Winter / Snow Use - C6??
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Winter / Snow Use - C6??
I am considering buying a C6 Corvette. It would be my only car. I live in Central Pennsylvania. I would drive it in snow, ice,and anything else that comes along. I live at the top of a long, steep twisting, often snow covered in winter hill.
I have done this successfully with a 95 Z-28 Camaro, a 05 Pontiac 6-liter GTO, and presently a Pontiac 09 6-liter G8GT, by fitting four snow and ice tires and dedicated wheels for winter use. I am having difficulty finding similar wheels and tires for the Corvette. Without them, a Corvette is not an option for me.
Doesn't anyone drive their Corvette in the snow? There is nothing like hanging out the rear end of a big-bore GM V-8 on snow curved road while steering by throttle. Information from anyone concerning use of a C6 in snow and ice would be appreciated.
I have done this successfully with a 95 Z-28 Camaro, a 05 Pontiac 6-liter GTO, and presently a Pontiac 09 6-liter G8GT, by fitting four snow and ice tires and dedicated wheels for winter use. I am having difficulty finding similar wheels and tires for the Corvette. Without them, a Corvette is not an option for me.
Doesn't anyone drive their Corvette in the snow? There is nothing like hanging out the rear end of a big-bore GM V-8 on snow curved road while steering by throttle. Information from anyone concerning use of a C6 in snow and ice would be appreciated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: st paul minnesota
Growing up in MN I always saw a few 'Vettes driven in the Winter. These were C1-C3, however. With the arrival of the C4 and beyond the tires, ground clearance, etc. do not really lend themselves to being an all-season vehicle. I'm sure you will get some replies to the contrary, but that's my take. I've owned at least one since '74 and they have never seen snow. I know "it's just a car", but why put yourself through the hassles that will result and the diminished resale value due to condition which will certainly be a product of driving it consistently. Today we had 6+ inches of snow for our first one of the season. I can't imagine a C6 getting through the stuff minus some front air dam pieces. There's a reason you aren't finding wheels/tires for winter use-there's not a market for them...
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I may be missing something. Why is a C6 not capable of handling snow and ice when a Camaro Z-28, a Pontiac GTO, and a Pontiac G8GT are? Is the ground clearance that much less or am I missing something else?
All my cars starting in the 60's, including an MGA, a Triumph TR-7, an Austin Healey 3000, a Porsche 944-S, and the above GM V-8's etc have been snow cars.
What is different about the C6?
I have no interest in driving beaters. I drive one car, regardless of weather. I still don't see why the Corvette can't handle it. With close to 50/50 weight distributiion and proper tires it should be at least as capable as a Camaro.
All my cars starting in the 60's, including an MGA, a Triumph TR-7, an Austin Healey 3000, a Porsche 944-S, and the above GM V-8's etc have been snow cars.
What is different about the C6?
I have no interest in driving beaters. I drive one car, regardless of weather. I still don't see why the Corvette can't handle it. With close to 50/50 weight distributiion and proper tires it should be at least as capable as a Camaro.
Last edited by vangulik; Nov 13, 2010 at 09:19 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 362
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From: Chicago IL
Done it successfully in Chicago for the last 5 years on the same set of Blizzak LM-25s using an extra set of polished aluminum C6 wheels bought on Ebay for $280/set.
Those Blizzaks transform the car into a a great winter car as they have grip superior to most cars' all-season tires. You just need to leave plenty space between yourself and the nutcases who think they can operate outside the laws of physics because they're in a beater or an SUV with bad all-seasons on it!
Those Blizzaks transform the car into a a great winter car as they have grip superior to most cars' all-season tires. You just need to leave plenty space between yourself and the nutcases who think they can operate outside the laws of physics because they're in a beater or an SUV with bad all-seasons on it!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,422
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From: Wilkes-Barre Pa
I may be missing something. Why is a C6 not capable of handling snow and ice when a Camaro Z-28, a Pontiac GTO, and a Pontiac G8GT are? Is the ground clearance that much less or am I missing something else?
All my cars starting in the 60's, including an MGA, a Triumph TR-7, an Austin Healey 3000, a Porsche 944-S, and the above GM V-8's etc have been snow cars.
What is different about the C6?
All my cars starting in the 60's, including an MGA, a Triumph TR-7, an Austin Healey 3000, a Porsche 944-S, and the above GM V-8's etc have been snow cars.
What is different about the C6?
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Done it successfully in Chicago for the last 5 years on the same set of Blizzak LM-25s using an extra set of polished aluminum C6 wheels bought on Ebay for $280/set.
Those Blizzaks transform the car into a a great winter car as they have grip superior to most cars' all-season tires. You just need to leave plenty space between yourself and the nutcases who think they can operate outside the laws of physics because they're in a beater or an SUV with bad all-seasons on it!
Those Blizzaks transform the car into a a great winter car as they have grip superior to most cars' all-season tires. You just need to leave plenty space between yourself and the nutcases who think they can operate outside the laws of physics because they're in a beater or an SUV with bad all-seasons on it!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 783
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From: MONTGOMERY ALABAMA
I may be missing something. Why is a C6 not capable of handling snow and ice when a Camaro Z-28, a Pontiac GTO, and a Pontiac G8GT are? Is the ground clearance that much less or am I missing something else?
All my cars starting in the 60's, including an MGA, a Triumph TR-7, an Austin Healey 3000, a Porsche 944-S, and the above GM V-8's etc have been snow cars.
