For Everday C6 Drivers...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,835
Likes: 6
That is NOT something that I ever plan to know. After decades of from wheel drive cars and now 4 wheel drive SUVs I only dimly recall how totally horrible any rear wheel drive vehicle is on snow and ice.
My first thought, aside from handling and traction, is that the snow, if wet, would pack up inside the wheel well. I'd say forget traction tires or devices.
My snow vehicle is a new Jeep Cherokee hemi. It hardly knows the difference between dry pavement and snow. IMO in harsh climates like New England and the Midwest a C6 owner needs a second vehicle.
I'm sure some will dispute this and say they drive theirs all year around but not this guy. The odds just are not good enough.
IMO all good luck
My first thought, aside from handling and traction, is that the snow, if wet, would pack up inside the wheel well. I'd say forget traction tires or devices.
My snow vehicle is a new Jeep Cherokee hemi. It hardly knows the difference between dry pavement and snow. IMO in harsh climates like New England and the Midwest a C6 owner needs a second vehicle.
I'm sure some will dispute this and say they drive theirs all year around but not this guy. The odds just are not good enough.
IMO all good luck
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis Missouri
Originally Posted by OregonC6
That is NOT something that I ever plan to know. After decades of from wheel drive cars and now 4 wheel drive SUVs I only dimly recall how totally horrible any rear wheel drive vehicle is on snow and ice.
My first thought, aside from handling and traction, is that the snow, if wet, would pack up inside the wheel well. I'd say forget traction tires or devices.
My snow vehicle is a new Jeep Cherokee hemi. It hardly knows the difference between dry pavement and snow. IMO in harsh climates like New England and the Midwest a C6 owner needs a second vehicle.
I'm sure some will dispute this and say they drive theirs all year around but not this guy. The odds just are not good enough.
IMO all good luck
My first thought, aside from handling and traction, is that the snow, if wet, would pack up inside the wheel well. I'd say forget traction tires or devices.
My snow vehicle is a new Jeep Cherokee hemi. It hardly knows the difference between dry pavement and snow. IMO in harsh climates like New England and the Midwest a C6 owner needs a second vehicle.
I'm sure some will dispute this and say they drive theirs all year around but not this guy. The odds just are not good enough.
IMO all good luck
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,436
Likes: 4
From: Everett Wa
I got mine out in maybe a half inch of snow last year. I was very surprised, it actually handled very well. Much better than my truck unless I put it in 4 wheel. More than anything though I worry about the other drivers so most of the time if I know snow is on the way the truck will go to work.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 5
From: stafford country, va. Avatar: Me on turn 3 @ Bristol (The World's Fastest Half-Mile)
basically, the same as any other high horsepower rear wheel drive.
i've driven mine in the snow but didn't play snow plow with it.
as long as the snow depth is below the front lower fascia i'll take her out.
since it sits so low, i don't take it out unless the roads have be plowed.
it's all the other idiots that you have to watch out for.
i've driven mine in the snow but didn't play snow plow with it.
as long as the snow depth is below the front lower fascia i'll take her out.
since it sits so low, i don't take it out unless the roads have be plowed.
it's all the other idiots that you have to watch out for.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 914
Likes: 1
From: Plant City Florida
Originally Posted by JKennedy1612
Winter is here [sorta], and I was interested in how it handles in the snow. Any takers?
Wouldn't even think/dream of taking it out in the snow. Storage and a beater for miserable winter weather.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
I find it amusing that people are afraid to drive their Corvette in the rain, but snow 
is a different story altogether. In Central New York it is possible to get between 100 - 160 inches of snow in a season, need I say more?
Salt is best utilized on the dinner table in a limited quanity, not on a Corvette frame or suspension parts. I put mine to bed as soon as the roads get salted here.
is a different story altogether. In Central New York it is possible to get between 100 - 160 inches of snow in a season, need I say more?Salt is best utilized on the dinner table in a limited quanity, not on a Corvette frame or suspension parts. I put mine to bed as soon as the roads get salted here.
Last edited by SEVENTH VETTE; Nov 22, 2006 at 06:29 PM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 20,054
Likes: 44
From: Swansea IL
Haven't experienced any snow yet in the C6 but I drove my 95, 96, 99 and 03 Z06 in the snow and both the driver and cars survived.
Of course I was born and raised in Wisconsin on read drive V8 powered cars and learned long ago that you drive as if you have an egg between your foot and the pedals and you lower your speeds and you anticipate turns and stops.
Having said that, I won't drive in much more than an inch. Anything more than that is foolish even for a rear drive pick up truck.
Tom
Of course I was born and raised in Wisconsin on read drive V8 powered cars and learned long ago that you drive as if you have an egg between your foot and the pedals and you lower your speeds and you anticipate turns and stops.
Having said that, I won't drive in much more than an inch. Anything more than that is foolish even for a rear drive pick up truck.
Tom
Last edited by AFVETTE; Nov 22, 2006 at 05:37 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 68
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
Snow
Not worth a chit.........one of the must haves if you drive a Vette in Michigan is a winter salt ride....Vettes stay in the garage for the most part during the winter where they are warm, clean and dry......BTW my winter salt ride is an 07 Esclade
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 5
From: stafford country, va. Avatar: Me on turn 3 @ Bristol (The World's Fastest Half-Mile)
Originally Posted by Low Rider
Not worth a chit.........one of the must haves if you drive a Vette in Michigan is a winter salt ride....Vettes stay in the garage for the most part during the winter where they are warm, clean and dry......BTW my winter salt ride is an 07 Esclade
it is very very easy to loose traction with salt/sand residue on the road surface, been there done that. but then again, it's not just the vette that experiences traction issues during bad weather, it's any rear wheel drive high horsepower vehicle.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 530
Likes: 2
From: Colorado Springs CO
Have driven mine twice in snow, once when I got caught at work with an unexpected snowfall, and once when I had clear streets where I live but quite a bit of snow 12 miles away. Car does alright as long as you don't get on it, but, as others have stated, it's the stuff they put on the roads and the other drivers around here that deter me from snow driving more than anything else!
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Snow and Vettes equals DANGER/ACCIDENT you could try and say this and that, and that your the best driver in the world blah blah...Driving a corvette is enjoyable in the sun or the rain but not in snow!!!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,733
Likes: 0
From: Palatine(ChicagoLand) IL
i drive mine through most winter, if i get caught in snowfall, i will just drive carefully other than that, i drive my other car when the weather man says its going to snow properly thats all..i enjoy my car through the winter only a downtime of about 15-20 days when i am here an another 30 days of vacation downtime 
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 20,166
Likes: 2
From: Spacecoast Florida
Originally Posted by JKennedy1612
Winter is here [sorta], and I was interested in how it handles in the snow. Any takers?
C5 was actually pretty good and fun to drive in 1-3 inches.
From another thread I recall that there is a strong recommendation to leave all Z51's with F1 Supercar tires in the garage during cold winters. Not only are they terrible in the snow, but apparently even with dry conditions the F1's rubber gets hard and very "waxy" at temps below 30degrees.
Hell, I dont even drive my Vert in the rain, in the summer. So, I have no friggin' idea why I've researched this topic...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 0
From: La Quinta CA
I can't help with the snow however if you have a Z51 get rid of the tires if you plan on driving in the rain! They are made for dry conditions and aren't worth a damn in the water. I can speak from experience and it was real scary!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 5
From: stafford country, va. Avatar: Me on turn 3 @ Bristol (The World's Fastest Half-Mile)
Originally Posted by RedHot
What is this snow thing you talk about? 
