Anyone use Snow Tires?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 44
Likes: 1
Anyone use Snow Tires?
Hello all,
I live in New England, and I'd like to consider snow tires to get me around this winter in my new to me 1997 Corvette. Curious if anyone else uses snow tires, and what sizes you chose. I know its not ideal to drive in the snow, but for reasons beyond my reasonable control, I may get caught in the snow with it sometimes.
Appreciate any help you can provide!
I live in New England, and I'd like to consider snow tires to get me around this winter in my new to me 1997 Corvette. Curious if anyone else uses snow tires, and what sizes you chose. I know its not ideal to drive in the snow, but for reasons beyond my reasonable control, I may get caught in the snow with it sometimes.
Appreciate any help you can provide!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Hello all,
I live in New England, and I'd like to consider snow tires to get me around this winter in my new to me 1997 Corvette. Curious if anyone else uses snow tires, and what sizes you chose. I know its not ideal to drive in the snow, but for reasons beyond my reasonable control, I may get caught in the snow with it sometimes.
Appreciate any help you can provide!
I live in New England, and I'd like to consider snow tires to get me around this winter in my new to me 1997 Corvette. Curious if anyone else uses snow tires, and what sizes you chose. I know its not ideal to drive in the snow, but for reasons beyond my reasonable control, I may get caught in the snow with it sometimes.
Appreciate any help you can provide!
Last edited by JR-01; Oct 19, 2015 at 10:49 AM.
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 361
Likes: 34
From: Central MA
I live in New England also (Central MA) and think if you can find snow tires to fit, you should stud them for sure. Chains perhaps. If you live on Cape Cod or coastal areas you may get away with all seasons, but inland, not. If you do drive it in the snow it probably will get a lot of snow scooped up under the front end. Instead of snow tires spend a little more for a beater car or truck for those days-then no worries about the Vette.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2013
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There is a Pirelli made in the OEM rear size, but I was actually hoping to go down to something like a 255/45/18 tire in the rear. The more narrow, the better. Can't go much lower than that on a 9.5 width rear wheel though. I believe I'll need to change the front size too though to keep the ABS/Traction control happy though? Not sure if there was a certain set of sizes that are most popular
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 44
Likes: 1
I live in New England also (Central MA) and think if you can find snow tires to fit, you should stud them for sure. Chains perhaps. If you live on Cape Cod or coastal areas you may get away with all seasons, but inland, not. If you do drive it in the snow it probably will get a lot of snow scooped up under the front end. Instead of snow tires spend a little more for a beater car or truck for those days-then no worries about the Vette.
I appreciate the feedback. I live in southcoast MA, but I have a 60 mile commute every day so If I get stuck at work and need to drive home in snow, its a 30 mile drive.
Normally I'd just buy a $1,000 honda civic beater, but the issue for me is space, I have no room for another car. Literally, no where to put it.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2013
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Me too hahaha. I've been driving RWD sports cars for the past 5 winters with great success. I'm not too worried about it, as long as I'm prepared. My Honda S2000 with snow tires ( No traction, no ABS) got around in heavy snow better than my fiance's Acura TSX with all the gizmos and gadgets this past winter.
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All seasons might be your best bet. My car stays in the garage all winter so I don't worry about driving in snow, but something like the Michelin AS tires should work well for you if you have to drive your C5 in snowy weather.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
On a VERY serious note, in order to be REALLY effective, a snow tire needs to be narrow, to be able to punch through the snow. Tires in Corvette sizes, are way too wide, to work really well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Wisconsin
Goodyear used to have snows in C-5 sizes, but since the C-5 is now 2 generations old, and in all honesty, so few guys drive them in winter, I think they stopped making them.
On a VERY serious note, in order to be REALLY effective, a snow tire needs to be narrow, to be able to punch through the snow. Tires in Corvette sizes, are way too wide, to work really well.
On a VERY serious note, in order to be REALLY effective, a snow tire needs to be narrow, to be able to punch through the snow. Tires in Corvette sizes, are way too wide, to work really well.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
Me too hahaha. I've been driving RWD sports cars for the past 5 winters with great success. I'm not too worried about it, as long as I'm prepared. My Honda S2000 with snow tires ( No traction, no ABS) got around in heavy snow better than my fiance's Acura TSX with all the gizmos and gadgets this past winter.
Instructor
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Drove a 4th gen Camaro and an 04 gto for 7 out of the last 8 winters here in ct. Good snow tires make all the difference. Anything less then 4 or 5 inches (on the actual road surface) and I was fine. Both instances tires cost 1200-1500 not including spare rims. Got me to thinking last year when I got the vette to just buy a winter beater. Regardless of the control I have over my vehicle, it only takes one other driver to total your car. Almost learned the hard way when some one in an s2000 slid across the road head on towards me in the gto. Luckily no one was behind me because the snow tires were enough to stop me quickly and safely as the guy slide across the front of me into the trees.
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Anything over 4 inches you should leave it where it is and call a cab. A good set of snow tires will help (if you can find them) but the car is too low for anything more than a few inches and forget about getting through drifts and those mounds left by the snow plows. A good set of snow tires with rims and balancing will cost as much as a beater.
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Anything over 4 inches you should leave it where it is and call a cab. A good set of snow tires will help (if you can find them) but the car is too low for anything more than a few inches and forget about getting through drifts and those mounds left by the snow plows. A good set of snow tires with rims and balancing will cost as much as a beater.
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Anything over 4 inches you should leave it where it is and call a cab. A good set of snow tires will help (if you can find them) but the car is too low for anything more than a few inches and forget about getting through drifts and those mounds left by the snow plows. A good set of snow tires with rims and balancing will cost as much as a beater.
Mike98SilVert made a good point about the snow plow effect. Maybe remove the air dam from the front? Might want to ask others about that.
Last edited by roadbike56; Oct 20, 2015 at 01:20 PM.
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