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I considered trying to find someone to swap tires/wheels with. Where I live I can get by with summer tires but I'd prefer all season tires. But I decided not to since I didn't want to be caught in the middle if I had problems with the swapped tires/wheels.
Man, everyone needs to calm down...
"Summer" tires are just that..."summer" tires. BUT, I had a C7 for 5 years and NEVER used anything other than the OEM MPSS (3 sets). If it's cold, drive carefully, understanding that you're driving on a tire NOT optimized for colder temps. It's STILL a Corvette, which means, even with COLD summer tires, it's still a more capable car than most cars on the road. Driving ANY Corvette in the snow, regardless of tires? No thanks, 6 inches on the ground and your front splitter is going to be toast.
I've got 13,000 on mine I'd say they 'look' good but the ride isn't. Is the new 4s available for the C7?
It is MUCH more important to pay attention to the AGE of the tires than mileage on tires, especially performance tires.
If someone is driving around in a 2014 C7 with the original tires, they are flirting with a problem.
True, but it depends upon a lot of variables. If the vehicle stays inside most of the time in a relatively climate controlled environment, up to 10-year old tires can be fine. UV is their primary enemy. They just need to be closely examined.
True, but it depends upon a lot of variables. If the vehicle stays inside most of the time in a relatively climate controlled environment, up to 10-year old tires can be fine. UV is their primary enemy. They just need to be closely examined.
But how would one do that ("closely examine")?
Other than something obvious like dry cracking....
And "can be" is kind of like "almost pregnant"
I saw 2 brand new C8s with z51 and both had A/S 4 tires on them. I live in Quebec, Canada though so maybe they ship all C8s to Canada with all season tires cause we live in igloos.
The OP should really post a swap offer on the forum to find someone with a base C8 looking for summer tires. You will both come out way ahead. If you buy all seasons and try to sell your barely used summer tires, you will only get pennies on the dollar for them. Used tires are a tough sell.
It's called take it or leave it from GM montanaman
That is correct. Its an oversight for GM. The "summer only tires" are inferior in every way to the "all season" Michelins when it it comes to daily driving. It I lived in a area of perfect roads and never below 30 degrees the OEM's would be fine. Other wise they stink unless you want every pebble thrown down your rocker panels and never drive on colder roads and go to the track once a week
Last edited by montanaman; 09-08-2020 at 11:27 PM.
Well still in QUANDARY—My Convertible is in and will be taking Delivery .. Saw the Prices for the Michelin but need a good installer on Long Island and get them through them so I can Swap......DIVIDED OPINION ON WHAT TO DO...DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PERFORMANCE TIRES ARE WORTH EITHER??????????
Discount Tire has great prices and my local store did a great job-no damage!
For regular street tires you can go up to 10 years, but they warn to watch them close after 5 years. Race tires, 2 year shelf life. Performance tires are somewhere in between since they have much softer compounds that do not age as long as regular street tires. I would not go past 5 years max on a performance tire even if they are brand new. I know several friends that have wrecked exotic cars including a few buddies Ford GTs with 4 year old tires that suddenly became like they were on ice. The Paul Walker accident was partly attributed to old tires that were less than 10 years old. It is just not worth the chance with high performance cars.
Yes, exactly like that. If you know the car has been parked inside for 95% of it's life, and there are no signs of cracking or bulges, they are fine.
Tire damage by aging: Age and oxygen are the most harmful elements to tire degradation and not UV. Tire aging or "thermo-oxidative degradation" is caused by time. Oxygen destroys everything. Germany allows a two year life no matter the visual condition. Ambient and operating temperatures and pressures, partial pressure of O2, flex fatigue, construction and compounding characteristics play a role in tire life. Any cracks, get rid of them because those cracks extend to the carcass and are caused by chemical reaction.
UV exposure leads to rubber’s chemicals warp, causing dry rot. Various storage methods may slow the aging process, but will not eliminate tire degradation especially high speed tires. Always use nitrogen in your tires. My F250 truck's Michelin tires blew out exactly at the 5 year life allowance. Check the age of the tires on any vehicle you purchase, even your brand new C8. Never put the front tires on the back of your FWD car because of the severe temp.and duty cycles. (NHTSA) has no specific guidelines on tire aging and defers to the recommendations of carmakers and tire manufacturers. They are very strict in the top speed runs at the Texas Mile and Big Bend and State Route 318 in Nevada. Caused by age 5 years. Always garaged no heavy loads. 20 000 miles.
Yep, that happens to new tires as well because of manufacturing defects. I've had tires with bulges in the sidewalls that were 1-2 years old. That's why tire manufacturers provide warranties, and it is not uncommon for relatively new tires to be replaced under warranty.
Actually, you'd just be swapping wheels and tires. Drive to someone's house. Bring your own floor jack, and do it right in the driveway. Zero cost, and in less than an hour, you're on your way.
Just place an ad in the buy/sell section here. You may not find anyone with so few cars out there now, but you have nothing to lose.
Hi Foosh,
I think the person I would trade with would have to have the Trident Machined face Spectra Gray Painted aluminum wheels just to swap out wheels. I really wish that they would make the All Season tires an option for the Z51 for the 2021 Model. They are going to start producing the C8 in November and some people may start receiving their Z51's with Summer Performance tires in the Heart of the winter.
That certainly does complicate things if you have one of the lesser selected and higher $$ wheel options. Sounds like buying new tires is perhaps your only option unless you just get lucky.
Z51 is $6000. NPP is $1200, Front Splitter $150, Rear Spoiler $200. The base car has Brembo brakes just smaller rotors, Z51 will give you the electronic slip diff. and extra cooling. If you are not going to track the car, I really not sure you need the Z51 package especially if you need the A/S tires. On resale, Z51 is worth $2500-$3000 after 5 years. I keep going back and forth myself on this subject as well especially after the $1000 increase and MR available w/o Z51. But for me it is just the opposite. In South Florida I have no need for All Season tires but would prefer the PS4 tires and extra cooling. There are a lot of forum members going to high wing spoilers and selling their Z51 spoilers. Personally I would prefer mine without the spoiler. If the extra cooling was as easy to install as a rear spoiler, I might skip on Z51. Just a thought.
There are plenty of us that don’t track that still want the Z-51. The extra money is no problem
09-01-2020, 02:01 PM
