He said the z51 used a different tire and it was not as pronounced. I drove the z51 and it seemed just as bad. Im in massachusetts and it was about 30 degrees today. Does this tire chatter get much better in warmer temps. Can i change the tires to something that will elimate this chatter. Thanks in advance for all your input.

roadbike56

Your dealer must be trying to sell Z51s . Your feeling that it's almost identical is correct. Yes, the GS might be a little worse, but all C7s have the chatter. AND yes, it gets much better in the late spring, and summer.
For me, in NC, I have no chatter at all once we reach April/May with temps in the 70's. It's annoying, but it bothered me much more last year, my first year with a C7. This year I just kind of shrug it off as I'm used to it.

mschuyler

All new corvettes get the "summer-only" tires, albeit in different sizes. Very likely the "chatter" you experienced in cold weather reflects this. People say the summer tires feel like hockey pucks in cold weather. The solutions are:

1) Drive the summer only tires in warmer weather, or
2) Replace the tires with all season tires, or
3) Put up with it.

GM does not feel inclined to offer an alternative tire choice, as per Tadge, Chief Engineer, so those are your choices to this well-known issue.

jeff7457

I own a 17 GS. I had the pleasure of working on a 14 Z51 Vert at the shop not long ago. They both have the tire chatter.

PeteC7

The grand sport has wider tires too which compounds the issue. At first it caught me off guard but doesn't bother me at all anymore.

bearphoto

All cars with wide tires do it. Its only noticeable in cold temps and when you are turning sharply.

Solution: Don't turn as sharply if possible, don't drive it in cold temps or just understand what it is and drive it like you stole it!

rkhegler

Consider no more. Pull the trigger.

Larry/car

The standard Stingray has different tires and chatter should be less. I have the standard model and chatter is minimal. I have the Stingray since early 2014 and have not reached the limit of the car's capability. I just upgraded to a new 2017 Stingray convertible.

bjones7131

I had a 16 stingray and it had no chatter but this GS is awful. There is a tag tied around the gear selector when the car is new stating the chatter issue and indicates it is normal. Do any of you know if there is a non run flat in all season tire? I stopped by my local discount tire Sat. and he looked and said there were NO run flats available. Bummer

monicatomokc

It's not temp driven and so common that it's addressed in the owners manual:

From page 1-20 of the 2014 owners manual:

Tire Chatter/Hop
When driving at slow speeds and in
very tight turns, the vehicle may
have tire chatter/hop. This condition
is normal and the vehicle does not
require service.

Supersonic 427

The least amount of "tire chatter" on a new Corvette will be on the Stingray models without the FE2 or Z51 suspensions. This is the base FE1 suspension with 18" and 19" wheels and tires. The tire compound is different than the 19"/20" Z51 tires. The GS and Z06 have the same compound as the Z51 tires only wider which enhances the chatter more so. Again the chatter causes no harm and as the outside temps rise the less the chatter. All Corvettes come with summer only tires and will have chatter especially in cold temps.

Maxpowers

True. But the chatter is way more pronounced when it's cold.

Woodson

No they don't.

Z06 1of38

My Viper doesn't.

dbaker

Just my O.....many sales ppl who sell Vette's really don't know much about them.

Sounds like that guy was one of them.

Find the one that "fits" your needs & budget.

The Z51 fit both for me.

\db2

joemessman

Here is a link to what you are describing. It is the Ackermann effect. It is normal and shouldn't be a reason of concern for you.
http://blog.patmcgrathchevyland.com/...ette-stingray/

Always Red Dave

Hated the chatter put on Michelin pilot All season A/S3's when I purchased my 2014 Z51 .I now have 0% chatter.

Rebel Yell

It's really nothing to worry about. So go ahead, you won't be sorry. Prices have never been better.

MAKC7

Buy NOW....Discounts and deals have never been better due to the excess of inventory.

JerryU

It's not the sticky tires at all! It's worse when it's cold and when the pavement is wet when the tires are less sticky, more like steel! But doubt most car salesman know that or care to know why!

It was no where near as bad with my Z51 C6 that had the same width tires!

Best evidence for the cause is it goes away with the same size winter tires and same Ackerman geometry (which some like to quote as the cause!) Why then is it so bad when it's below 40 F?

It's the race car type low slip angles on the Michelin tires, worse with the lower profile Z51 and no doubt a bit worse with the wider GS tires.

SIDE BAR: For the semi technical or technical folks a complete explanation is provided in this picture/text PDF, with proof! http://netwelding.com/Wheel_Chatter.pdf
For those who just roll their eyes with tech explanations and where their none inquiring mind does NOT want to know-just skip!

Easy Workaround I have been using for what is my 4th winter. When below ~45F on slow speed turns, just turn the wheel 1/2+ turn from max lock and use "K" turn. Do that when I pull out of my side garage every cold morning. In Spring and Summer no need, can use full lock!