Drove my C3 in the snow
04-08-2017, 11:24 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Drove my C3 in the snow
What did I do with my C3 today? Got caught in a freak spring snow storm driving up to our mountain home. I was in my 81 and my wife was in her C7 with stock tires. Ultimately the Micheline's and the damn nannies made the C7 undrivable. My C3 made it most of the way home, but our laneway was too steep and the rubber guard up front became a snow plow!
Last edited by PeterC3; 04-08-2017 at 11:30 PM. Reason: error
04-09-2017, 12:39 AM
#2
Nam Labrat
Member Since: Sep 2013
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Now.......... That's a scary pic......glad to hear you both made it home eventually!
Last edited by doorgunner; 04-09-2017 at 12:40 AM.
04-09-2017, 08:03 AM
#4
Dementer sole survivor
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did you have to tow the C7? You said undrivable
04-09-2017, 08:22 AM
#5
Team Owner
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Nice shot, and nothing melted, glad you made it home safely.
04-09-2017, 09:26 AM
#8
Le Mans Master
When my '75 was my only car (circa 1992-2001), it got driven every day, rain, snow, etc.
Even drove to Whistler and Mt Baker to go skiing when I lived at Whidbey. 203 cm skis (remember when long skis where the rage) will fit in a '75 vert, LOL.
Even drove to Whistler and Mt Baker to go skiing when I lived at Whidbey. 203 cm skis (remember when long skis where the rage) will fit in a '75 vert, LOL.
04-09-2017, 12:24 PM
#10
Racer
Thread Starter
The Michelin Super Sports are frightening on anything past whet pavement. Then combine the no traction with the C7's fancy schmancy goodamm sensors and engine killing software that made a bad situation very frustrating.
There was no readily available driving mode that would not kill the engine because of the no-traction. It was an effort just to back up and turn the car around to drive it down the inclined road to a turn off where it sits until conditions clear up. Since there is still some snow around we are going to try handling in competitive mode to see if that makes any difference. Have to look up how to get into it though.....
The C3 with it's Toyo PRX 4+ had a much better time, even up a significant slope. If I gave the accelerator to much the back end would fishtail, but then the sensor in my head detected this condition and adjusted my foots force on the accelerator to compensate. Sometimes I use excessive rotation to advantage. That's the way it should be! And one of the reasons I'm becoming more and more of a fan of classic cars and their beautiful simplicity.
There was no readily available driving mode that would not kill the engine because of the no-traction. It was an effort just to back up and turn the car around to drive it down the inclined road to a turn off where it sits until conditions clear up. Since there is still some snow around we are going to try handling in competitive mode to see if that makes any difference. Have to look up how to get into it though.....
The C3 with it's Toyo PRX 4+ had a much better time, even up a significant slope. If I gave the accelerator to much the back end would fishtail, but then the sensor in my head detected this condition and adjusted my foots force on the accelerator to compensate. Sometimes I use excessive rotation to advantage. That's the way it should be! And one of the reasons I'm becoming more and more of a fan of classic cars and their beautiful simplicity.
04-09-2017, 03:57 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
The Michelin Super Sports are frightening on anything past whet pavement. Then combine the no traction with the C7's fancy schmancy goodamm sensors and engine killing software that made a bad situation very frustrating.
There was no readily available driving mode that would not kill the engine because of the no-traction. It was an effort just to back up and turn the car around to drive it down the inclined road to a turn off where it sits until conditions clear up. Since there is still some snow around we are going to try handling in competitive mode to see if that makes any difference. Have to look up how to get into it though.....
The C3 with it's Toyo PRX 4+ had a much better time, even up a significant slope. If I gave the accelerator to much the back end would fishtail, but then the sensor in my head detected this condition and adjusted my foots force on the accelerator to compensate. Sometimes I use excessive rotation to advantage. That's the way it should be! And one of the reasons I'm becoming more and more of a fan of classic cars and their beautiful simplicity.
There was no readily available driving mode that would not kill the engine because of the no-traction. It was an effort just to back up and turn the car around to drive it down the inclined road to a turn off where it sits until conditions clear up. Since there is still some snow around we are going to try handling in competitive mode to see if that makes any difference. Have to look up how to get into it though.....
The C3 with it's Toyo PRX 4+ had a much better time, even up a significant slope. If I gave the accelerator to much the back end would fishtail, but then the sensor in my head detected this condition and adjusted my foots force on the accelerator to compensate. Sometimes I use excessive rotation to advantage. That's the way it should be! And one of the reasons I'm becoming more and more of a fan of classic cars and their beautiful simplicity.
