Winter driving
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Winter driving
I'm looking at purchasing a C5 Vette, and I have but one question. Is the car driveable in winter? I don't want to know if you 'would' drive it in winter or not; I want to know if it is 'physically possible' to drive the car in winter (with whatever accessories necessary- different tires, etc.)
Where I live in Ohio, it only snows more than two inches 3 or 4 times a year. When it does, the roads are cleared within hours (ice is rarely a problem either). I would have a hard time justifying the purchase of a winter car for use in 1 or 2 days out of the year.
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Where I live in Ohio, it only snows more than two inches 3 or 4 times a year. When it does, the roads are cleared within hours (ice is rarely a problem either). I would have a hard time justifying the purchase of a winter car for use in 1 or 2 days out of the year.
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: State of Perplexity California
Sure, it's entirely possible. I drove mine last winter on many frosty mornings with temps to 16F no problem. Watch for ice, and be aware that any tire isn't going to stick really well when the temps are really low. Having said that, on the worst rainy days here I drove my 4x4, simply because I had one and it was the better choice for visibility and traction those days. 
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
From: Boston MA
You have very low clearance for any sort of built up snow or ice. Plus you have a car with high low end torque on slippery conditions....not my ideal choice. And like what was mentioned above, do you want the sand and salt getting all over? Yes its a car, but it really wasnt meant for winter driving - read some of the posts about leaks in the rain. Just my $0.02.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 0
From: North Canton OH
I'm sure you could do it if you swapped for M&S tires in winter, and made sure you don't get out in more than 2-3 inches. One 4" deep drift across the road and you will be suspended on it. I have had cars with more ground clearance get hung up on drifts, and the vette is even lower.
I've also witnessed a few brave C5 drivers in the twinsburg area try to drive around in 1-2" and they can barely even get the car moving on flat ground from a stop light.
Do what you like, but there is no way I'd want the stress of trying to navigate our roads in Ohio winters for one major reason not even snow traction related.... pot holes. I've bent my share of aluminum wheels from hitting snow covered potholes that swallow the entire wheel.
I've also witnessed a few brave C5 drivers in the twinsburg area try to drive around in 1-2" and they can barely even get the car moving on flat ground from a stop light.
Do what you like, but there is no way I'd want the stress of trying to navigate our roads in Ohio winters for one major reason not even snow traction related.... pot holes. I've bent my share of aluminum wheels from hitting snow covered potholes that swallow the entire wheel.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 246
Likes: 1
From: Pompton Plains New Jersey
I drive mine everyday to work....
Don't worry about it, I even have the Good Year runflats.
It's the "joke" of the company - "How do you drive that in the snow??"
I tell them I worry about other drivers not me!! Traction Control and anti-lock brakes do the job. The only problem I do have is if the snow is over 2" the car sort of plows the snow and thats not fun.
But as long as the roads are plowed or the snow is packed down I have not had a problem driving on the New Jersey roadways in the winter for over 5 years!!
Go for it, you don't need a second car, just call out sick on the "really snowy days!"
It's the "joke" of the company - "How do you drive that in the snow??"
I tell them I worry about other drivers not me!! Traction Control and anti-lock brakes do the job. The only problem I do have is if the snow is over 2" the car sort of plows the snow and thats not fun.
But as long as the roads are plowed or the snow is packed down I have not had a problem driving on the New Jersey roadways in the winter for over 5 years!!
Go for it, you don't need a second car, just call out sick on the "really snowy days!"
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
I'm looking at purchasing a C5 Vette, and I have but one question. Is the car driveable in winter? I don't want to know if you 'would' drive it in winter or not; I want to know if it is 'physically possible' to drive the car in winter (with whatever accessories necessary- different tires, etc.)
Where I live in Ohio, it only snows more than two inches 3 or 4 times a year. When it does, the roads are cleared within hours (ice is rarely a problem either). I would have a hard time justifying the purchase of a winter car for use in 1 or 2 days out of the year.
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Where I live in Ohio, it only snows more than two inches 3 or 4 times a year. When it does, the roads are cleared within hours (ice is rarely a problem either). I would have a hard time justifying the purchase of a winter car for use in 1 or 2 days out of the year.
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Last edited by MAC5; Mar 28, 2007 at 05:09 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,554
Likes: 35
From: Godfrey IL
Don't worry about it, I even have the Good Year runflats.
It's the "joke" of the company - "How do you drive that in the snow??"
