L8ter

We have a 4 day trip planned to Asheville NC this coming mid October, and was really excited to be able to drive the C7. I have since then realized I have the original summer tires on the car.

I'm thinking the cost of admission for this trip just got bumped up by a few dollars.
The cost of a set of all season tires isn't something I really wanted incur for a four-day trip, but I don't want to be stupid about it either.

I know temperatures that range all over the board that time of the year, however I'm not much of a betting man, unless it's a sure thing.

Any suggestions form people in the area or similar climates would be appreciated.
When do you all start stop driving your vehicles on summer tires?

Thanks,
Dave

op z

OEM tires are fine for mid October.

dbaker

Asheville can be cold in Oct, snow in the high mts.

I live in SC,approx 2 hrs from Asheville.

I never stop driving mine,just careful to drive slow for the first few miles.

\db2

Clspht

50 miles from Asheville... You couldn't pick a better time even on stock tires.

JoesC5

http://www.intellicast.com/Local/His...ation=USNC0022

obxchartercaptain

Enjoy your trip....nothing to worry about...take lots of pictures...

JDub64

Totally agree. Weather will be fine. I've driven on summer MPSS tires in the NC mountains year-round; no worries if you understand how they behave when cold. October won't be bad, anyway.

Enjoy your trip and go to the Biltmore if you get the chance.

JerryU

It's not like Cinderella! The car doesn't stop sticking when below 45F! When it gets to around that temp, unlikely in the daytime October in Ashville, just put in Weather Mode and drive reasonably. You'll be fine to 30F (some would say lower but in Eastern SC I don't have to drive below that.) Would not consider giving up the excellent Michelin traction for the the few days I drive when below 40F. The tries warm up pretty fast when you start driving. My guess is once the sun comes out it will be above 55F.

Foosh

I agree that October will probably be fine unless there is a freak cold snap and snow, which is a remote possibility.

However, to those who say they "would not consider giving up the excellent . . . traction for the few days driven below 40F," have obviously never driven the car below 70F on UHP all seasons like the PS AS3+. You're not giving up anything, and you're gaining a lot more traction over the OEM PSS, except on hot days with hot tires.

You might consider a set since you have a Stingray, but GS and Z06 owners are out of luck since they're not yet made in those sizes.

Bill Dearborn

Your tires will be good down into the 20s. Yes, they will lose grip as the temps fall but all you have to do is remember to use the happy pedal properly. Keep out of the lower gears and don't jump on the throttle ease onto it. It isn't about having summer tires in cold weather it is about knowing how to drive.

I picked up my 15 Z06 on the last day of November in Raleigh and drove 167 miles to Charlotte in low to mid 40s ambient temps in a torrential rain storm on Cup2 tires. Put the driving mode selector in Weather Mode and didn't have a single problem. Averaged over 65 mph on all of the interstates without a single slip.

Bill

robert miller

Have family in Ashville NC go 3 to 5 times a year even in the winter time. You will be good in OCT, the leaves should be all colors this time of year.... Robert

FLATJ

If it does get cold, I would think putting it in Weather Mode and minding your right foot should help out.

Rebel Yell

Being an old southern boy from North Carolina I concur with the others Dave, hop in and enjoy your trip. It's a beautiful time of year to be in the Great Smoky Mountains.

JoesC5

There is more to driving than accelerating. Braking is actually more important than accelerating.

I had driven my Z06 in the low 30's locally without a problem(as long as I was very easy on the throttle) until I was in northern New Mexico, headed to Antonito, CO to ride the steam train to see the Fall colors(Aspens) in the middle of Oct.

Left Amarillo around 7 AM and the temp was in the low 40's. Visited the Capulin Volcano Nat. Mon. and didn't hve a problem, but on local Hwy 72, headed to Raton Pass, the temp had dropped to 31 and there was snow on the ground(sun was out and the highway was dry. I started down a pretty good grade and at the bottom was a sharp hairpin 15 MPH curve. I was well aware of the temp and my summer only tires, so I lightly applied my brakes, but nothing happened, so I pushed down a little harder. Still not slowing down. My brakes were locked up and I was sliding down the grade. Luckily I didn't have to make a quick heavy emergency brake application, so I carefully downshifted and was able to get slowed down, taking the curve round 20 MPH(and it stuck okay). I was bracing myself to hit the rock bluff head on.

Several times after that I would check the brakes on a level section of the road and they would lock up with very little pedal. Absolutely no grip to the road surface(asphalt). Once we got on I-25 headed north and over Raton Pass, and it was round noon, the temp has gotten into the low 50's and the brakes/tires worked okay.

That made a believer out of me about low temps and summer only tires. Braking ability is more important than horsepower. Very seldom do you have to make an emergency acceleration application, but it's easy to have to make an emergency brake application.

2xsl_1998

We went to Asheville last year at the end of October. Didn't have any problems with the summer tires.

You guys are going to love it. What a beautiful place! We stayed at the Biltmore and really enjoyed it. I was able to plug a USB card reader adapter into the TV in our room and watch the videos from our PDR too. Pretty cool.

JoesC5

The Biltmore is a great place to visit and have lunch.

If anyone is interested in steam train rides, then there is one in Bryson City, NC, not to far down the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville.

L8ter

Thank you again gentleman for all the replies!
My wife's 50 birthday day in September, and the Biltmore is where she wants to go. Along with a detour to Savanna on the way home to Odessa.
I just asked that we postpone it for a few weeks for the color change, and to coincide better with another little romantic on going date we keep that time of year.
We already have reservations at the Inn on the estate for 4 days, and will do a little horseback riding, explorer the area, check out the steam train (we both love trains) and possibly scout out the area for a second home.

L8ter

Yes I agree, and the reason for my thread.
I'm a firm believer in Mr. Murphy and the fact that he is a persistent pain in the butt. Sometimes I feel like he has an invisible leash to my hind quarters.
I could purchase a set of AS tires and then try to sell them after I put a couple a thousand miles on them. All while being the reason for the longest summer to hit the southern Appalachians in the last hundred years.
Or I could chance it, go on my OEMs and see the earliest snow storm to hit the southern Appalachians in 100 years.

I can see it now: some old timer with summer teeth saying " Dang son we ain't never seen it soo damn cold (hot) this early in the season.

Decisions decisions...

Anyone want a good price on slightly used *** come this November let me know, you can even pick out the rims if you want.

Foosh

LOL . . . I think you'll be amazed with how good they are even in Florida all year long.

I just put my PSS set back on last weekend now that the temps are back in the 80-90s here, and I'm having a hard time telling the difference on the street.

itaylorm

There is a hidden cost to running the summer tires in lower temperatures however. The tires wear significantly faster. In my case after 7000 miles when I switched to the all seasons they were very worn