Old skool beats all that fancy technology. Maybe if it were a self driving C7?
Then the road could become a parking lot since the tech would not know what to do.
Last edited by REELAV8R; 04-09-2017 at 03:58 PM.
04-09-2017, 05:07 PM
#12
Instructor
The Michelin Super Sports are frightening on anything past whet pavement. Then combine the no traction with the C7's fancy schmancy goodamm sensors and engine killing software that made a bad situation very frustrating.
There was no readily available driving mode that would not kill the engine because of the no-traction. It was an effort just to back up and turn the car around to drive it down the inclined road to a turn off where it sits until conditions clear up. Since there is still some snow around we are going to try handling in competitive mode to see if that makes any difference. Have to look up how to get into it though.....
The C3 with it's Toyo PRX 4+ had a much better time, even up a significant slope. If I gave the accelerator to much the back end would fishtail, but then the sensor in my head detected this condition and adjusted my foots force on the accelerator to compensate. Sometimes I use excessive rotation to advantage. That's the way it should be! And one of the reasons I'm becoming more and more of a fan of classic cars and their beautiful simplicity.
There was no readily available driving mode that would not kill the engine because of the no-traction. It was an effort just to back up and turn the car around to drive it down the inclined road to a turn off where it sits until conditions clear up. Since there is still some snow around we are going to try handling in competitive mode to see if that makes any difference. Have to look up how to get into it though.....
The C3 with it's Toyo PRX 4+ had a much better time, even up a significant slope. If I gave the accelerator to much the back end would fishtail, but then the sensor in my head detected this condition and adjusted my foots force on the accelerator to compensate. Sometimes I use excessive rotation to advantage. That's the way it should be! And one of the reasons I'm becoming more and more of a fan of classic cars and their beautiful simplicity.
The reason I have a 78 C3. Not the first HINT of a computer. Nothing I hate worse than computers in cars.
04-09-2017, 06:09 PM
#14
Melting Slicks
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If I gave the accelerator to much the back end would fishtail, but then the sensor in my head detected this condition and adjusted my foots force on the accelerator to compensate. Sometimes I use excessive rotation to advantage. That's the way it should be! And one of the reasons I'm becoming more and more of a fan of classic cars and their beautiful simplicity.
,although I have never seen snow and have no desire to . I can relate to what you saying about older cars .
Last edited by bazza77; 04-09-2017 at 06:10 PM.
04-09-2017, 06:32 PM
#15
Race Director
Don't blame the high tech features of your C7, for not being able to drive it in the snow. Your problem is the Pilot Super Sports. Those are summer only tires, designed to operate only in warm weather. It doesn't need to be snowing, to have issues while driving on summer tires either. They can become useless, and dangerous, any time you drive on them in temperatures below 40 degrees F.
When you retrieve your car, you may find that the tires have become damaged, by driving them in the snow and cold. Summer tires crack and chunk, when used in cold conditions, and neither GM or Michilen will warranty them when used improperly. You can even damage summer tires, storing them in temperatures below freezing.
Friends on mine with new Corvettes, claim that their Z51 Corvettes handle very well in the snow, when equipped with winter tires, and the Mode Selector set to "Weather".
This will give you a little background on "Summer" performance tires.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=273
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/n...king/index.htm
When you retrieve your car, you may find that the tires have become damaged, by driving them in the snow and cold. Summer tires crack and chunk, when used in cold conditions, and neither GM or Michilen will warranty them when used improperly. You can even damage summer tires, storing them in temperatures below freezing.
Friends on mine with new Corvettes, claim that their Z51 Corvettes handle very well in the snow, when equipped with winter tires, and the Mode Selector set to "Weather".
This will give you a little background on "Summer" performance tires.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=273
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/n...king/index.htm
Last edited by gbvette62; 04-09-2017 at 06:42 PM. Reason: Added the links.
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04-09-2017, 09:28 PM
#16
Racer
Thread Starter
Don't blame the high tech features of your C7, for not being able to drive it in the snow. Your problem is the Pilot Super Sports. Those are summer only tires, designed to operate only in warm weather. It doesn't need to be snowing, to have issues while driving on summer tires either. They can become useless, and dangerous, any time you drive on them in temperatures below 40 degrees F.
