New Owner
#1
New Owner
I just bought a 2015 Coupe W/51. After the purchase the sales guy said to bad you wont be driving this all winter since it will be below 35 degrees, in Minnesota, and you can not drive your car or the run flat tires will crack.
This car is a second driver for me, but I would like to be able to take it out on cold, but dry road conditions this winter. Should I look to put on another set of tires.
This car is a second driver for me, but I would like to be able to take it out on cold, but dry road conditions this winter. Should I look to put on another set of tires.
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Skid Row Joe (10-20-2015)
#2
Le Mans Master
Depends on how you drive it and how low the temp gets. I would not take it out under 25 degrees and I would be a little conservative in how I drive it. If this is not you, then by all means change to all seasons.
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Skid Row Joe (10-20-2015)
#3
Team Owner
The OE summer tires have very little traction in the cold. You might be able to baby the throttle to keep them from spinning, but any emergency maneuvers(like quickly stopping or a sudden swerve) and you might have a problem.
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Skid Row Joe (10-20-2015)
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Skid Row Joe (10-20-2015)
#5
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St. Jude Donor '15
Get some all season tires and avoid the need to baby the car and not worry about limited traction in the sub 40 degree weather. The tires that come on Corvettes are designed for warm weather and provide good traction when the roads are warm. In your neck of the woods roads are seldom warm from November to April, thus your tires will not perform well nor offer you good stopping.
On the plus side you will be able to spin them with very little power applied. Will impress the neighbor kids.
On the plus side you will be able to spin them with very little power applied. Will impress the neighbor kids.
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Skid Row Joe (10-20-2015)
#6
Must admit I don't drive my corvette in winter weather but would not hesitate to do so on a clear day cold temps or not. Corvette is a powerful car and tires grip better on warm pavement. In cold weather and on cold pavement the harder you drive the more likely the tires will loose traction and brake loose. I understand an all season tire is on the way for Corvette. Fine, if I lived in a cold weather climate I might consider that option. Even with those tires on cold or wet pavement Corvette will likely brake'em loose. It is what it is, just drive accordingly and enjoy the ride.
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Skid Row Joe (10-20-2015)
#7
Melting Slicks
My salesman at Kerbeck told me this specifically regarding the Z51:
Under 40 degrees...drive carefully.
Under 20 degrees...DON'T MOVE THE CAR.
I'm taking this directive to heart. I had the car out at 41 degrees outside this past week and did not notice a difference on a twisty road but I don't plan on driving it when it starts getting colder out.
Winter tires are the other option if you want to drive in cold weather but from past experience, I don't want to drive my vette regardless of the tire in snow or icy conditions when it's freezing out.
Under 40 degrees...drive carefully.
Under 20 degrees...DON'T MOVE THE CAR.
I'm taking this directive to heart. I had the car out at 41 degrees outside this past week and did not notice a difference on a twisty road but I don't plan on driving it when it starts getting colder out.
Winter tires are the other option if you want to drive in cold weather but from past experience, I don't want to drive my vette regardless of the tire in snow or icy conditions when it's freezing out.
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Skid Row Joe (10-20-2015)
#8
[QUOTE=direct007;1590733653]My salesman at Kerbeck told me this specifically regarding the Z51:
Under 40 degrees...drive carefully.
Under 20 degrees...DON'T MOVE THE CAR.
I've had my 2014 Z51 since November of 2013. I've driven it many times at and below 20 degrees and even a few times at 5-10 degrees here in South Dakota. The roads were dry and clear, just cold. The car is kept in a garage at 40 degrees, so I'm not starting out with cold tires. That probably helps. I've probably put 500 miles or so on the car in those temps. I was always careful because of the lack of traction. I never had a problem and no cracks either. I'd feel better with all season tires but couldn't stand to just look at the car all winter.
Under 40 degrees...drive carefully.
Under 20 degrees...DON'T MOVE THE CAR.
I've had my 2014 Z51 since November of 2013. I've driven it many times at and below 20 degrees and even a few times at 5-10 degrees here in South Dakota. The roads were dry and clear, just cold. The car is kept in a garage at 40 degrees, so I'm not starting out with cold tires. That probably helps. I've probably put 500 miles or so on the car in those temps. I was always careful because of the lack of traction. I never had a problem and no cracks either. I'd feel better with all season tires but couldn't stand to just look at the car all winter.
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Skid Row Joe (10-20-2015)
#9
Drifting
Congrats on your new vette. I'd check to see what Michelin recommends wrt to winter driving and low temps.
Last edited by geo2000; 10-22-2015 at 08:50 PM.
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Skid Row Joe (10-20-2015)
#10
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Get some all season tires and avoid the need to baby the car and not worry about limited traction in the sub 40 degree weather. The tires that come on Corvettes are designed for warm weather and provide good traction when the roads are warm. In your neck of the woods roads are seldom warm from November to April, thus your tires will not perform well nor offer you good stopping.
On the plus side you will be able to spin them with very little power applied. Will impress the neighbor kids.
On the plus side you will be able to spin them with very little power applied. Will impress the neighbor kids.