Did this really happen?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,685
Likes: 1,252
From: NYC
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
I had my C7 out today and I understand the temptation to give it a bit of throttle after the C7 has been in the garage for the last month because of all the now we had here in the northeast. You have to respect the power of the C7 in temps below 60*.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
Since when is a little "tailwag" when punching it a 60 a bad thing?
I agree that the issue was probably a combination of the road temps, debris, and getting adjusted to the added torque of the car. 3rd gear at 60 in this car is launch mode, probably should've been in 4th in those conditions. But you probably hit some debris, road salt, etc.
I'll bet the result will be much more pleasing this spring and summer for you.
I agree that the issue was probably a combination of the road temps, debris, and getting adjusted to the added torque of the car. 3rd gear at 60 in this car is launch mode, probably should've been in 4th in those conditions. But you probably hit some debris, road salt, etc.
I'll bet the result will be much more pleasing this spring and summer for you.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 342
From: St. Louis MO
Later the same day after the tires warmed up a bit, the car drove on rails around some pretty wicked curves in southern Missouri, but you really gotta watch it with these tires when its cold.
Pro
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 511
Likes: 12
From: Parkville Maryland
I dont know about the C7 but I have had similar issues with my sport bike. I drove it in 30 degree weather many times. It had pirelli tires, Corsa Dragons. It would break loose extremely easy if I drove it easy and decided to get into it. If I took some time to put heat in the tires by accelerating hard and braking hard, in a straight line, you could feel the grip come up. When I say hard, I man moderate, not WOT or fist full of brakes. Is it harder on the equipment? Yes, but thats what you get into when you start running performance tires. I always ran it hard and had a blast doing it.
p.s. I have locked up the front wheel on my bike plenty of times and never dropped it
p.s. I have locked up the front wheel on my bike plenty of times and never dropped it
Racer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 406
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
Racer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 406
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
Since when is a little "tailwag" when punching it a 60 a bad thing?
I agree that the issue was probably a combination of the road temps, debris, and getting adjusted to the added torque of the car. 3rd gear at 60 in this car is launch mode, probably should've been in 4th in those conditions. But you probably hit some debris, road salt, etc.
I'll bet the result will be much more pleasing this spring and summer for you.
I agree that the issue was probably a combination of the road temps, debris, and getting adjusted to the added torque of the car. 3rd gear at 60 in this car is launch mode, probably should've been in 4th in those conditions. But you probably hit some debris, road salt, etc.
I'll bet the result will be much more pleasing this spring and summer for you.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 285
From: Ten Mile TN
I dont know about the C7 but I have had similar issues with my sport bike. I drove it in 30 degree weather many times. It had pirelli tires, Corsa Dragons. It would break loose extremely easy if I drove it easy and decided to get into it. If I took some time to put heat in the tires by accelerating hard and braking hard, in a straight line, you could feel the grip come up. When I say hard, I man moderate, not WOT or fist full of brakes. Is it harder on the equipment? Yes, but thats what you get into when you start running performance tires. I always ran it hard and had a blast doing it.
p.s. I have locked up the front wheel on my bike plenty of times and never dropped it
p.s. I have locked up the front wheel on my bike plenty of times and never dropped it
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 322
From: Indiana
I was also in Sport mode and thought that the road surface was very clean and temp was around 25 and I tried to fairly aggressively accelerate and broke loose 3 times. I haven't driven it in 6 weeks so I can't try other conditions but we need to respect the C7 power with these tires that must be warm in order to perform safely.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 7,244
Likes: 3
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
You get it! 15 degrees for a long period of time means the road and tires are still COLD enough to reduce traction. To "punch it" getting on a highway was asking for trouble. 
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
Likes: 2,433
From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
I'm thinking weather mode and being gentle on the throttle when I drive my Z51 home in a week or two (or 3?).
Probably be dealing with dry roads and 15 to 25 deg air temps and a 400 mile trip
Probably be dealing with dry roads and 15 to 25 deg air temps and a 400 mile trip
Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 485
Likes: 7
From: MN
What driving mode? The traction control and performance traction (if equipped) have differing responses in the differing modes.
I was doing some spirited driving last night on cold roads and cold tires (but with all-season tires) on mostly clean & dry pavement, and it was easy enough to bust the rear loose in 1st, 2nd, and even 3rd gear with enough throttle, even in Weather mode.
The PTM keeps the thing going straight though, so it was not as scary as it would otherwise be.
I was doing some spirited driving last night on cold roads and cold tires (but with all-season tires) on mostly clean & dry pavement, and it was easy enough to bust the rear loose in 1st, 2nd, and even 3rd gear with enough throttle, even in Weather mode.
The PTM keeps the thing going straight though, so it was not as scary as it would otherwise be.
AIR FORCE VETERAN
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,223
Likes: 441
From: Pennsylvania
Today it was about 50 degrees out so I was able to drive the car a little harder then I have been. Been 15 here for a month.
I was merging on to the pa turnpike waiting for an opening of traffic so I could merge to the lane of my choice. I came off the ramp at 60? in 3rd gear, when I saw the opening I punched it to merge left and I felt the rear end break lose and slide(towards the wall) a bit. I put 25000 on my C6 and drove much harder, never had anything like that happen.
I was merging on to the pa turnpike waiting for an opening of traffic so I could merge to the lane of my choice. I came off the ramp at 60? in 3rd gear, when I saw the opening I punched it to merge left and I felt the rear end break lose and slide(towards the wall) a bit. I put 25000 on my C6 and drove much harder, never had anything like that happen.
Pro
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 511
Likes: 12
From: Parkville Maryland
Had the back end come around on my First CVO Harley as they switched to a more performance oriented tire. Goosed it a little making the left turn off my street to the next, and it came around quick, was 43 out. Learned my lesson, need warm roads, and warm tires. I know this car will be the same.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 10
From: Cumming GA
On order: Torch Red Z51
You're spot on. I have the Z51/Mag Ride/A6 and one day when the temps were in the mid/upper 40's but just hours after an all night hard freeze I goosed it on GA 400 at about 50 mph. It dropped down I'm guessing to 3rd gear and the rear end squirted out a bit (concrete hwy). Just got off the throttle and all was fine. The 40 degree temp warning doesn't apply just to the air. Probably something GM could have been a little clearer about in the manual.
But I'm not complaining like a lot of folks, I love these 'summer' pilots. The grip is so good when it's warm it's really scary trying to find the spot where they don't grip anymore.
But I'm not complaining like a lot of folks, I love these 'summer' pilots. The grip is so good when it's warm it's really scary trying to find the spot where they don't grip anymore.
