I guess the Z5 performance package requires "Summer only performance tires".

Are these tires less safe then all season tires in the rain and
at higher speeds and when braking?
Thank you

 

they are incredibly unsafe in rain and cold conditions. Drive like an absolute grandmother. My zl1 1le was 40 mph max in the rain. Although doing donuts in the cold is pretty fun.

 

 

The Z51's Michelin Pilot Sport 4S are a pretty capable do-it-all tire. I mean, I don't know how they'd be in snow, but at speed in the rain and in deep water in my experience they're fine.


Earlier this year I ran them in the One Lap of America, where we drove 3000 miles all over the country, from racetrack to racetrack, running laps then going to the next one. In the above video are my first ever laps at Road America in a ~700hp Viper (which of course has no nannies but ABS) in cold, wet, and worsening conditions, with 325/25-20 front and 345/30-20 rear Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. The car also had one of the best wet skidpad results against cars shod with known-great rain tires like the Continental ECS.

Several hundred miles of the between-track transits were in very heavy downpours with deep standing water at highway speeds and there were no issues. After all those miles and several dozen laps around tracks, the tires were barely worn, maybe 30%. So they wear like iron too! Their dry grip is very good for what they are, though they give up some time to something like the BFG Rival S or the Bridgestone RE71R.

I wouldn't worry about them. If you live somewhere where you'll be driving in snow and at below freezing temperatures you'll maybe want a winter wheel/tire setup, but for normal cold/wet they're totally fine.

 

Temperature seems to be THE factor more than wet conditions. A mid 30's day or below, with wet roads? DO be careful.

There are all sorts of disclaimers regarding the "Summer Only" tires on the GM site. Worth heeding.

 

check out tire rack for reviews of both tires.

 

I have made panic stops and evasive maneuvers on summer tires at 27 deg F with no problem. But at 45 deg and rain, they are useless. (Based on experience with P-Zero on a Camaro.)