I tell them I worry about other drivers not me!! Traction Control and anti-lock brakes do the job. The only problem I do have is if the snow is over 2" the car sort of plows the snow and thats not fun.
But as long as the roads are plowed or the snow is packed down I have not had a problem driving on the New Jersey roadways in the winter for over 5 years!!
Go for it, you don't need a second car, just call out sick on the "really snowy days!"
It's the "joke" of the company - "How do you drive that in the snow??"
I tell them I worry about other drivers not me!! Traction Control and anti-lock brakes do the job. The only problem I do have is if the snow is over 2" the car sort of plows the snow and thats not fun.
But as long as the roads are plowed or the snow is packed down I have not had a problem driving on the New Jersey roadways in the winter for over 5 years!!
Go for it, you don't need a second car, just call out sick on the "really snowy days!"
I don't even drive mine in the winter and I call in on those bad days.
Really, I have a choice but the only real reason I don't drive it is the other drivers. I drove a Trans Am in the winter and got caught in the snow; it wasn't fun, but the Vette would definitely do better than the TA.
Last edited by vettesmith02; Mar 29, 2007 at 10:24 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 818
Likes: 7
From: Senecaville Ohio
I live here in southeast Ohio. I am not sure where you are to get away with a couple inches of snow in the state. Ohio's weather is cold, windy, icy, snowy, and I would not submit my Vette to any of it. They dump either salt or cinders all over the roads to get the school buses around. I hate even driving my daily driver of a Dodge Magnum AWD through it. This winter has been hard on my pretty mineral gray paint with chips and scratches shining through this spring. Like all have mentioned, a personal choice but that is my personal opinion. I'd get a nice older Jeep Cherokee 4x4 to have with the Vette just for the winter.
Last edited by TomBoy; Mar 28, 2007 at 09:57 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 9
From: Montreal ** Enjoy the ride !!
You can drive anything you want in the snow.. I had a friend back in the 80's ,,, used to drive his motorcycle year round !!
(Canadian winters ) Until one day he lost control and almost killed himself.
It is a car afterall, only thing you have to remember is that it has alot of power. A little to much gas and you'll be doing dougnuts in the street. And there's the snow clearence issue. Good luck
For me i'll stick with my 4x4 Cherokee in the winter ,,
(Canadian winters ) Until one day he lost control and almost killed himself. It is a car afterall, only thing you have to remember is that it has alot of power. A little to much gas and you'll be doing dougnuts in the street. And there's the snow clearence issue. Good luck
For me i'll stick with my 4x4 Cherokee in the winter ,,
Last edited by silverbullit99; Mar 28, 2007 at 10:34 PM.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,390
Likes: 24,791
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
As long as the snow is in the 1-2" range, you should be able to get around. Goodyear makes some tires that will help in winter weather.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 0
From: Columbia MO
They're Goodyear EMT M&S mounted on some wagon wheels. I can swap out my chrome spokes/F1 EMTs and retrain my TP sensors in less then half an hour. The EMT M&S is a great tire, it even gives a softer ride then the summer rubber. I bought a full set of winters with 400 miles on them for $600. Wagon wheels were $150. New sensors and o-rings were around $135.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,703
Likes: 1
From: Don't taze me 'Bro! VA
[QUOTE=Undecided in Ohio;1559572740]I'm looking at purchasing a C5 Vette, and I have but one question. Is the car driveable in winter? [QUOTE]
No Thanks!
That's why God invented 4x4's
No Thanks!
That's why God invented 4x4's
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I had two C3 Big Block Vettes that were my daily drivers for 8 years. With snow tires they had no problem getting around. A C5 isn't that much different from a height standpoint but has a lot of advantages over the older cars. It has less torque, traction control, active handling and ABS. Although low it is amazing how much snow you can actually get through. In deep snow the biggest problem on the C5 would be scooping snow into the A/C condensor and blocking cooling air to the radiator. With snow tires on front and rear it would get around quite well. If it is a 6 speed you can always start in 2nd gear to keep from putting too much torque to the rear wheels.
Bill
Bill
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
From: Southside Alabama
Possible yes....advisable no. I lived in ohio for 15 years and indiana for about 5...I drove my z-28 which sucked royally. The rear end in too light, too much torque, too nice of a car, etc....Not to mention what the salt does to the car. Personally, mine (the vette) doesn't see water unless its being washed or drooled on.