So it snowed last night on my way home and all went well. I know everyone has a different opinion on driving in rain, let alone snow, but I also know I'm not alone for winter driving.

I'll update my experience with driving the Vette in the snow as I experience each condition. I do have a Bronco, so I won't be trying out the Corvette in deep snow or in conditions that require 4x4 (obviously it could reach a point where the car turns into a snow plow). I have Firestone Wide Ovals that have perhaps 5,000 miles on them and look new. I'm guessing that the traction control will help and the fact that the car has possi traction (or what ever its called) will help a lot. The wide tires, low stance, and low weight of the car will hurt it. When it snows more I'll put about 100 pounds of sand in the trunk to give some more weight over the tires.

So last night was snowing, but at that point it wasn't really sticking to the roads much. The roads were kind of cold and wet, almost icing, but not quite. The car handled perfectly. I had to try pretty hard to make the traction control come on.

Why am I doing this if I have a Bronco? Because I can. My Z06 is my daily driver and I'm going to treat it as such. I live in Salt Lake City and I always see cars of every type braving through storms. I went through many winters with just my Z28 and I feel in most respects that the Corvette is much better equipped for the job. I'm not too crazy so I do have a point that I'll take the Bronco instead of the Z06. So we can just view this as an experiment of what a Corvette can handle weather wise. After all, the car does have windshield wipers, a heater, front and rear defrosters, and hazard lights.

 

Just wait until the road is really icy or greasy and your back end tries to sidestep into the car next to you every time you start up from a stop - that's what I call white knuckle driving.

 

I'm interested i hearing your experiences. I hope to move out of the sweatbox and somewhere that actually has a winter. my C5 is also a daily driver and I want to be able to drive it in the winter time. I wonder if in cold temperatures you would be able to remove the front air dam from the car completely? its there to keep air from flowing under the car but also to direct air up through the radiator. but in very cold temperatures I wonder if you could do without it? I have summer only tires on my car now,but I'm thinking about putting all seasons on when I need new tires.

 

I was going on a road trip last march and it started to snow and I tell you what, That was a big no no.... I have driven in the snow for years and I have to tell you the Vette was the worst car I have even driven in the snow.. Never again.
Bill K

 

The Mustang is by far the worst car I have ever driven in the snow. The Corvette did pretty good. I stayed at the GF's house last winter, and it snowed overnight. When I drove home, it handeled pretty darn good. Here are some snow shots; there wasn't much snow in the floor, and that is why I drove it. If not, I would have stayed at the X's house for the day. There was about 2-3 inches of snow on the ground.

 

One can talk about driving a Z or any other stick shift corvette, in the snow till there blue in the face. Wouldn't convice me not to drive something eles that is more safe and practical in winter conditions. Good luck.

 

Been there, done that. I live in SLC too. Here are a few pics from last winter, snow driving in the vette.





Friggen BHURRRRRR

 

For the snow driver's, what tires are you running on?

 

I've gone through a few winters here with Pirelli P Zero Nero M&S tires and they handle light snow extremely well. Last winter I had Kumho ASX tires on the back and the Pirellis up front and the Kumhos were absolutely horrible. For the first time ever I got stuck because of those tires. I didn't even get stuck during the first winter I had my car and drove in the snow with the runflats!!

Right now I've got Goodyear Eagle F1 all seasons up front and still have those crappy Kumhos out back, so I will most likely replace those with a pair of the Goodyears as well. If the Kumhos sucked last winter when they were new, I'd hate to see how bad they are now with an additional 12,000 miles on them!

I've driven a couple of different 5.0 Mustangs in the winter, as well as a 95 Trans Am, and the Corvette is 100 times better than either of those nose heavy cars. The Corvette is not a problem at all in light snow with the right tires, in deeper snow it's biggest problem is simply ground clearance. On those days I don't drive it.

 

having lived and driven my 99 in the snow, if i were to drive it all winter i think i would get some inexpensive(crappy?) wheels and good all seasons on it. (some thing narrower). keep the good wheels and tires for nice weather.

 

I'm running the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S ZPs. The set on the front still look good at 21K and they are the first generation, I now have the second generation Michelin Pilot Sport A/S "Plus" ZPs on the rear.

Living in FL I don't have any snow issues, however I'm planning a trip this winter and still am undecided whether to drive the vette or fly. I'd like to drive just to get away and spend more time in the car, as I'm not totally against the 4000 miles I'll put on it. But because of the timing and distance anything could happen as far as weather is concerned. I've driven in a lot of snow when I use to live out west but never in a Vette.

I would expect the Vette to handle better with active handling then the stang, but as you said can't be too much snow else the front would probably behave like a snow plow!

 

I think I read somewhere that in certain conditions it is best to start off in 2nd gear. It doesn't put quiet so much power to the ground so quickly and you take off much smoother in wet/snow/sandy conditions.

Like I said, it'll be an experiment. I think tires have everything to do with it so we'll see how the Wide Ovals do. They are great on wet and dry roads, but not really made for freezing conditions. If they just aren't doing it then I'll look at getting the closest size snow tires I can. If that doesn't pan out, then the experiment will come to a close and I just won't drive it in the snow Good thing there are plenty of non-snow/dry road days in Salt Lake!!

 

I don't have anything meaningful to contribute to the conversation. I'm just amazed that there is snow anywhere this time of year!

 

I was surprised too to see a snow storm in the northern midwest too.



Probably why I'm beginning to worry about driving this winter!

 

This Spring I had to drive from Buffalo, WY clear to just East of SLC in a blinding snow storm. The vette did pretty good, I thought. It has GY run flats on it at about 50% in the rear. Going up the mountain between Evanston and SLC is a nightmare in any car, IMHO.
I did take a few core samples but I just totally hate driving in snow in anything. I don't think I will ever do it on purpose but damn when you get caught in a storm whataya gonna do? I thought about staying in Evanston but I toughed it out and everything came out okay.
It snowed here yesterday and the day before..............

 

Mine is already in the garage ready for winter storage, just have to change the oil, wash/wax add stabilizer and put on the storage cover It's time for my Jeep now

 

I drove my '03 Mustang GT two winters here in Indiana and finally gave up and got this last fall.



The wife drives her C5 occassionally during the winter but the runflats failed her once last year and almost stranded her. I think it's time for some winter tires.

 

I agree, especially since up here in Toronto Ontario we had an absolutely beautiful day that was about 70 degrees and sunny, it almost felt like summer here today! And tomorrow it's forecasted to be almost 80 degrees! So to know that it snowed to the south of us boggles my mind!

 

its gettin close for the snow season here good night vette wake up Hummer crap

 

I'm with you. I drove mine in the snow a couple of times - not an experience I would want to repeat on a regular basis.