Snow chains
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29,113
Likes: 2,194
From: Big Bend Country, TX
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
Correct answer. I live in western CO and drive my C7 year round - except when it's icy or snowy. I have an older Jeep for those days. Denver got 8-10" of snow a couple of days ago. I don't care what tires you have on a C7, it's low enough that it's not the right car to drive anywhere in snow that deep.
Here's my C6 at the top of Vail Pass a couple of years ago, proving that you can drive a Vette in CO in the winter.
Here's what the road looked like heading down into Denver; it was shiny glare ice and NOT a fun drive. This was in late April BTW.
I grew up in Colorado. Buy a used 4WD SUV for the winter. You'll thank me.
Here's my C6 at the top of Vail Pass a couple of years ago, proving that you can drive a Vette in CO in the winter.
Here's what the road looked like heading down into Denver; it was shiny glare ice and NOT a fun drive. This was in late April BTW.
I grew up in Colorado. Buy a used 4WD SUV for the winter. You'll thank me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 753
Likes: 166
From: Buffalo Minnesota
Correct answer. I live in western CO and drive my C7 year round - except when it's icy or snowy. I have an older Jeep for those days. Denver got 8-10" of snow a couple of days ago. I don't care what tires you have on a C7, it's low enough that it's not the right car to drive anywhere in snow that deep.
Here's my C6 at the top of Vail Pass a couple of years ago, proving that you can drive a Vette in CO in the winter.
..
Here's what the road looked like heading down into Denver; it was shiny glare ice and NOT a fun drive. This was in late April BTW.
...
I grew up in Colorado. Buy a used 4WD SUV for the winter. You'll thank me.
Here's my C6 at the top of Vail Pass a couple of years ago, proving that you can drive a Vette in CO in the winter.
..
Here's what the road looked like heading down into Denver; it was shiny glare ice and NOT a fun drive. This was in late April BTW.
...
I grew up in Colorado. Buy a used 4WD SUV for the winter. You'll thank me.
I lived in Colorado Springs for 9 years and on the South Side of Denver for 5 years. One thing you should know is that while there is plenty of snow in the mountains, out on the prairies next to the mountains where C-Springs and Denver are, you really don't have very many days with any snow on the ground at all.
Sure there are days as mentioned above where there is a big snow...but it rarely lasts. The average daily high temperature in Denver in January is 44.5 degrees F. So it melts pretty quickly most of the time. In the 14 years I lived on the Front Range I never once owned a set of snow chains though I did not drive my Corvette (a C5 at the time) for a while during or after a snow, it still got plenty of usage in the winter without even winter tires.
If you are willing to park it from time to time when necessary and don't plan to drive it back on the mountains in the winter, I'd just run the OEM tires and not worry about it. When I say "park it when necessary", most winters that would only be a few days a month. Definitely say no to chains.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 353
If the snow is not too deep (you'll need an SUV for those days) and you don't want to run snow tires, Autosocks are really good in lieu of chains.
I had Autosocks (http://www.autosock.com/en/) on a RWD BMW going up and down Crater Lake (Oregon) after it had snowed and they helped greatly. They are way easier than chains to put on and take off. They don't last as long as chains but they won't break loose and damage the car, they are much much slimmer and more flexible too.
I had Autosocks (http://www.autosock.com/en/) on a RWD BMW going up and down Crater Lake (Oregon) after it had snowed and they helped greatly. They are way easier than chains to put on and take off. They don't last as long as chains but they won't break loose and damage the car, they are much much slimmer and more flexible too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,205
Likes: 40
From: Tucson AZ
Do NOT use chains, unless you chain the Vette in the garage while you drive a "winter" car. It hurts, but I used to store mine 6 months a year when we lived in Michigan. Vettes are NOT good winter drivers.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 753
Likes: 166
From: Buffalo Minnesota
See my post above. Someone living in Denver does not need chains unless going into the mountains....and probably not even then. I lived in Colorado Springs and Denver for 14 years and never once owned a set of chains for any of my vehicals. My wife did own Subaru's which we took if we were going into the mountains after a snow...But around Denver there are not that many days where there is any snow at all let alone need chains.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29,113
Likes: 2,194
From: Big Bend Country, TX
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
Auto Sock
If the snow is not too deep (you'll need an SUV for those days) and you don't want to run snow tires, Autosocks are really good in lieu of chains.
I had Autosocks (http://www.autosock.com/en/) on a RWD BMW going up and down Crater Lake (Oregon) after it had snowed and they helped greatly. They are way easier than chains to put on and take off. They don't last as long as chains but they won't break loose and damage the car, they are much much slimmer and more flexible too.
I had Autosocks (http://www.autosock.com/en/) on a RWD BMW going up and down Crater Lake (Oregon) after it had snowed and they helped greatly. They are way easier than chains to put on and take off. They don't last as long as chains but they won't break loose and damage the car, they are much much slimmer and more flexible too.
http://www.autosock.us/
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 132
Likes: 2
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 97,155
Likes: 1,471
From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
You need a real winter tire. These look good with studs or look for Pirelli SottoZero's. They come in large sizes and are used by folks owning high performance BMW's and Ferrari's.Some roads do require chains in the mountains, which you can not use. Suggest you do what I did when I lived in Ohio along Lake Eire- parked my 260Z; bought a used Jeep CJ rag top; put on large knobby tires and had fun!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 1,593
Chains... sheesh!
There's two aspects of snow... traction and accumulation.
Dedicated snow tires will give traction... ride height handles accumulation.
I drove a 1984 Porsche 911 as a DD, and with dedicated snow tires, blew by alot of fancy, jacked-up 4WD pick-ups with the wrong tires....
It's all about the tires.
There's two aspects of snow... traction and accumulation.
Dedicated snow tires will give traction... ride height handles accumulation.
I drove a 1984 Porsche 911 as a DD, and with dedicated snow tires, blew by alot of fancy, jacked-up 4WD pick-ups with the wrong tires....
It's all about the tires.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29,113
Likes: 2,194
From: Big Bend Country, TX
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
Why do I need to find a new job ? I live in sunny warm TX. I simply posted a working link for Snow Socks. The one posted elsewhere in this thread does not work. As to their functionality, they do work. I carry a set when I visit family in Telluride, CO.
I simply posted a working link for Snow Socks. The one posted elsewhere in this thread does not work. As to their functionality, they do work. I carry a set when I visit family in Telluride, CO.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,119
Likes: 96
From: Asheville NC
Buy aftermarket 18" rims and get Michelin X ice tires. I drive my Vette year round in all types of weather with no problem. These tires are amazing. I've also owned Blizzaks on a Maxima and those tires where too soft and not any better than the Michelin in snow and ice. The Michelins drive just like any A/S tire, actually very similar to the Pilots. It's the only mileage rated snow tire that I know off. I went with a 45 tire on the back and a little narrower tire. The 18" rims will give you more choices, save you money, You just need to keep the 1" stagger from the front tire to the back. I'm running the stock size on the front just a little narrower.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29,113
Likes: 2,194
From: Big Bend Country, TX
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 6,516
Likes: 4,840
From: One Hour From Boston!
I had been driving Corvettes in New England since the early 90's. Eventually I got tired of being stressed out from driving a Corvette all winter. So in 2011 I bought a Jeep Patriot 4x4. Was only about $25K brand new. Now if it snows, the Corvette stays in the garage and I drive the Jeep, worry-free. Best move I ever made!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29,113
Likes: 2,194
From: Big Bend Country, TX
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
I'd swear that the o/p indicated his preference was not because of expense to purchase a second vehicle ..............
