So . . . who drives on their "Summer only" tires when it's below 40 degrees?
12-12-2018, 02:27 PM
#21
12-12-2018, 02:38 PM
#22
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I’ve driven mine when it has been below 30* and yes, traction is diminished. I just take it easy on the gas and have had no problems.
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JerryU (01-03-2019)
12-12-2018, 03:14 PM
#23
Advanced
All it took was one time, a lil too much toe and the azz broke loose. I drive daily and it was getting where i was trying to be too cautious. So for my birthday my wife bought me a new set of AS3+ ZP and I had to get the wheels too. Made a big difference.
12-12-2018, 03:22 PM
#24
I agree and use weather mode for anything under 60 degrees. It makes a big difference.
12-12-2018, 03:34 PM
#25
Racer
I must agree with c54u, I'd be concerned about emergency situations and not so much with the every day driving. Sure you can take it easy with the throttle but when you have to make some crazy evasive maneuver, and we've all done this, will the tires react to keep you safe as well as whoever you're trying to dodge? Even though I'm in central Texas I switch to my winter wheels/tires just to be safe and worry free. Another set of wheels doesn't cost too much and tire cost per mile is what it is so having a second set of tires isn't really an extra expense, just the wheel cost. Also I like to switch from chrome to black and back and forth for the different look. Just my .02.
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65fastback (12-12-2018)
12-12-2018, 09:31 PM
#26
Burning Brakes
Drove mine today in 39 degree.took it easy but did get on it couple,times after tires warmed. I've gotten to point of drive it on clear dry days. Just can't stand letting it sit all winter. Soon to get as3's and enjoy year round minus snow driving.
12-12-2018, 09:42 PM
#27
Melting Slicks
Drove the other day in the teens, it's doable and nice to get the car out as a reminder of why you bought it. The car does have some different creaking, rattles and noises when it's this cold. As long as the roads are clear I'm good!
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frankb (01-02-2019)
12-12-2018, 10:05 PM
#28
12-12-2018, 10:27 PM
#29
Just did today. Temp in car read 30 degrees on way home. Tires are noticeably different. I wouldn't go as far as saying dangerous...As Long as you drive VERY CAREFULLY!!
the tires do make a rubbing noise with the ground on turns.
the tires do make a rubbing noise with the ground on turns.
12-12-2018, 10:40 PM
#30
I’ve driven mine as low as 35 to work when it’s going to warm up in to the 50s later in the day. However one must be careful as they are slick. Not worth risking an accident to me. Need traction to stop as well and if someone pulls out in front you will have difficulty stopping.
12-12-2018, 10:43 PM
#31
Melting Slicks
Do a search . . . lots of crashed Vettes in these forums from driving in winter on summer tires . . . been going on long before there was any C7s.
12-13-2018, 10:57 AM
#33
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12-13-2018, 11:26 AM
#35
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I wonder how insurance companies/lawyers deal with a car crash ... where the mfgr states the tires are only good down to 40 degrees? Might make yourself more vulnerable to liability/blame concerns. 
12-13-2018, 12:20 PM
#37
Race Director
I drove my C6 in all conditions except deep snow. With the factory tires the coldest was 6 below zero. I just bought the C7 z51 a couple months ago. Lowest so far temp wise has been 24 degrees.
I have never had an issue with how the cars handle in cold weather if you simply drive them properly for the condition.
I have never had an issue with how the cars handle in cold weather if you simply drive them properly for the condition.
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frankb (01-02-2019)
12-13-2018, 12:46 PM
#39
Burning Brakes
No more daily commute for me, so i donated my 15 year old beater with 287k miles. I now daily drive the Vette but there's ,generally, no place I have to be or must get to, if I choose not to. I'm OK taking it out in the rain or if its in the 30's.Weather mode is remarkable but skill and common sense is key. However, if there's salt on the roads or temps in the 20's I'll either choose to stay home or take the wife's Accord.
12-13-2018, 01:58 PM
#40
Cruising
From the research I did on the summer only tires I thought they were not supposed to be driven in temps below 40 F. No doubt it's obvious when you get on the throttle that they suck in cold weather. But they say they will develop cracks in them which you may or may not see. Then when you get aggressive when the summer months come around you could be looking at a tire failure. I'm no tire expert but with all the warnings out there about driving summer only's in freezing temps, I don't want to chance it. I bought this car to drive it aggressively and knowing how important the tires are to the incredible performance my grand sport has, I don't want to think I could be pushing my car on faulty tires.
