Corvette plus snow = WTF!!!
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 159
Likes: 32
From: DFW Texas
Apparently I defied the laws of physics by safely driving my Vette through a sleet storm in the mountains on my way to visit my parents this Christmas.
It drives like every other rear wheel drive car I have ever owned. Good tires and common sense go a long way.
It drives like every other rear wheel drive car I have ever owned. Good tires and common sense go a long way.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 4,138
Likes: 171
From: Missouri
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
Corvettes are a dream in ice/snow conditions compared to most sports cars. After daily driving 4th gen Z28's for several years in my late teens and early 20's, I can drive anything in the snow or ice.
Edit: Yes. The factory tires aren't doing you many favors. They harden up and also become brittle.
Edit: Yes. The factory tires aren't doing you many favors. They harden up and also become brittle.
Last edited by ProfessorDeath; Jan 9, 2017 at 12:27 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,691
Likes: 141
Tires make all the difference in weather conditions. The GY run flats are terrible summer tires already never meant for anything less than 40f let alone freezing mark.
I have Bridgestone Potenza runflats all season on mine. Due to a move to a new house and some bad timing conditions, I had a few days of driving my C6 in snowy/icy conditions. It was fine and even did near highway speeds on a few blizzard like days.
There are a few people I know who have spent winters driving their c5/c6's all winter. Straight forward tire change to winters on spare rims got them through fine.
Stick some summers on a AWD WRX and drive in the snow/slick/ice and see how that works out. It won't and you will be in the ditch quick.
I have Bridgestone Potenza runflats all season on mine. Due to a move to a new house and some bad timing conditions, I had a few days of driving my C6 in snowy/icy conditions. It was fine and even did near highway speeds on a few blizzard like days.
There are a few people I know who have spent winters driving their c5/c6's all winter. Straight forward tire change to winters on spare rims got them through fine.
Stick some summers on a AWD WRX and drive in the snow/slick/ice and see how that works out. It won't and you will be in the ditch quick.
I had to drive mine in January last year when I moved. Just to transfer from one house to the new one. I lucked out that it was 50 degrees that day but by the time I was moving the car it was getting dark and temp dropping so it was around 35 or so and starting to snow.
Made it without issue but it was only 1.5 miles away. I was still going slower then normal. With those stock GY runflats.
On the other hand I have an AWD Cadillac CTS but with brand new all season tires. The thing will go through snow/ice without much trouble at all.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,351
Likes: 2,445
From: Eastern
But it is very difficult to control all those other white knuckle drivers around you. You may be in control but are they?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,689
Likes: 1,180
From: Raleigh
I run Firestones on my 12 base coupe. Have driven in temps from -6F to 109F with no issues if driven for conditions. Got caught in the snow here a few times and it can be a pain but driveable. But more than a couple inches forget it. Right now it's buried in a foot of snow so the old Power Wagon has the duty till it clears up.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 401
Likes: 34
From: Excelsior Springs Missouri
And here's why, kids. The giant footprint left by a fat tire is just like a snow shoe. It keeps the tire above the snow. A thin tire can dig in better.
Plus the RWD front engine stuff.
Plus the RWD front engine stuff.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 159
Likes: 32
From: DFW Texas
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Yes, but.....the reason for the white knuckles of other drivers in snow and ice is because their cars are slightly out of control already (and they know it), and they don't know how to drive in this type of weather. In other weather conditions, not all other drivers are white knuckled in dry, summer weather, therefore, less angst and less worry for you. YMMV 
(driving 635/35 everyday however would be quite a bit of worry.....)
Last edited by AORoads; Jan 10, 2017 at 01:38 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 2
From: Alden New York
Just My 2 Cents
I drove C2s and C3s all year in Western New York (Buffalo) back in the 70s. The c2s were better than the C3s, probably due to the narrower tires, but I really had no trouble. No snow tires either. I drove a 64 coupe for two weeks straight right after the Blizzard of 77 after the roads were reasonably plowed. This was because my family car was completely buried in a snow drift in the passing lane on Route 20. I attributed the Corvette prowess to the narrow tires and independent suspension but I'm just guessing.
I got caught out with my '84 in a light dusting of snow once and it was terrifying. Corvettes have all been in the garage from October to April ever since.
I got caught out with my '84 in a light dusting of snow once and it was terrifying. Corvettes have all been in the garage from October to April ever since.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 21,631
Likes: 1,144
From: Below the bottom of Berby Hollow, NYS
Yes, but.....the reason for the white knuckles of other drivers in snow and ice is because their cars are slightly out of control already (and they know it), and they don't know how to drive in this type of weather. In other weather conditions, not all other drivers are white knuckled in dry, summer weather, therefore, less angst and less worry for you. YMMV (driving 635/35 everyday however would be quite a bit of worry.....)
After a few times of that, we get back into our sub-conscious winter driving habits. As my father always said, if roads are slick just GO SLOW. As with so many other things, he was right.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 85
Likes: 3
Today's Public Service announcement.....
I know most of you don't drive your vette everyday. I do. Today it snowed over ice. Well let me tell you...... I've driven and raced every thing(almost ) in the last 40 years and this car is the absolute worst vehicle I've ever driven in slick conditions! I was amazed at how bad the active handling feature is in these conditions. After a couple of miles of it trying to drive me in a ditch I finally turned it off. Immediate improvement but still a very twitchy drive to say the least. I think the GY run Flats were the biggest problem. I hate those damn tires with a passion! So...unless you absolutely have to drive in snow , dont!
I know most of you don't drive your vette everyday. I do. Today it snowed over ice. Well let me tell you...... I've driven and raced every thing(almost ) in the last 40 years and this car is the absolute worst vehicle I've ever driven in slick conditions! I was amazed at how bad the active handling feature is in these conditions. After a couple of miles of it trying to drive me in a ditch I finally turned it off. Immediate improvement but still a very twitchy drive to say the least. I think the GY run Flats were the biggest problem. I hate those damn tires with a passion! So...unless you absolutely have to drive in snow , dont!
Here's an update. My original post was meant to convey my dismay over the unpredictable handling in the snow. I know how to drive and I knew that car was not right. I had lowered the car the previous week and had an appointment to get it aligned. The rear toe and camber was out a ridiculous amount which is what was making the car want to drive around itself.....so thanks to the people who commented constructively and I will ignore the ones who had ******* comments about my inability to afford a beater car to drive in the snow. I can't wait for it to snow again, lol