Hey guys I need help here.

I am moving to Denver Colorado from Dallas Texas on Friday. I lived in Texas for so long that not sure how I am going to survive with my stingray this winter.

What do I need to prepare?
I went to discount tires and asked them for recommendations but they told me not to drive my car up there when the roads are not clear.

I came up with a couple ideas since I need to be there for my job for next a couple yrs.

1) get my self an x3 and keep my stingray in the garage but it's gonna cost me a lots of money for getting another car.

2)snow chain- where can I get them? Can I just go to any hardware stores and install universal chains? Will they damage my Corvette? Do i need to put on all 4 wheels? I did not find too many postings for installing snow chains on c7 corvettes.


What do you guys think ?

 

At least in the 2015 owner's manual, it specifically states do not use tire chains on the car (Page 10-68 and 10-69). Been that way on Corvettes for a long time.

If you want to drive your car when the roads are not ideal (i.e., snow packed), then consider getting A/S tires on the car. I wouldn't drive my Vette when the roads are icy.

 

I am in Dallas currently but from Montana.....just visited my pops last week and saw all the snow chain areas - they are really outdated anymore and not needed for anything you will be doing - snow chains are for digging into ice - if that's the case you shouldn't be in a vette....snow tires will serve you well if you drive smart.

 

put a lift kit on the car and buy knobby tires...

 

Look for cable chains in your tire size is one solution. However, as Jack mentioned, if it's that bad you need chains, you don't need to be on the road period.

 

https://www.nokiantires.com/winter-t...kkapeliitta-8/

 

The X3 sounds like a much better idea to me!

 

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!

 

Live in Fort Collins many years ago and had a '66 for my DD. Never used chains or snow tires. When the streets iced I walked, when there were heavy snows I stayed home.
Grew up in Iowa and learned early on that driving in the snow was not that bad, just go slow and assume that everyone else is a BAD driver and you will be OK.

 

Why do you need buy a BMW X3 as a second car for snow? You say its going to cost you so much, of course if you by an X3, you have several other more economical choices for a second car, even if its an SUV. You got KIA, Mazda, Subaru, Toyota, Honda, Chevy, Ford and Buick all have small SUVs that are 4 wheel drive and very economical. If you can afford an X3 you should not say its going to cost you big time.....X3 are nice cars, but for what you say you want it for, I think I would use my money for something else, like saving for retirement.

Appears you grew up in Houston, so you have no concept of driving in snow, I would highly suggest you see if you can attend a drivers class once you get to Denver that offers adverse driving conditions before you even attempt to drive in snow and ice.

Chains on a Corvette, you are kidding right?

Do you have any concept of what it takes to put chains on a normal car that is not low to the ground? I was born and brought up in New England and NEVER have I seen or heard of chains on a Corvette, simply did not drive them when the depth of the snow was over the rocker panels....common sense, if a Corvette has issues in rain, then snow? Chains? I could not believe this when I read it.\

What you need to buy is a second 4 wheel drive car Truck, and for your Corvette cover, and an Electric Trickle Charger. For you second car an Ice scrapper, and emergency road kit with flares, a small shovel for the trunk, kitty litter, and small blanket.

 

I would buy a cheap 4 wheel drive pickup. Doesn't have to look flashy or be a current model. Plenty of them in Colorado. Just use it when the weather dictates.

 

7 Corvettes and 7 SUV's so far. One Corvette drive in snow and you'll use same approach.

 

Buy a used Subaru wagon. Don't drive the Vette when there is ice or snow on the roads. I did put A/S tires on mine so I can drive year round even in cold temps with no issues but I won't try to drive if there is snow or ice on the roads.

 

Buy a jeep....

 

Deep six the chain idea. Chains, broken links and composite body panels don't live well together.
I have seen what the result is, and it is not pretty and VERY expensive.

 

Get winter (NOT A/S) tires and you'll be fine as long as the snow doesn't get too deep. If it snows a lot though you will need a backup plan for transportation.

 

Put the Vette away and pick up a used front wheel drive car and you will be fine. Put snow tires on all 4 wheels of the Fwd car and all is good.

 

Consider the search for a reasonably priced used vehicle like a Jeep Wrangler or close to it. The Denver area can get pummeled with snow fall. Although I live in So. NM I keep close watch on the Denver area weather.

There is no reason to buy an expensive vehicle for snow driving. All you need is to go from point A to point B.

Consider a budget and start a search. Because Colorado is a state where many people use vehicles for mountain driving, back roads driving, back woods driving there will be an abundance of used vehicles available.

Keep the C7 in top shape, store it, because once the snow stops, Colorado will be a fantastic state to own a Corvette C7 in. The state is absolutely beautiful country just what a Corvette C7 needs.

 

Zootown here, living in Dallas!

 

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.