[Z51Stingray]

If GM gave you the option of getting a set of All Weather Performance Tires on your C7 instead the Summer Only Performance Tires, would you do it?

I know I would cuz I like to drive my cars year round as long as the roads are clear of snow and ice.

Though Michelin Pilot A/S 3's aren't "run flats", they been have proven to be just as good or better than a lot of the "Summer Only" Performance Tires on the market.

 

[jsvette]

Not based on the experience I have had so far on Redhot and also at Ron Fellows. These tires are phenomenal in terms of traction, ride and so far wear. While most of my 6k+ miles have been in temps above the 40 degrees suggested minimum, I did drive on the way back from NCM through some 28 degree situations (using Weather setting) and the tires handled admirably. These tires were specifically designed in concert with the Corvette engineers and personally I have no interest in exploring alternatives.

 

[Rsmith]

My tentative thought is to get a set of winter performance or AS tires when I can finally order up a C7 and put them on a second set of wheels. While I don't plan to drive in snow or other nasty conditions you never know what you can run into here in Colorado and some of our sunny but cold winter days can be fantastic for taking a drive - clear air, less people out and about, etc. But I'll want great summer performance.

 

[LB001]

Definitely. I don't track the car, and would like the option of visiting family and friends up north in the winter. In addition All Seasons will usually have a higher treadware rating than high performance tires, and should last quite a bit longer.

 

[glen e]

My michelins come off a week after I got the car as I wanted 19/20 wheels. Went with a non runflat as I do plan on seeing friends up north and they are quieter. Nitto INVO is the tire.

 

[Mobius]

I'm not married to any tire brand. I look for traction rating, wear rating, and speed rating. I go through summer-only tires quickly, and I generally replace them with a higher wear rating tire.

So far I've been happy with the OE tires, which are holding up well (closing in on 5000 miles).

I've had good luck with Goodyear, and here's a replacement candidate (courtesy of Tire Rack) I'll be considering:

Link to all reviews

 

[Milliwatt Rob]

Absolutely yes, all seasons preferred. And both Michelin and Bridgestone make them, in Z-51 sizes. In Vermont, summer is short. And if there is a clear weather window in winter, a sprint to warm weather would be nice. But you have to get through the frost zone first.........and last on the return.

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3

Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position

 

[Norm]

My michelins come off a week after I got the car as I wanted 19/20 wheels. Went with a non runflat as I do plan on seeing friends up north and they are quieter. Nitto INVO is the tire.

Yup! Once I get around 10K on the factories, the Nittos go on.

 

[cutnout]

mine are 19s and 20s and I plan to stick with the OE brand. I am one of the few that keeps a vet totally stock. Don't mind seeing one all tricked out and respect those who do--I don't. cutnout aka Charlie

 

[rdslon01]

Awesome information on the all-season tires Mobius!

To answer the OP, yes, I would.

 

[Mark JD]

Z51 Stingray....
In contradiction to the title of this thread.... The question really isn't for EVERYone. All weather tires are really not a necessity down here in southern Florida.... even in the rain.

So far I have been super-happy with the OE Michelin's. I have owned numerous Corvettes and they all came with Goodyear which sucked as an OE Corvette tire. I've always had Goodyear on my other vehicles and was usually very happy, but NOT on my Corvettes.

Thank you Chevrolet for making the switch to Michelin!!

 

[mjw930]

Z51 Stingray....
In contradiction to the title of this thread.... The question really isn't for EVERYone. All weather tires are really not a necessity down here in southern Florida.... even in the rain.

So far I have been super-happy with the OE Michelin's. I have owned numerous Corvettes and they all came with Goodyear which sucked as an OE Corvette tire. I've always had Goodyear on my other vehicles and was usually very happy, but NOT on my Corvettes.

Thank you Chevrolet for making the switch to Michelin!!

Let me pass along a little trivia I got from a Chevy OEM wheel maker. When GM made the switch to Michelin for the ZR1 they didn't update the engineering specs on their production wheels. The production OEM produced a group of wheels that went with GM to Germany for their Nurburgring testing. They also brought tires from Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli.

In their testing the Michelin's were the class of the field with significantly better lap times. The only problem, the Michelin's generate so much cornering force that the wheels were developing stress cracks around the center hub. He got a panicked call from one of the engineers, they needed 10 sets of wheels that could withstand 3000 lb/sq in over the entire surface and they needed them in 3 days. GM had never seen the level of force achieved by the Michelin's on a street car, EVER.

