daily Fun with my c5 in New England
01-06-2018, 11:27 AM
#1
Snow Fun with my c5 in New England
Thought you folks might like my update on daily driving my car in Massachusetts.
People ask me all the time, particularly in inclement weather 'Your not driving the corvette are you' yep, sure am! It's obviously not the perfect winter car, but with 225 width snow tires all around (all mounted on stock c5 front wheels, which I think they are 7.5" wide?) it does ok.
This is my second winter with the car, and only last night did I require assistance. I was stuck in a friends unplowed driveway after a particularly nasty wind/snowstorm packed the snow under my car solid, left an imprint of the chassis in the snow! Little tug with the jeep and I was on my way.
With a little momentum it does very well, I've climbed some very impressive, long hills in 8+ inches of unplowed snow and it certainly wasn't a walk in the park, but held 30+ mph up it.
People ask me all the time, particularly in inclement weather 'Your not driving the corvette are you' yep, sure am! It's obviously not the perfect winter car, but with 225 width snow tires all around (all mounted on stock c5 front wheels, which I think they are 7.5" wide?) it does ok.
This is my second winter with the car, and only last night did I require assistance. I was stuck in a friends unplowed driveway after a particularly nasty wind/snowstorm packed the snow under my car solid, left an imprint of the chassis in the snow! Little tug with the jeep and I was on my way.
With a little momentum it does very well, I've climbed some very impressive, long hills in 8+ inches of unplowed snow and it certainly wasn't a walk in the park, but held 30+ mph up it.
The car hasn't been perfect, but overall I'm super impressed with its performance. It's definitely not a Japanese car (my previous car was a 240k mile Miata) but it's never left me stranded in the 30+ thousand miles I've had it.
Things ive noticed with a c5 in the cold weather
Things ive noticed with a c5 in the cold weather
The defroster/heat sucks in the cold weather.The wipers can't be placed up to avoid freezing to the windshield (they hit the hood..)The door handles don't inspire confidence when trying to pull open a frozen door (the Miata was worse!) Skis fit nicely in the cargo area 
Don't think the Windows have ever frozen up. There was one time when they just wouldn't work, it was an electrical problem. There's lots of little, temporary electrical problems. Except for the abs/traction control. That doesn't work at all (not unusual for a 99)Anyways, enough blabbing, I'll put some pictures up instead 
Don't think the Windows have ever frozen up. There was one time when they just wouldn't work, it was an electrical problem. There's lots of little, temporary electrical problems. Except for the abs/traction control. That doesn't work at all (not unusual for a 99)Anyways, enough blabbing, I'll put some pictures up instead Last edited by Monsteryes; 01-06-2018 at 11:56 AM.
Popular Reply
01-06-2018, 11:54 AM
This is a comparison between my summer setup and winters
01-06-2018, 11:54 AM
#2
This is a comparison between my summer setup and winters
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01-06-2018, 02:08 PM
#6
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Nice...are you allowed to use studs in the snow tires? I would probably use them if it was legal. Then when you do a burn out you can throw sparks.
01-06-2018, 04:00 PM
#10
Burning Brakes
Is that a Miata next to you? From your photos is that Wachusett?
You are a braver soul than I. I can scrape my driveway with no snow, a bank from a plow and I'd never get in.
It's probably fun in the turns with the TC turned off though.
You are a braver soul than I. I can scrape my driveway with no snow, a bank from a plow and I'd never get in.
It's probably fun in the turns with the TC turned off though.
01-06-2018, 04:03 PM
#11
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01-06-2018, 06:58 PM
#12
Drifting
You are an adventurous man. I drive my vette top down in frigid temps, but once snow and ice appear, the vette disappears. I love the snow tires and am impressed that you're able to do so well with them.
01-06-2018, 10:30 PM
#14
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The stock front C5 (coupe/vert) wheels are 8.5" wide - just for your info. But good for you for finding a way to continue to use your car even in pretty nasty winter weather.
01-07-2018, 06:31 AM
#16
Burning Brakes
Sacrilege, you should be tard and feathered. If I spelled those right. 
01-07-2018, 08:16 AM
#17
Ooops! maybe 7.5 is the recommended width for 225 tires. I'll probably make a septet thread just for my snow tire setup, there's not a lot of info out there on what fits for snows on vettes (weird?lol) and I did this setup for $450.
01-07-2018, 08:18 AM
#18
Sure is a Miata! My cousins first car, he's a nut like I am, daily drives that Miata in the white mtns. The first picture with skis on the car is wachusett (my local hill) the one with the Miata in the background is wildcat mtn, directly across from mt Washington in nh
01-07-2018, 10:16 AM
#20
We are allowed to run studs (I think...) I chose not to run studded because of fears about decreased dry pavement performance, I still like to drive with gusto if the roads are clear, and the snow tires already struggle to grip so I haven't used studs (yet)