Jeffrey67

I live in New Jersey, and when I drive in cold temps the tires make banging noises until they warm up. I'm not sure if they can warm up in today's temps...below freezing. Am I done for the winter or can I drive if I'm willing to put up with the noise? I'm not buying winter wheels and tires.

JerryU

That "banging noise" or "Chatter" as GM calls it, as it says in the Owner's Manual is "normal!"
Hate that GM "It's Normal!" The tires in the C7 are much worse than any car I've owned, including my '08 Z51 Vette. It only occurs on sharp slow speed turns and is worse with the a Z51.
This is my 3rd winter and even though I know it is not doing any harm I hate the feeling that the front end is coming apart so I simply make a "K" turn when pulling out of my garage when it's 45 F and below! At 35 it really feels really bad if I attempt to use full or close to full lock!
Since I got my car very early (October 2013) and there was little info on the subject I made this PDF. It may make you feel better: http://netwelding.com/Wheel_Chatter.pdf
It also shows why the issue goes away if you put on winter or all-season tires.
In addition be careful if driving at 45 F or below as you'll have much less traction. In fact I probably would not drive if much below freezing with OEM tires. I last lived "Up North" 30 yrs ago in CT, and replaced the 14 inch Pirelli P7's I stuffed in my Dodge Colt Turbo with a set of 4 winter tires that worked at lower temps on ice! Had fun all year long!

LIStingray

I don't really have that problem as once it goes below 40 degrees, if I take the car out, it goes from my heated garage (65-70 degrees) for a ride and then back in, so they never cool. If you want the grip of a summer tire in warm weather, you have to deal with the reality that they suck in cold weather.

MikeC4C5C6...C7

Maybe true--GM bulletin says reduced traction under 40, tire damage possible under 20 degrees.

I heat my garage to 42 degrees. Doesn't cost much and my wife likes it too!

Babaron

keep my garage at 64 deg, but the wife hates it as a "waste of money." She is so wrong cause I keep the house at 60 deg to make up the difference.

'16C7

frankb

Before I retired I use to drive a c5 and c6 in temp. that were sometimes -7 deg. with the run flats. I did notice that it does eat up the tires on dry roads. Never ran the car with snow on the roads. I was doing 33 miles each way. I feel as long as you drive safe you should have no problems. These were GY tires so I'm not sure with the Michelin tires.

Larry/car

I have a base car and drive in temperatures below freezing. My car is also in a minimum heated garage. Watch your tire temperature indication on the DIC to determine when tires have warmed up. C7 handles cold a lot better than my previous C6 (GY OEM tires got scary). Keep from performing any hard performance driving.

rmorin1249

I live in western MD probably similar temps to you in NJ although we may get a bit more snow/ice. If you want to drive your car year around safely I would do what I did. Buy a set of high performance all season tires. Yes, you will give up a little performance but unless you drive your car at the limit, I don't think you will notice any real difference. I have driven my car temps in the 20s and it handles and rides great. Others will disagree vehemently. I did not want to deal with another set of wheels and tires for cold weather months. JMHO.

Corgidog1

I live in NJ and am taking my car out today in 35 degree temps just to circulate the fluids and charge the battery as I haven't driven it in a few weeks. My car has summer tires so I plan on driving it like my daily driver. Plus I miss driving it even if I have to drive it conservatively-I just like being behind the wheel so I figure I will drive it for about 20 or so street miles where there is little traffic.

That's my plan for the balance of the winter unless I hear of a snowstorm then I will fill up the tank and put it on a tender.

jovette

Much different compound in the C7 Michelin tires from the C5 and C6 Goodyears. Best advice is to follow Owner's manual instructions on driving on 'Summer Only' Michelin tires...........

JerryU

Until the "Chatter" experience is felt it's hard to explain how bad it is! My '08 C6 was also a Z51 with the same width tires. Neither the OEM Goodyears or Firestones I replaced them with caused me to make a "K" turn when backing out of the garage (although the Firestone had much less traction when cold.) When it's below about 40 F with the C7 I always turn the wheel much less and make a "K" turn!
A fellow in 2013 posted his first experience. He was backing out of a parking slot late on a cold night and used full lock. The car hopped and sounded so bad he got out and looked to see what broke. His wife did not want him to drive the car and call the dealer to have it towed! It feels that bad!

RickMN

Your chance of a crash is of course significantly increased by running summer only tires in the winter. Even on dry pavement, they have poor traction in cold temperatures which could lead you to spin into a ditch, or rear end the minivan in front of you that has 2x the stopping power. That is why they are labeled summer "only".

We just realized my wife's new Ford Explorer Sport came with essentially summer only performance tires that were crap here in the Minnesota winter. Put on a set of Blizzaks, and it is like night and day.

Jus Cruisin

I'm so glad I don't have to worry about this.........

HogwildC7

I put 24k n my Z51 tires and even drove when weather was bad. It depends on how you drive your car.

Bill Dearborn

Absolutely correct. Tire damage is possible (per Michelin) if the temp is too cold but danger of crashing isn't really any different than any other vehicle. It is all about the driver. Some tires may not have a proper tread design to grab snow/slush and will spin too much but the driver can control how the back end swings around. As for stopping in winter conditions you should always be driving like you don't have any brakes that way you aren't surprised when the surface condition changes from slippery to very slippery. When using the brakes on 2 wheel drive vehicles it can be good to push the clutch in or shift an automatic to neutral. That keeps the engine from powering the drive wheels and provides even brake application across all 4 wheels. ABS can help here but old techniques still work better in very low grip situations.

When you see videos of cars spinning off roads in ice or snow storms it isn't because the tires had low grip it is because the driver did the wrong thing to unbalance the vehicle. Left on their own cars will continue moving in the direction they were going (basic high school physics class) unless a stupid driver initiates a throttle or braking change at the wrong time.

Bill

LIE2ME

4thC4at60

When I'm in doubt about whether the C7 is safe to drive I drive the Ferrari (seriously)....

JerryU

I do the same with my FF!!



If the snow is too deep I take the Ferrari FF!! Interesting they let you pic winter tires as an option, Pirelli Winter Sottozero Serie II

jcp911s

Jheesh! This is why the Corvette Brand Manager will get a free pass to heaven.

The C7 Z51 is basically a street legal race car, and the tires are as close to race tires as the law permits. Educate yourself, and know what you are buying.