nsogiba

As long as it's not very icy, I take it on during the winter.













Always gets rinsed off and put back in the heated garage during the winter months...just because I use it doesn't mean I neglect it.

leadfoot4

I've lived in the "snow belt" for the greater portion of my life. Therefore, I'm familiar with driving in the snowy weather. I just wonder what you guys are doing for traction, on snow. Back in the day, yeah, I used to see C-2s and C-3s on the road all year, because readily available F and G70-15 snow tires were narrow enough to cut through the snow.

But as far as I know, the last time anybody made snow tires in Corvette sizes was in the early days of the C-5s, and even at that, they were pretty wide, for being able to get enough traction, to easily/safely turn corners.

AND, while someone already posted that Corvettes don't rust....the body won't, but the chassis, and electrical connectors will.....

DDaaryl

I previously drove my C3 during winter while living in New England, usually when I had a date and didn't want to take my truck. It's all good until I saw the rust pouring off the frame, exhaust, brakes and suspension. Traded it the following year before the frame rotted out. Saw it a few years later and no surprise, someone did a lot of creative welding under that car.

Bigbully

My C5 was bought back in September, and hasn't come out of the garage yet.

Clancy209

When the roads are clear and dry, no matter what the temp is I go for a ride.
I said it before it’s like preventative maintenance, fluids moving, wheels turning etc. etc. etc.

Mike94ZLT1

EXACTLY. It's like people forget that the rest of the car is still made of metal and there's other components to it. And to the guys who say they wash it then put it away, do you clean the underside, clean out the wheel wells, and go through the engine bay? Road salt is nasty stuff.

Tuco

zero against those that do, but I don't in Ct.
My buddy drove his C3 thru everything a NE winter could throw at him...
He actually picked me up on a bad day for work in it.

God bless Ronny and his C3 in BPT.

wdcraig

OK there is steel in it. It can rust. Is a Corvette not a car? Name a car on the road today that is immune from rust. If everyone in the snow belt stuck their cars in garages and put them on battery tenders during the winter - there would be no cars on the road during the winter months. And to those who will not drive their Corvettes in the rain terrified that their cars might get dirty; I can't even begin to understand that. The car is water resistant, is it not?

But with that said, just because I don't understand it, doesn't mean not using something might bring more joy to others than using it. But you might want to consider that every minute you are not driving your Corvette you are just giving that minute to someone else.

So drive or not, to each his or her own- but I'll smoke that $100 cigar and drink that bottle of wine and I will drive my Corvette (and may the senior gods of this forum forgive me; I even run it through an automated car wash...and it is a convertible) because life is short and according to my beliefs there are no second chances on earth.

C5R USA

You folks that drive your Vettes in snow and bitter cold temps, more power to you. My car is lowered and running on pure summer tires. The couple of times I have been unfortunate enough to be caught in snow fall in my old ZR-1 years ago, was enough reality for me to never want to drive a Vette intentionally in that kind of climate. I don't enjoy white-knuckling the steering wheel after feeling the rear end kick out or loss of traction, that's a sickening feeling.

All the salt and crap that's put on the roads year after year, it takes it's toll on the chassis. I'll leave the inclimate weather duty to my 4X4, that's what I bought it for.

apex26

For someone who tracks their car, with ultra high performance street tires used for rainy days, the recommendation is that the tires may be damaged in temps below 40 degrees. With all the crap on the roads, it's just not worth it anyway. Fond recollections of being a young man and firing up my 1966 427/425Hp roadster after a long winter nap. It was such a thrill, and it still feels that way starting up the Z06 in about March. Content to wait.

TBIRD57

you are a better man than i am Gunga Din.

golfnutts

Drive my 2003 A/E during winter here in Kansas, except when there is snow on the ground. Have All season tires on it.

_zebra

fuel pump on the truck died

wdcraig

My car is wearing Michelin Pilot Sport A/S (all season) ZP (zero pressure). Does just OK in the snow. Snow removal in our area (Chicago suburbs) and surrounding interstates is something of a priority. I will continue using A/S tires on my Corvette, allowing for the year round use for reasons of temperature. I've never used a dedicated snow tire or summer tire on any of my vehicles.

leadfoot4

Same here!!



To each his/her own......


However, when I was still working full-time, I had to be at work by 6AM. That meant that in questionable conditions, I was leaving my house at 5:15AM, to drive 23 miles across town. Yes, in my area, snow removal is a priority, too, but at the hour I was heading out to work, there were times I was out even before the snow plows. That's when I got my first 4x4, as a winter driver, some 20+ years ago.

While you may feel comfortable driving a low slung car, with 35-40 series, all season tires on it, I'll take my slightly higher, snow tire equipped 4x4.......

wdcraig

Don't get me wrong- my wife drives her AWD Highlander during the winter- our convertible BMW during the summer and on the really crappy winter days I drive our Corolla "beater". I too am an early riser, and the streets are not always clean and snow can hit here on my evening commute harder than the snow plows can clear it. While I have driven my Corvette in winter conditions- it is certainly not my "go to." I just don't moth ball the car. When we ran into some snow on an un-cleared street on a day trip to Indiana, I did not freak out and when it started snowing last month on the way home from a day trip to Wisconsin; not a problem. I totally understand mothballing a car with summer tires (and it seems like most people run summer tires on their Corvettes)- the cold temperatures will ruin them. But I run all seasons and I will drive during the winter. I should also explain, my car has 98,000 miles on it and I actually sought out a higher mileage car because I bought it with the intention of driving it. I don't abuse the car (in fact it is under a cover right now)- but I will use it.

jd911

I try to drive mine at least once a month during the winter. I had it out on the 27th of January. The best mechanic I've ever known, my grandfather, gave me the following advice, "The best way to store a car is not to".

YMMV

Jim

bruceg2016

Our corvette is 100% hobby, we take it to shows, cruise nights etc. Here in Pa. the events stop in Nov and don't start up again until April. I have never given a thought to what someone else does with their vette. Drive it 24/7 or start it once a year, what ever floats your boat is fine with me.

grampi50

The key for me to drive what I would consider a normally summer only vehicle (Vette, motorcycle, etc.) in the winter would be getting a heavy enough rain to wash away any salt or other corrosives that may be used on the roads. Driving vehicles on wet roads mixed with corrosives has the stuff seeping into every nook and cranny and will eventually turn into corrosion, as there is no possible way to clean it all out. Sometimes this means my vehicles will stay parked all winter as we don't always get a cleansing rain during the winter...

Moto One

Snow fall this year is light (very), and there is a reason to have all season tires. Because you can get caught out.