Driving in Winter
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
Driving in Winter
Has anyone driven in the winter months on snow with the run flat tires. I won't be doing much but on occasion I might and have heard conflicting remarks about the tires.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
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From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
I am interested to see the replys on this thread. I had to drive my 99Z28 (6spd) in the snow 2 winters and that did not work very well at all,,granted it did not have run flats..but all that power/torque does not mix well with snow/ice.
When I got my vette last year,,I stored it all winter drove it once a month when there was no snow/salt. The thought of driving it in the winter scares me..actually more that someone would hit me
When I got my vette last year,,I stored it all winter drove it once a month when there was no snow/salt. The thought of driving it in the winter scares me..actually more that someone would hit me
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,315
Likes: 1,585
From: Western NY
I've lived in the "snow belt" most of my life, so here's my $0.02 worth....
Run flat or not, anything lower than a 70 series tire is generally too wide to provide good performance in winter. You need a narrow, deep treaded tire to cut through the snow. A wide tire tends to ride over and around the snow, and your car is all over the place.
I have an S-10 4x4 for the winter.
Run flat or not, anything lower than a 70 series tire is generally too wide to provide good performance in winter. You need a narrow, deep treaded tire to cut through the snow. A wide tire tends to ride over and around the snow, and your car is all over the place.
I have an S-10 4x4 for the winter.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 7,086
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From: Davison MI
If you are really serious about driving the Vette in the winter, Goodyear makes a run-flat version of the EMT for Corvettes. It is the M+S EMT tire. I used them on my '99 for 5 years and each year drove all winter long here in Michigan. I have a set for my '04 and will be using them this coming winter. I have been very happy with the tire...the tread is excellent for snow traction and the compound is like glue on ice. The only thing that keeps me off the road in winter is the depth of snow. If we get a 10" or 11" snowfall, then clearance is the problem. Otherwise it is an excellent winter car with active handling and traction control. 
Last edited by DavesC5; Jul 19, 2004 at 01:11 PM.
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I have driven mine in the snow before with the Goodyear EMTs on there - got some traction, but it was not a pleasant trip home. There are a lot of hills here in town and you had to be really careful to keep the car on the street. If at all possible, my car will not see any driving when the roads are snowy.
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 141
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From: West Bloomfield mi
Living in Mkichigan we have seen our share of Snow we drove the 02 coupe to winters in a row without any problems, actually its one of the best cars ive drivin in the winter that was rear wheel drive
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 750
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From: Goodyear AZ
Winter driving depends on 3 things....One, the width of your tires (275 is pretty wide) Two, weight in the back (you have a transaxle you are in luck here) and Three depth of snow (anything above 4 inches your car turns into a plow) I drove a 96 Z28 in the snow for 5 winters. I put on 225 tires and put 250 lbs in the trunk. The vette will get you around if the snow is under 4" and you have no hills in your area but if it were me I would buy a $1000 beater to drive the 10 times it snows every year. Who needs the hassle. 
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 149
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From: Silver Spring MD
I have stock factory run flats. If you know what you're doing, you'll be fine. If you don't know how to drive in the snow to begin with, you'll be in trouble. I live in Maryland and we had a decent amount this past winter (my first with this car). I grew up in Connecticut, and I just had to go slow and be careful. I found the biggest problem to be the ground clearance, not the tire traction.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 1
From: Pittsford NY
Originally Posted by DavesC5
If you are really serious about driving the Vette in the winter, Goodyear makes a run-flat version of the EMT for Corvettes. It is the M+S EMT tire. I used them on my '99 for 5 years and each year drove all winter long here in Michigan. I have a set for my '04 and will be using them this coming winter. I have been very happy with the tire...the tread is excellent for snow traction and the compound is like glue on ice. The only thing that keeps me off the road in winter is the depth of snow. If we get a 10" or 11" snowfall, then clearance is the problem. Otherwise it is an excellent winter car with active handling and traction control.
I have other cars thus only limited experience driving a c5 in snow.
As others have said wide tires and snow are not a good combination.
It I were to drive mine in snow I would put other tires on it
probably the goodyears but I would have to look around and do
some research. From my experience the stock runflats and snow
are not fun and in the climate I live in I do know how to drive in
snow. I have a six speed perhaps the autos are a little better
I do not know.
PS I think with tires more suited to snow they are fine.
