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Hi so I just purchased my 2014 c7 corvette and I was looking to buy winter tires because I will be driving it during the winter. I really wanted to buy the Michelin Alpin PA4 because I heard goo review about it and bought the front 245/35/19 for the front and 285/30/20 for the rear. I bought the tires from two different websites and one the seller just contacted me that the 245/35/19 tires are not available anymore. So now I'm stuck with just the 2 rear and every single seller seems to not have the fronts available. I'm in a big dilemma right now because if i return the 2 rear tires I have to pay a pretty hefty shipping cost. What do you all think about having the pirelli sottozero tires for the front and michelin alpin for the rear?
Or does anyone know somewhere I can buy a Michelin Alpin Pa4 245/35/19?
FWIW, there are many tires warehouses that dealers get their tires from. When looking for tires for my wife's Cayenne, the local Firestone dealer called a number and found them in CA but I had to pay freight. However I called TireRack and they happened to have a set or 4 in their Georgia Warehouse that I got the next day! I'd try some local tire stores and see if they can find a pair at any of their sources.
As JerryU said, check local tire shops. They can do some research for you, they want to sell tires and may have access to suppliers that you can not get in touch with. I would try Discount Tire and NTB.
I doubt that you will notice any difference in tire brand, as long as you stay with top companies such as BF Goodrich, Continental, Pirelli, or others like them.
Good luck on your search.
I've got the Alpin PA4's on my car. Since they were hard to come by in stock size, I went with 235/40/19's up front. Your speedometer will be off by a mile or two at 60mph but that's it.
What do you all think about having the pirelli sottozero tires for the front and michelin alpin for the rear?
The honest answer is that unless someone has compared those tires, no one can really answer this. If the tires have pretty much equal traction on dry, wet and snowy pavement, you'll be fine. But if the Pirelli's have less traction in the snow than the Michelin's, you'll be looking at increased understeer. The reverse and you'll be looking at oversteer.
With snow tires, you probably won't be driving hard enough for any differences to be an issue on dry pavement or snow, but it could conceivable be a problem in the wet if you have to make a sudden maneuver.
OTOH, for decades most Americans only put snow tires on the rear, and that didn't result in thousands of crashes. Drive carefully, and you should be OK.
I would try to match the tires if you can if you can't then I think you'll be fine. A lot of guys will buy a 2nd set of 18" rims all around and run snow tires. You'll have more options and save some money and weight. Just make sure you check the tire diameter and you need to keep a 1" stagger from front to back.
Thanks for all your reply guys. I've decided to just pay the return shipping and get Pirelli sottozero for the front and rear. I thought about getting 18" & 19" (non z51wheels) but I thought they didn't fit because of the bigger brakes on the z51
There's a lightly used Sottozero narrow body C6 combo for sale in the C6 parts section. 18/19. Not sure about fitment, but I think it would be the same as if you did Non Z51 C7 wheels. Might be worth doing a little research as I think he was under $1k shipped with TPMS sensors and everything.
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
it's not a big deal having mismatched winter tires (front/back), I have Alpins in the back and Continentals in the front, it doesn't not affect performance what so ever, they're winter tires designed for getting you around winter roads not a dry race track.
From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
I'm running the Pirellis....drove all last winter with them and had a blast! The car is so much fun in the snow with true winter tires...I could stop fast and take off fast if I wanted to. The fronts were on 'blowout' (no pun intended) at TireRack, so the cost wasn't anywhere near the other choice. I detailed the car in the spring and you would never know it was exposed to the winter environment....go for it. Pirelli will send you some nice stuff too...very classy of them.
Last edited by $$$frumnuttin'; Jan 3, 2016 at 12:11 PM.
Thanks for all your reply guys. I've decided to just pay the return shipping and get Pirelli sottozero for the front and rear. I thought about getting 18" & 19" (non z51wheels) but I thought they didn't fit because of the bigger brakes on the z51
The 18"/19" combo will fit over the brakes, but at least one owner said he had to modify the deflectors that direct air from the brake ducts to the brakes.
Thanks for all your reply guys. I've decided to just pay the return shipping and get Pirelli sottozero for the front and rear. I thought about getting 18" & 19" (non z51wheels) but I thought they didn't fit because of the bigger brakes on the z51
I've been running Pirelli Sotozero's on my Boss Mustang for 2 years in Michigan winter and have never been stuck in the snow.
Highly recommend them.
Winter Tires