What is different about the C6?
I have no interest in driving beaters. I drive one car, regardless of weather. I still don't see why the Corvette can't handle it. With close to 50/50 weight distributiion and proper tires it should be at least as capable as a Camaro.
All my cars starting in the 60's, including an MGA, a Triumph TR-7, an Austin Healey 3000, a Porsche 944-S, and the above GM V-8's etc have been snow cars.
What is different about the C6?
I have no interest in driving beaters. I drive one car, regardless of weather. I still don't see why the Corvette can't handle it. With close to 50/50 weight distributiion and proper tires it should be at least as capable as a Camaro.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,738
Likes: 81
From: Milford NH
I may be missing something. Why is a C6 not capable of handling snow and ice when a Camaro Z-28, a Pontiac GTO, and a Pontiac G8GT are? Is the ground clearance that much less or am I missing something else?
All my cars starting in the 60's, including an MGA, a Triumph TR-7, an Austin Healey 3000, a Porsche 944-S, and the above GM V-8's etc have been snow cars.
What is different about the C6?
I have no interest in driving beaters. I drive one car, regardless of weather. I still don't see why the Corvette can't handle it. With close to 50/50 weight distributiion and proper tires it should be at least as capable as a Camaro.
All my cars starting in the 60's, including an MGA, a Triumph TR-7, an Austin Healey 3000, a Porsche 944-S, and the above GM V-8's etc have been snow cars.
What is different about the C6?
I have no interest in driving beaters. I drive one car, regardless of weather. I still don't see why the Corvette can't handle it. With close to 50/50 weight distributiion and proper tires it should be at least as capable as a Camaro.
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The ground clearance may, however, be a valid concern. Is it really that much less than that of a GTO or a G8GT? If it is, and there really is a problem, I want to know about it before I buy a C6.
If there is a problem, there may be another Camaro in my future. I will compare Corvette and Camaro ground clearances at my local dealer.
Last edited by vangulik; Nov 13, 2010 at 09:42 PM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Mooresville (Race City USA) NC
You obviously don't want to listen to those who say you shouldn't attempt it - so why bother asking in the first place since you already have your mind made up. Oh yea, be sure to get to get a Z06, ZR1, or G/S, or at least a used base model C6 with the Z51 option. Happy winter motoring!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,295
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From: Chicago Illinois
St. Jude Donor '12
i installed my winter tire and wheel combo on my daily driver vette this afternoon. i picked up the vette this summer, so i have not had a chance to drive the vette through the winter. i will drive the car in the winter if the snow is less than three inches. the problem is that the front air dam will act like a snow plow when the snow is higher than three inches. another forum member posted pictures of his vette pushing snow like a snow plow with the front air dam. if the snow gets real bad i will either resort to public transportation or the wife's mustang.
i bought a second set of wheels from a forum member and ordered pirelli sottozero 240's (non-runflat) from the tire rack along with TPMS from Gene Culley.
i bought a second set of wheels from a forum member and ordered pirelli sottozero 240's (non-runflat) from the tire rack along with TPMS from Gene Culley.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,284
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From: Whitehall Pa.
I see how beaten up my SUV gets from the salt and cinders that Pa. uses in abundance I think a much lower car would get hit much more. Also I have trouble clearing my driveway now with the air dams I couldn't imagine trying to drive my GS in a decent snowfall. I would also imagine a nice chunk of ice would do some damage.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 783
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From: MONTGOMERY ALABAMA
I lived in Harrisburgh ,Pa for several years and had a 1966 327/350HP and a 1975 Stingray which was junk. Neither of those cars had anywhere near the Torque of a c6. I drove an old Audi front wheel drive car between Thanksgiving and Easter. But go ahead. I am sure after the first 5-10,000.00 accident you will rethink the situation.
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You obviously don't want to listen to those who say you shouldn't attempt it - so why bother asking in the first place since you already have your mind made up. Oh yea, be sure to get to get a Z06, ZR1, or G/S, or at least a used base model C6 with the Z51 option. Happy winter motoring!
If I buy a C6, it will be a new base model, kept for three or four years or so, and traded-in on whatever follows. I expect trade-in, as for almost every car I have owned in 50 years of driving, to be approximately 50% of original cost, even if driven in the winter.
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I really do appreciate all the input to my question, both positive and negative. As a result, I just measured ground clearance at the front air dam of my G8GT which has proven itself in snow. It is seven inches.
If ground clearance really is only three inches on the C6, that is a serious problem that I would not have recognized without this discussion.
I will make a similar measurement on the C6 and, based on the results, maybe there is no C6 in my future. Maybe it's a Camaro after all.
If ground clearance really is only three inches on the C6, that is a serious problem that I would not have recognized without this discussion.
I will make a similar measurement on the C6 and, based on the results, maybe there is no C6 in my future. Maybe it's a Camaro after all.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,295
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From: Chicago Illinois
St. Jude Donor '12
if you want a vette that is driveable in the winter then i think the best choice would be a base coupe (not grand sport, not z06, not zr1) because the winter tires are not available in the wide-body size.
to all of the naysayers: thanks for keeping your cars in pristine never seen fog / rain / snow condition. i will consider buying such a cream-puff in the future. for now, i will enjoy my vette.
to all of the naysayers: thanks for keeping your cars in pristine never seen fog / rain / snow condition. i will consider buying such a cream-puff in the future. for now, i will enjoy my vette.