When you retrieve your car, you may find that the tires have become damaged, by driving them in the snow and cold. Summer tires crack and chunk, when used in cold conditions, and neither GM or Michilen will warranty them when used improperly. You can even damage summer tires, storing them in temperatures below freezing.
Friends on mine with new Corvettes, claim that their Z51 Corvettes handle very well in the snow, when equipped with winter tires, and the Mode Selector set to "Weather".
This will give you a little background on "Summer" performance tires.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=273
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/n...king/index.htm
When you retrieve your car, you may find that the tires have become damaged, by driving them in the snow and cold. Summer tires crack and chunk, when used in cold conditions, and neither GM or Michilen will warranty them when used improperly. You can even damage summer tires, storing them in temperatures below freezing.
Friends on mine with new Corvettes, claim that their Z51 Corvettes handle very well in the snow, when equipped with winter tires, and the Mode Selector set to "Weather".
This will give you a little background on "Summer" performance tires.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=273
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/n...king/index.htm
04-09-2017, 11:00 PM
#17
Racer
Thread Starter
One thing about the software/sensor safety features in the C7 and like cars is that they may be too good at damping bad driving conditions.
The C7 in this case simply slowed down in the snow until it wouldn't move, and unless you experienced it before you would not know why it would not respond. There was no sliding sideways, no indications driving conditions were deteriorating, until you were dead in the the road.
I don't suggest that sliding all over the place in my primitive C3 is desirable, but you got to have an indication that conditions are getting bad so you can stop before it's too late and the car won't move and you don't know why....
The C7 in this case simply slowed down in the snow until it wouldn't move, and unless you experienced it before you would not know why it would not respond. There was no sliding sideways, no indications driving conditions were deteriorating, until you were dead in the the road.
I don't suggest that sliding all over the place in my primitive C3 is desirable, but you got to have an indication that conditions are getting bad so you can stop before it's too late and the car won't move and you don't know why....
04-10-2017, 01:34 AM
#18
Melting Slicks
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Wow! This brings back memories!
In December 1979 I bought a brand new 1980 'vette. My mistake was spending all my money for the down payment on my only car. In retrospect I should have put aside some money for a beater car to take me through the winter (lesson to be learned here young Bucks!).
One day that winter I went to the mall with my GF right after work one day. After a couple hours inside I departed the mall to find it snowing pretty good, pretty fast. It was twenty miles from home and that vette wanted nothing but to slip and slide all the way home. I couldn't surpass 35 mph without loosing traction. Traffic was getting anxious trying to pass me and at only 18 my driving judgement wasn't all that great. Instead of seeking a better way to deal with this problem I decided to increase my speed just a tad. Too much, I began to slide and like slow motion I slid into a roadside curb at 30 mph. My front passenger wheel was gouged out, cracked, the lower A arm and tie rod was bent. I had limp home at about 15 mph because I couldn't steer the car.
That stock vette with stock tires was a death defying ride on wet or lightly snow covered roads!
In December 1979 I bought a brand new 1980 'vette. My mistake was spending all my money for the down payment on my only car. In retrospect I should have put aside some money for a beater car to take me through the winter (lesson to be learned here young Bucks!).
One day that winter I went to the mall with my GF right after work one day. After a couple hours inside I departed the mall to find it snowing pretty good, pretty fast. It was twenty miles from home and that vette wanted nothing but to slip and slide all the way home. I couldn't surpass 35 mph without loosing traction. Traffic was getting anxious trying to pass me and at only 18 my driving judgement wasn't all that great. Instead of seeking a better way to deal with this problem I decided to increase my speed just a tad. Too much, I began to slide and like slow motion I slid into a roadside curb at 30 mph. My front passenger wheel was gouged out, cracked, the lower A arm and tie rod was bent. I had limp home at about 15 mph because I couldn't steer the car.
That stock vette with stock tires was a death defying ride on wet or lightly snow covered roads!
04-10-2017, 09:10 PM
#19
Le Mans Master
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When i got my 75 i used to deliver pizzas with it in the winter, we also did our grocery shopping in it.
Driving in the snow back then was fun.
Driving in the snow back then was fun.
04-11-2017, 09:52 AM
#20
Burning Brakes
My first Corvette was a '68 coupe, I used it as my DD in all weather conditions.
Your snow pic, reminds me of driving mine over I90 (Snoqualmie Pass) in the dead of winter..fun times.
Your snow pic, reminds me of driving mine over I90 (Snoqualmie Pass) in the dead of winter..fun times.