Of course those were the pilot cups but that same 3000 lb/sq in carried over to the C7 and are the strongest wheels Chevy has ever spec'd on a normally aspirated Corvette and in many ways that's a function of the Michelin's.


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[Mark JD]

Let me pass along a little trivia I got from a Chevy OEM wheel maker. When GM made the switch to Michelin for the ZR1 they didn't update the engineering specs on their production wheels. The production OEM produced a group of wheels that went with GM to Germany for their Nurburgring testing. They also brought tires from Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli.

In their testing the Michelin's were the class of the field with significantly better lap times. The only problem, the Michelin's generate so much cornering force that the wheels were developing stress cracks around the center hub. He got a panicked call from one of the engineers, they needed 10 sets of wheels that could withstand 3000 lb/sq in over the entire surface and they needed them in 3 days. GM had never seen the level of force achieved by the Michelin's on a street car, EVER.

Of course those were the pilot cups but that same 3000 lb/sq in carried over to the C7 and are the strongest wheels Chevy has ever spec'd on a normally aspirated Corvette and in many ways that's a function of the Michelin's.


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Very interesting fact Mark.... Thanks for sharing!

 

[Buzz]

I vote for the all seasons. Probably10% of us drive these cars like they were meant to be driven ALL THE TIME. Sure we get on it from time to time but most of the time we just enjoy the cruise. I live in Oregon where for most of the year it is below 40 degrees and/or wet and the Summer tires could be dangerous. I am not going to buy another $2500 worth of tires just so I can drive it, so either i move to more temperate climate or switch out tires when these go, and that is what i will do. But that's just me...and my car is not even made yet!!

 

[U.S. Marine]

I would have preferred all season tires if I had ordered my C7. I will get a set for the winter months, so I can pull up in front of my house at Christmas time and do donuts around Santas sleigh in the front yard.

SF
Rick

 

[mjw930]

Just to level set, I see a number of comments about wet driving as a deterrent to summer only tires, that couldn't be further from the truth. All season tires do not out perform summer tires in the wet. In fact, aside from sub 40 degree temps there is no driving condition where an all season tire will out perform an extreme performance summer tire. Don't swap out to all season tires if your major concern are wet roads, you may be sadly surprised in the first rainstorm you drive through.

If it were me and I lived in an area with 4 real seasons I would own 2 sets of wheels and tires. If I lived in a moderate climate such as the mid Atlantic states that second set would be all seasons. If I lived where it routinely snows the second set would be alpin's or blizzack's assuming they make the proper sizes.


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[Petercwelch]

I drove the summer tires all winter here in the northeast. 10-20 degress on many days. Not in snow or on wet roads though. Took it easy til tires were warmed up and never had a problem of any kind.

 

[adem1534]

Not based on the experience I have had so far on Redhot and also at Ron Fellows. These tires are phenomenal in terms of traction, ride and so far wear. While most of my 6k+ miles have been in temps above the 40 degrees suggested minimum, I did drive on the way back from NCM through some 28 degree situations (using Weather setting) and the tires handled admirably. These tires were specifically designed in concert with the Corvette engineers and personally I have no interest in exploring alternatives.

I live in Jersey, and for now the Stingray will be my daily driver. Is it only the traction that we should be worried about? I feel as long as the driver is extra careful and in weather mode, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[jsvette]

I live in Jersey, and for now the Stingray will be my daily driver. Is it only the traction that we should be worried about? I feel as long as the driver is extra careful and in weather mode, it shouldn't be a problem.

I would consider a set of winter/snow tires to put on in late fall if you have any length of commute. The handling of the OEM tires falls off dramatically when the ambient temps are consistently around freezing, affecting traction, stopping, etc. You would want to have tires with a better bite designed for the snow IMO for a daily driver there.

 

[Milliwatt Rob]

If it were me and I lived in an area with 4 real seasons I would own 2 sets of wheels and tires. If I lived in a moderate climate such as the mid Atlantic states that second set would be all seasons. If I lived where it routinely snows the second set would be alpin's or blizzack's assuming they make the proper sizes.




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The problem with true snow tires, is that for them to work, you want a narrow tread, but the same rolling radius as your summer tire. Ideally, you would want a set of narrower wheels on which you could mount narrower snow tires. Finding true snow tires for a C7 would not be easy.