That's why I bought a set of Michelin Alpin P4's and use them in the winter. You wouldn't believe the performance drop when using these tires in the 40 and 50 degree temps, which it's been here in Colorado so far this winter. Compared to the factory Michelin's, it's not even close to being a great handling car with the winter tires on. But at least I can drive it in the winter and not worry about damaging the summer only tires. I just have to know I'm not going to push it with the winter's. Now that being said, today I took it out in 25 degrees with snow on the roads and had a blast playing around with it on some back roads. It was amazing how well it performed. Now it was nothing like pulling G's on dry pavement with summer tires but it was a blast sliding it around on the winters on the snowy, slushy, sometimes icy roads. I was watching the ELSD as I was playing with it and a couple of times the readout turned bright red and was at 40% slip. I'm not sure how to read that and exactly what that means, maybe one tire was slipping 40% more than the other? Of course I had traction control and Stabilitrak on.
I also had two sets on my 15 Camaro but I had 2 complete sets of wheels also and would swap them in my garage. I haven't got a second set of wheels for the Vette yet as I'm concerned about all the cracked wheels I've read about and not sure which wheels to get but eventually that's the plan. The one issue I've run into is that even with two sets of tires, when temps can change as much as 40 degrees from morning to evening, you can have the right set on when you leave home and then have a compromised set on when driving home. I've learned to take it easy on the winter's when temps get above 50 cuz they wear much faster as soft as the rubber compound is. Good thing the Alpin P4's have a 30,000 mile warranty! Actually I'm not sure what happens but when I give it a lot of torque in the 50 degree range, and I know this is not possible, but it feels like the tire is slipping on the rim. And no traction light comes on, it's weird!
I was telling my wife earlier maybe I should have got a set of All Season's instead of winter's cuz I really don't plan on driving on snow much, and like I said the winter's suck on warm dry pavement. But it's been an unusually warm and dry winter here so far and not typical, so if it does get quite a bit colder and we get more snow, I live at 6400 feet, I'll probably be glad I got the winter's. Anyway that's my two cents for what it's worth. I'm downloading the video now from my dash cam of my snowy drive, should be interesting....
That's why I bought a set of Michelin Alpin P4's and use them in the winter. You wouldn't believe the performance drop when using these tires in the 40 and 50 degree temps, which it's been here in Colorado so far this winter. Compared to the factory Michelin's, it's not even close to being a great handling car with the winter tires on. But at least I can drive it in the winter and not worry about damaging the summer only tires. I just have to know I'm not going to push it with the winter's. Now that being said, today I took it out in 25 degrees with snow on the roads and had a blast playing around with it on some back roads. It was amazing how well it performed. Now it was nothing like pulling G's on dry pavement with summer tires but it was a blast sliding it around on the winters on the snowy, slushy, sometimes icy roads. I was watching the ELSD as I was playing with it and a couple of times the readout turned bright red and was at 40% slip. I'm not sure how to read that and exactly what that means, maybe one tire was slipping 40% more than the other? Of course I had traction control and Stabilitrak on.
I also had two sets on my 15 Camaro but I had 2 complete sets of wheels also and would swap them in my garage. I haven't got a second set of wheels for the Vette yet as I'm concerned about all the cracked wheels I've read about and not sure which wheels to get but eventually that's the plan. The one issue I've run into is that even with two sets of tires, when temps can change as much as 40 degrees from morning to evening, you can have the right set on when you leave home and then have a compromised set on when driving home. I've learned to take it easy on the winter's when temps get above 50 cuz they wear much faster as soft as the rubber compound is. Good thing the Alpin P4's have a 30,000 mile warranty! Actually I'm not sure what happens but when I give it a lot of torque in the 50 degree range, and I know this is not possible, but it feels like the tire is slipping on the rim. And no traction light comes on, it's weird!
I was telling my wife earlier maybe I should have got a set of All Season's instead of winter's cuz I really don't plan on driving on snow much, and like I said the winter's suck on warm dry pavement. But it's been an unusually warm and dry winter here so far and not typical, so if it does get quite a bit colder and we get more snow, I live at 6400 feet, I'll probably be glad I got the winter's. Anyway that's my two cents for what it's worth. I'm downloading the video now from my dash cam of my snowy drive, should be interesting....