Cherish your Hopes...
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,074
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From: West Palm Beach FL
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by barbily
Has anyone driven in the winter months on snow with the run flat tires. I won't be doing much but on occasion I might and have heard conflicting remarks about the tires.
...heard of guys/gals around here who drive all winter...no more problem than any other rear wheel drive car...
...which BTW is better than any front wheel drive regardless...
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Originally Posted by DavesC5
If you are really serious about driving the Vette in the winter, Goodyear makes a run-flat version of the EMT for Corvettes. It is the M+S EMT tire. I used them on my '99 for 5 years and each year drove all winter long here in Michigan. I have a set for my '04 and will be using them this coming winter. I have been very happy with the tire...the tread is excellent for snow traction and the compound is like glue on ice. The only thing that keeps me off the road in winter is the depth of snow. If we get a 10" or 11" snowfall, then clearance is the problem. Otherwise it is an excellent winter car with active handling and traction control.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,890
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From: Indiana
St. Jude Contributor
I got caught in 7" of wet snow last spring on Interstate 65 near Tenn/Bama state line. I was the only vehicle moving for about 30 minutes. Stock run flats with 23K miles. Mind you I was down to about 25mph in 2nd gear and doing lots of sideways stuff.....and I wouldn't have wanted to stop........BUT......there were also lots of 4x4's in the ditch
I drive mine almost every day here in Central Indyanna....but if it's going to snow much....I'll drive one of the other cars.
I drive mine almost every day here in Central Indyanna....but if it's going to snow much....I'll drive one of the other cars.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,217
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From: End of the Ike IL
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
I live in the western 'burbs and drive the C5 year 'round. Get rid of the GY's if you choose to drive on anything more than a couple of inches. Michelin PS A/S ZP's work great. If there is more than a couple of inches, wait for the plows to do their work. I kept the C5 in the garage for just three days last winter (took the mrs' car instead.)
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Ive driven a C4 and a C5 in different types of snow storms.
If you have the light fluffy snow(<5"), the vette will do alright in a pinch! If you get a very heavy/slush type of snow"LEAVE THE CAR PARKED!!!" The slush will build up in front of the wide tires and you will loose control!
There are metal items on the underside of the C5. On the SALT laden roads of the north east the metal parts will have serious problems!
I drive my 98 in the winter when the roads are clear. i drive my truck in the worst of the winter conditions!
BC
If you have the light fluffy snow(<5"), the vette will do alright in a pinch! If you get a very heavy/slush type of snow"LEAVE THE CAR PARKED!!!" The slush will build up in front of the wide tires and you will loose control!
There are metal items on the underside of the C5. On the SALT laden roads of the north east the metal parts will have serious problems!
I drive my 98 in the winter when the roads are clear. i drive my truck in the worst of the winter conditions!
BC
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,427
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From: Fountain Inn, South Carolina
Michigan here.... I have a 99 that I drive year round since day one. Generally I try not to drive while snow is non packed. I've done ok... The Torch Red looks great contrasted with some nice clean white snow. BTW, EMTs all around.
If it gets bad, I break out the 02 Silverado 4x4.
If it gets bad, I break out the 02 Silverado 4x4.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,323
Likes: 2,077
From: Guelph, Ontario
This winter I plan on buying a set of 235-45-17 snows for the front, and 245-45-18s for the back. Hankook makes a snow tire called the Ice Bear which comes in those two sizes actually. And the 245-45s for the rear are the same circumference as the stock rears, so the speedo won't be off.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,146
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From: The Internet
I too have a set of wagon wheels with M+S tyres that are for winter driving so my 'vette gets out all year round, including during major snowfalls.
The Corvette is a tremendous car in the snow. However, if one didn't know how to drive in the fluffy stuff, then I can see how it would be easy to fault the car.
The Corvette is a tremendous car in the snow. However, if one didn't know how to drive in the fluffy stuff, then I can see how it would be easy to fault the car.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,567
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From: Aurora IL
Vettes in snow have the grace of a pregnant elephant on roller skates. It can be a year round car, but not a great one in the winter on slippery roads. You would be better off with a rolling wreck for the winter. After all it is not just the Vettes ability to handle the roads, it is all the mental midgets who think cars are snowmobiles. In addition you have the 4WD jerks who think they can do 80 on ice because they got 4WD. The Vette is a target for dummies in the winter.