Ever driven your Corvette in the snow?
01-19-2005, 11:21 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Ever driven your Corvette in the snow?
I've been caught in the rain in my C4, but I hope I never get caught in the snow. Snow covered much of Virginia today, and fortunately, I took the truck instead of the car. I saw wrecks everywhere.
With the wider tire track and the lower ground clearance of the C4 than many other cars, the C4 must handle differently in the snow. I wondered if there are any tips for driving the C4 in the snow. Like I said, I hope it never gets caught in the snow, but snow happens.
With the wider tire track and the lower ground clearance of the C4 than many other cars, the C4 must handle differently in the snow. I wondered if there are any tips for driving the C4 in the snow. Like I said, I hope it never gets caught in the snow, but snow happens.
01-19-2005, 11:39 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
I've driven C2's, C3's, and my C4 in the snow. The easiest was the 63. And the C4 with it's wide tires really requires a light foot on the gas. That is the real secret. Just go light on the gas and brake.
Best idea is DON'T DO IT! I sucks to see the road out the drivers side window.
Best idea is DON'T DO IT! I sucks to see the road out the drivers side window.
01-19-2005, 11:50 PM
#4
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St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Re/ Ever driven your Corvette in the snow?
No, and I hope I never do....
Oh and bite me! 
Originally Posted by SPEED750
What is this "snow". I've heard about it, but never seen any. OK I did see 1/2" 20 years ago. GOD BLESS FLORIDA! 
01-19-2005, 11:58 PM
#5
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I have a new set of GY Eagles on now and it's amazing how sure-footed the '88 is in 3-4" of snow.
I usually don't drive in the stuff but when needed I will, I just avoid the really deep snow.
I usually don't drive in the stuff but when needed I will, I just avoid the really deep snow.
01-20-2005, 01:13 AM
#8
Drifting
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St. Jude Donor '09
I had to turn mine around in the garage last winter with 3" of snow on the ground. (it has nitto drags on the rear) There is probably a foot incline over 30 feet right out of the drive, needless to say it wouldn't even make it up the incline. But im pretty sure that was mostly due to the tires....
01-20-2005, 01:20 AM
#9
Le Mans Master
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Actually the `92s and newer with traction contol do pretty good in light snow.
There's a big empty lot next to my work. I'll take my `91 out there in the snow and play Dukes of Hazzard.
No jumps, just spinouts.
There's a big empty lot next to my work. I'll take my `91 out there in the snow and play Dukes of Hazzard.
No jumps, just spinouts.
01-20-2005, 08:03 AM
#10
Elite Torch Red Member
Traction control can sometimes be worse than no traction control.
Driving a C4 in the snow can be done, but most don't have the proper tires to do it(tread and size).
If you are stuck on the road and need to get home, you really have no choice, but if you can avoid it, leave the car home when snow is on the road. Once the plows come through, there are no worries.
Driving a C4 in the snow can be done, but most don't have the proper tires to do it(tread and size).
If you are stuck on the road and need to get home, you really have no choice, but if you can avoid it, leave the car home when snow is on the road. Once the plows come through, there are no worries.
01-20-2005, 09:03 AM
#11
Race Director
Originally Posted by Mr Mojo
Traction control can sometimes be worse than no traction control.
Driving a C4 in the snow can be done, but most don't have the proper tires to do it(tread and size).
If you are stuck on the road and need to get home, you really have no choice, but if you can avoid it, leave the car home when snow is on the road. Once the plows come through, there are no worries.
Driving a C4 in the snow can be done, but most don't have the proper tires to do it(tread and size).
If you are stuck on the road and need to get home, you really have no choice, but if you can avoid it, leave the car home when snow is on the road. Once the plows come through, there are no worries.
01-20-2005, 09:55 AM
#12
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CI 5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
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The way most people drive down here, you don't want to drive anything when it snows, let alone the Vette. Thankfully, we don't get much snow in this neck of the woods. 
01-20-2005, 10:06 AM
#13
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Originally Posted by SPEED750
What is this "snow". I've heard about it, but never seen any. OK I did see 1/2" 20 years ago. GOD BLESS FLORIDA!
We are having a cooling trend today in the San Diego area, it's only going to be in the 70's. 
01-20-2005, 10:48 AM
#14
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Yup, sideways, backwards, round and round and cross country. You name it I did it coming back from the Independence Bowl in ~'98 the first year I owned my '96 CE. Fortunately I didn't end up that far from pavement and some friends following me (at great distance) were able to push me back to firmer ground. Ain't gonna do that again.
Have a good'un...........MickyD
Have a good'un...........MickyD
01-20-2005, 10:52 AM
#15
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by odysseysteve
We are having a cooling trend today in the San Diego area, it's only going to be in the 70's. 
01-20-2005, 11:04 AM
#16
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Originally Posted by SPEED750
What is this "snow". I've heard about it, but never seen any. OK I did see 1/2" 20 years ago. GOD BLESS FLORIDA!
By the way, how does the vette handle in a 140 mph crosswind?
Cheers,
Lawrence
01-20-2005, 12:30 PM
#17
Melting Slicks
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I drove mine some last winter....315s dont fare well over 1/2 an inch as I almost didnt even make it into my driveway one day after work...
This winter I went over and cleaned out half of moms garage and parked it
This winter I went over and cleaned out half of moms garage and parked it
01-20-2005, 12:36 PM
#18
Team Owner
Originally Posted by Strick
Except the salt that follows.
I drove mine through 2 winters as it was my only vehicle then. It wasn't bad at all. The biggest worry are the friggen SUV drivers that think that since they are in SUVs instantly means they can stop on a dime in the snow/ice. Morons. You'd be surprised how good a C4 is in the snow if you have experience driving in winter conditions to begin with. If you've lived in some place like FL or NM you're whole life and have never seen snow then don't bother.
01-20-2005, 12:47 PM
#19
Race Director
Originally Posted by scorp508
The biggest worry are the friggen SUV drivers that think that since they are in SUVs instantly means they can stop on a dime in the snow/ice. Morons. You'd be surprised how good a C4 is in the snow if you have experience driving in winter conditions to begin with. If you've lived in some place like FL or NM you're whole life and have never seen snow then don't bother.
01-20-2005, 01:27 PM
#20
Drifting
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Like Scorp said, they actually handle pretty well up to 4" of snow or so. When they *do* fishtail, they're pretty controllable.
I just bought an '05 Wrangler, still has stock tires and in RWD, it handles worse than the Vette. Put it in 4wd and it's a different story of course...
I drove my '88 in the Blizzard of '96, 38" of snow here in SE Pa/Northern Del.
Of course, this was after the plows came.
All I could see out the side windows was snow snow snow...
The worse part of driving in the snow is the SALT.
It just ucks everything up, and it eats away at stuff. It makes everything ugly, salty, crappy, messy....
And forget that CaCl mixture they spray on.
It turns my Dark Blue Metallic car into a crappy grey... UCKK
I just bought an '05 Wrangler, still has stock tires and in RWD, it handles worse than the Vette. Put it in 4wd and it's a different story of course...
I drove my '88 in the Blizzard of '96, 38" of snow here in SE Pa/Northern Del.
Of course, this was after the plows came.
All I could see out the side windows was snow snow snow...
The worse part of driving in the snow is the SALT.
It just ucks everything up, and it eats away at stuff. It makes everything ugly, salty, crappy, messy....
And forget that CaCl mixture they spray on.
It turns my Dark Blue Metallic car into a crappy grey... UCKK