Piloti Shift
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 520
From: Texas
Piloti Shift
Anyone use the Piloti Shift variant? I'm wondering if driving shoes in a C8 is no different than any other tennis shoe.
I'm not solving any issues, Ron Fellows recommended getting a pair but that might have been left over from earlier generations.
I'm not solving any issues, Ron Fellows recommended getting a pair but that might have been left over from earlier generations.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,511
Likes: 1,829
From: Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '17,'22 thru '26
IMO the big importance of "Driving Shoes" was when "heel/toe" shifting was being taught, not so much now. FYI, I wore tennis shoes in 2013 when H/T was a big deal and had no problem executing it.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 608
Likes: 154
From: Gilbert, AZ
I have a pair. When driving, they feel a lot like real racing shoes, but they suck for walking or spending all day in. The soles are too thin and flat for long walks or standing around. Since I have real racing shoes left over from when I (incorrectly) thought I was fast and had a race car, I use those for track days and tennis shoes for walking around or being on my feet for long periods. I haven’t worn my Pilotis in quite a while.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 265
Likes: 217
From: Alaska
Do I think driving shoes make it magically a better experience or i'm a better driver? No. Do I actually really like the Piloti shift shoes though? Yes. I've worn them just walking around town and like them as a casual shoe as well. Also Throttle house was offering a discounted rate on them with a promo code.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,782
Likes: 2,520
From: Buckeye, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I have Hunnizker McQueens which a good for performance driving. For everyday use I bought a pair of the Goodyear driving shoes. Nice for the money. They come in many colors as well, and very reasonable.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,056
Likes: 2,597
From: Del Boca Vista FL
I have a pair of the Piloti Shift and a pair of Piloti Avenue shoes. Very comfortable for driving any car. Perhaps I’m just clumsy with my feet but when driving with athletic shoes with wide supportive soles I have a tendency to hook or bump the edge of the sole into the edge of the brake pedal while raising my foot from the floor to the brake pedal. Not just in the Corvette.
I wear the Avenue shoes with casual dress slacks when going out and do not have discomfort through the soles while walking or standing.
I wear the Avenue shoes with casual dress slacks when going out and do not have discomfort through the soles while walking or standing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,634
Likes: 1,827
From: Mandalore
I wear Piloti Shifts for every day office duty because they're casual, comfortable, and never look dirty without being your typical all-black because of the gum sole. Didn't buy them to drive as I've owned many pairs of driving shoes only because I like the style. Once had Puma brand Ferrari and BMW shoes because they looked futuristic, matched many of my wardrobe colors, and were the only car-related shoes widely available at malls. But I've never owned BMWs nor Ferraris.
Also got Piloti Prototipo RS because the have some of the best aesthetics of any shoe (not just driving shoes) in general. Plus they were on Black Friday sale for $60 (on a site I'd never seen despite being sold out everywhere else all year) plus Corvette Owners School was coming up. Not nearly as comfortable as Shifts but these these look much more stylish. If these weren't driving shoes but casual shoes that looked exactly the same I'd still get them. Not sure how they make people look like nerds and don't care. Don't feel awkward at all wearing driving shoes because I've gotten so used to wearing pair after pair.
Last edited by switchlanez; Jan 27, 2024 at 02:46 AM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 321
Likes: 290
Just to add a different perspective, I feel driving shoes have 3 legitimate purposes:
1) Fire resistance
2) Style or comfort
3) Assisting with driving techniques like heel toe shifting in a manual car
I do not think driving shoes are useful at all for driving the c8 unless they check boxes 1 or 2. If you’re not wearing a racing suit, #1 doesn’t apply.
1) Fire resistance
2) Style or comfort
3) Assisting with driving techniques like heel toe shifting in a manual car
I do not think driving shoes are useful at all for driving the c8 unless they check boxes 1 or 2. If you’re not wearing a racing suit, #1 doesn’t apply.