Tire comparison
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,779
Likes: 2
From: NCM Lifetime Member
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20
Tire comparison
Living in Chicago and driving all year around, it would help me to know what to expect of the tires that come standard with Z51.
I drive the city streets in Chicago winters instead of tracking my C6.
Can anyone compare the daily driving on city streets in dry weather, wet weather, any increased dangers in snow...
... that I will experience when I drive a Z51-equipped C6 versus the base suspension car's tires?
Thanks.
I drive the city streets in Chicago winters instead of tracking my C6.
Can anyone compare the daily driving on city streets in dry weather, wet weather, any increased dangers in snow...
... that I will experience when I drive a Z51-equipped C6 versus the base suspension car's tires?Thanks.
Last edited by PeterSG; Mar 11, 2008 at 06:47 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,216
Likes: 4
From: ---Phoenix, AZ --- Boiler Up, Hammer Down!
I live in AZ, but I can tell you that on cold mornings the base tires have traction issues until warmed up....so the supercar tires will probably slip even more!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
You have to be kidding: you drive all year round, snow, ice, whatever, in a Corvette in Chicago? I'm baffled in any year Corvette that you might've owned.
You are talking about "summer only", highest rating/performance tires, and you really want to go out on ice, snow, hardpack, etc.? Well, ok.
I can assure you that in that car, a new-is model Z51, with those tires, and in those conditions, I would not.
Suggestion: take it out to a park or wide open parking lot, if you can even get there, during a snow storm. Try it out. And please tell us how it went.
You are talking about "summer only", highest rating/performance tires, and you really want to go out on ice, snow, hardpack, etc.? Well, ok.
I can assure you that in that car, a new-is model Z51, with those tires, and in those conditions, I would not.
Suggestion: take it out to a park or wide open parking lot, if you can even get there, during a snow storm. Try it out. And please tell us how it went.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Barrington Illinois
I have a 2007 Z51 coupe 6speed that I try to drive every few weeks during the winter for 10-15 miles to get it completely warmed up. I only take it out when the roads are dry. I can tell you that it is not a car you would want as a daily driver in a Chicago winter(especially with the potholes this winter). The handling is very iffy even when the tires warm up. I have never had it on snow, but I'm sure it would be a nightmare. Even in the summer, when the road is wet and bumpy it can be a handfull. I have about 4500 miles on the GY supercar tires and am thinking of replacing them along with the shocks to get a better (and quieter) riding car at the expense of some handling. As a side note; my cousin has a 2006 automatic non-Z51 and it is a much more drivable car in winter(and summer).
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
z51 tires
I have never driven my Z51 with original tires in snow. However, I tried to move the car from one garage bay to another when there was ice on the driveway and needed 2 people to push to get the car back in the garage.
Even without snow, when the temperature is under 40 degrees you see a difference. Frankly, I have not really pushed my Vette in almost six months because it does not feel secure when it is cold, even at 45 degrees. One time when it was 20 degrees I tried to make a U turn while doing under 10 MPH. With the wheel cranked all the way to the left the car continued to go straight. I had to stop and ease it into the turn at under 5 MPH.
I once test drove a brand new C5 on snowy backroads and was amazed at how livable it was. The Z51 tires are awful though and I will not put them back on when they wear out.
Even without snow, when the temperature is under 40 degrees you see a difference. Frankly, I have not really pushed my Vette in almost six months because it does not feel secure when it is cold, even at 45 degrees. One time when it was 20 degrees I tried to make a U turn while doing under 10 MPH. With the wheel cranked all the way to the left the car continued to go straight. I had to stop and ease it into the turn at under 5 MPH.
I once test drove a brand new C5 on snowy backroads and was amazed at how livable it was. The Z51 tires are awful though and I will not put them back on when they wear out.
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,103
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From: Springfield MA
St. Jude Donor '08
the tires do not do well in the wet or snow at all.....and you need to be very careful on cold dry streets....not sure how you will make it thru a Chicago winter without a winter car....
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,779
Likes: 2
From: NCM Lifetime Member
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20
Thanks everyone!
My 2007 base suspension C6 has been OK in cold, wet, and light snow... the way I drive... very cautiously.
After all your comments, I will change to Michelin immediately on my new Z51-equipped C6.
My 2007 base suspension C6 has been OK in cold, wet, and light snow... the way I drive... very cautiously.
After all your comments, I will change to Michelin immediately on my new Z51-equipped C6.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
let me add to that. there are competent, very experienced "snow" drivers here. I actually count myself as being one, too.
one I personally know who brought his car home through hills and mountains with the Z51 tires. he admits it was slow going, but he was kinda on a mission---to get the new car home. not as a daily driver. and he made it. but even he would say, going out in snow, ice, etc. in that car is not a picnic, nor necessarily safe.
the other person just posted on here going home to Chic. from picking up the car at BG, the plant. he hit snow, and did a perpendicular trip down the highway using up a lotta "real estate" until he got it back under control.
if you're really intent on driving in the winter, every day, with this car, change tires at the very least to the best all seasons you can find, that are rated for speed. and at the very best, to all four snows.
not so much so that you won't wrap yourself around a telephone pole, but that you won't take some other unsuspecting car out with you.
one I personally know who brought his car home through hills and mountains with the Z51 tires. he admits it was slow going, but he was kinda on a mission---to get the new car home. not as a daily driver. and he made it. but even he would say, going out in snow, ice, etc. in that car is not a picnic, nor necessarily safe.
the other person just posted on here going home to Chic. from picking up the car at BG, the plant. he hit snow, and did a perpendicular trip down the highway using up a lotta "real estate" until he got it back under control.
if you're really intent on driving in the winter, every day, with this car, change tires at the very least to the best all seasons you can find, that are rated for speed. and at the very best, to all four snows.
not so much so that you won't wrap yourself around a telephone pole, but that you won't take some other unsuspecting car out with you.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 504
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles CA
I've driven my car through the winter in Boston and didn't have much trouble. I got stuck once, but that was a day when I had no business even trying to drive. Other than that, I have not had an issue, even in light/moderate snow, and I have never lost control of the car even for a second. This is all with summer tires on (Continental Contisport Contact 2s)
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 588
Likes: 63
I am on my second C6. I had an '05 MN6 coupe that I drove through three Chicago winters, and I got an '08 Z51 in Nov '07 that I have driven daily through this latest, and worst, Chicago winter.
I can't imagine driving it on summer tires in the winter. I bought a set of Blizzaks that I mounted on spare wheels I bought on eBay. It goes through anything but, more importantly, it also steers and brakes through everything.
If you want to drive it through the winter in Chicago, you MUST mount winter tires. IMHO
drive safe and have fun
I can't imagine driving it on summer tires in the winter. I bought a set of Blizzaks that I mounted on spare wheels I bought on eBay. It goes through anything but, more importantly, it also steers and brakes through everything.
If you want to drive it through the winter in Chicago, you MUST mount winter tires. IMHO
drive safe and have fun