RobLo

Over the course of the 12 years (car has 41K) I've owned my car I've used it less and less, only 800 miles last year. So when we planned a 5 day vaca recently I decided to use the C6. Not using it much lately I was a little concerned about what could/might happen with a 17 year old car out on the road, especially with the Mrs. onboard. I did my due diligence, checked out everything, had the alternator checked and a part replaced and off we went. Well, all my worrying was for nothing, the car ran perfectly. Trip was only 600 miles, I got about 22 MPG total, as high as 26 on the highway, A/C, all original including original Freon worked flawlessly in the 90*+ heat we had EVERY day, I never turned it off, just kept it on AUTO at 70*. I brought along a tire repair kit, never had to use it on the 10 year old Michelins (yeah, I know but the car spends it's life in the garage and the tires are still in great shape). Now home, the car is ready for a good cleaning and on to the next trip. Thanks for listening...

steig

Sounds like a great trip !

jrose7004

C6ToGo

Good to hear. I may be having same thoughts for a Houston to Durango CO 2500 mile road trip next year in my 15 year old car.

Of course I gotta drive 750 miles just to get out of Texas. A 5-day, 600 mile road trip would be a breeze.

Corvette_Ed

Get new tires before the next trip. Doesn't matter if the car sits in the garage. 10 year old tires are not safe.

sonik_fury

Garage kept with low UV exposure and ozone....your tires are fine.

kanvasman

As much as a hassle as it is to change a tire, especially on the side of the road, or wait for AAA, I also suggest getting new tires. Sure new ones can go flat, but you know you are going to be thinking about the 10 yr old tires. For the whole trip. And it one does blow while on the highway, think of the body damage it could cause. IMHO there is no reason to drive 10 yr old tires unless it is to a tire shop to get new ones. Have you ever seen one blow while just putting air in it? Not a pretty thing and will scare the heck out of you. Just an opinion form an old guy that has LOTS of opinions.

EvanZR1

I just got back from a ~1200 mile trip in my 70K mile ZR1, no issues at all and I'd drive it across country without hesitating. I will advise that you get new tires, 10 year old tires even if they look fine, have lost a significant amount of their grip due the compound aging out. I've had 10 year old garage kept tires (came on a set of wheels I bought for a previous C4 ZR-1) and it was a night and day difference to the 3 year old tires on the wheels that were replaced. Literally so bad that I parked it until I could get the tires replaced. This was Michelin PS2s that looked perfect, had almost new tread depth, and had been kept inside in a garage mounted on a car that had very occasional use.

DrThrowBack

Sounds like you had a great trip! Glad to hear it.

Heading out on an anniversary trip with my wife later next week. I wasn’t nervous… until now

It’ll be fine…

Rocketmanwpb

Sounds like a great trip. I too use my 08 vert for touring, Been all over the US got 166K on it. Makes a great vacation car.

Corvette_Ed

449er

These cars are actually very reliable....you wouldn't believe it reading some of the posts on this forum though

4SUMERZ

I've used my C6 for both short and long road trips since 2010. I never have to worry about tires, as I wear them to about 4/32 in about 3 years, and change them out then.
My car now has approx 112+K miles on it, and still purrs like a new born kitten. I use only non runflats, and have never given it a second thought.
Covid years 2020-2021 put a damper on road trips, but started again in 2022.

PCMusicGuy

Glad the trip went off without a hitch. If you really drive the car a lot, the swap to all season tires is good. I've used them my last 4 sets and wouldn't go back to the summer tires unless I really had to.

Vetteman2

Only if you have obsessive fear disorder!
Don't know how some of you make it through life with such fear. PROBABLY WHY THERE IS SO MANY WITH HEART ATTACKS.
New tires and don't forget the useless mask

saplumr

Sounds a lot like a crap shoot to me. Old tires could possibly be perfectly safe or you could risk your life at high speed. Pick you
poison.

Spaceme1117

Does not matter if you stored your tires. They slowly oxidize over time from the oxygen in the air (unless you have stored them in a vacuum).

Now sure 5 or 6 year old tires may be perfectly fine under warm, dry conditions. Go drive your car in wet, raining conditions with those old tires and you'll understand how bad they can be.

But 10-year old tires, you are risking your life.

A bit of an extreme example but here is a video from Throttle House. They drive a Ford GT with old tires on damp pavement. Skip to about 14:40 to see what happens:

vetteish

Yes please change the tires. It will make a huge difference in the ride quality. 10 year old tires are very dangerous.
Glad the trip was perfect.

JABCAT

Had the same experience with my Callaway. It had the original tires on it when I purchased it, and even though the tread measured almost brand new, the car was ridiculously squirrelly driving it home on dry pavement. Parked it until the new tires showed up 2 days later - completely 180 in how the car drove. There are just some things you shouldn't cheap out on when it comes to vehicles - tires being at the top of that list.

2012CGS

Last Summer my wife and I took our 2012 GS for our second trip across country. The First was in 2013 and we drove from Cincinnati to San Diego and back. Last Summer we drove to San Diego, then up the coast to Sonoma, then up to Bend Oregon, then to Spokane WA, b/4 heading home. We covered about 5,500 miles over 3 weeks. That drive up the coast from LA to San Francisco was awesome.