2020 CHEVROLET CORVETTE traction control

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
Driving and Operating 147
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep
your eyes on the road, keep your
hands on the steering wheel, and
focus your attention on driving.
.Do not use a phone in
demanding driving situations.
Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary
phone calls.
. Watch the road. Do not read,
take notes, or look up
information on phones or other
electronic devices.
. Designate a front seat
passenger to handle potential
distractions.
. Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings.
Program all trip information into
any navigation device prior to
driving. .
Wait until the vehicle is parked
to retrieve items that have fallen
to the floor.
. Stop or park the vehicle to tend
to children.
. Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint.
. Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Refer to the infotainment manual for
more information on using that
system and the navigation system,
if equipped, including pairing and
using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the seat belt. See Seat Belts055.
. Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they may do and
be ready.
. Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you.
. Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
(Continued)

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
150 Driving and Operating
1. Ease off the accelerator andthen, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —
too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin. Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.
Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go.
The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues —such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Track Events and
Competitive Driving
(Z51 Only)
Vehicles without Z51 package
should not be used for track events
and competitive driving.
{Danger
High-performance features are
intended for use only on closed
tracks by experienced and
qualified drivers and should not
be used on public roads.
High-speed driving, aggressive
cornering, hard braking, and other
high-performance driving can be
dangerous. Improper driver inputs
for the conditions may result in (Continued)

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
156 Driving and Operating
5. Thread the lower lock nut (2)back on to the center support
tube and torque it against the
spring seat (1) to 25 Y
(18.4 lb ft).
Load Limit
Limit vehicle load to the driver only,
with no other cargo. Inflate the front
tires to 159 kPa (23 psi) and the rear
tires to 165 kPa (24 psi). Drive at a
maximum speed of 296 km/h
(184 mph).
Road Course target hot pressures of
220–240 kPa (32–35 psi). Value will
vary based on driving style, track,
temperature, and weather
conditions.
Wheel Alignment
Caution
Using these wheel alignment
settings may cause excessive tire
wear. Only use these wheel
alignment settings for racing or (Continued)
Caution (Continued)
competitive driving. Excessive tire
wear is not covered under the
vehicle warranty.
The racing and competitive driving
wheel alignment settings should be
set as described here.
To achieve the track alignment
specified settings: 1. The upper control arm to body washers on all four corners will
need to be moved from
between the body and the
control arm and relocated
between the head of the bolt
and the control arm.
2. Adjust the lower control arm cam bolt position to achieve
the following specifications.
Front (per corner)
. Caster: +8.0 degrees
. Camber: -3.0 degrees
. Toe (total): 0.1 degrees toe in Rear (per corner)
.
Caster: 0 degrees
. Camber: -2.5 degrees
. Toe (total): 0.1 degrees toe in
. Thrust Angle: 0 degrees
After track use, reinstall washers
between the body and the control
arms. Reset to factory alignment
settings.
General Information
If reduced performance is
experienced during track events or
competitive driving, turning off the
A/C will help to improve engine
performance.
Maintain a mixture of 40%
DEX-COOL coolant and 60% clean,
drinkable water to optimize engine
performance.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
158 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering assist. Always
have the engine running and the
vehicle in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line. .
Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, crash).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0182. .
The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner
than when on dry pavement.
See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0179.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
. Turn on Weather Mode. See
Driver Mode Control 0184.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
Driving and Operating 159
Assistance. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program 0306. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0170.
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See
Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 182.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
160 Driving and Operating
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
may need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
seeTowing the Vehicle 0271.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it may
properly carry: the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification label.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
reduce stopping distance,
damage the tires, and shorten
the life of the vehicle.
Tire and Loading Information
Label
Label Example
A vehicle-specific Tire and
Loading Information label is
attached to the center pillar
(B-pillar). This label shows the
number of occupant seating
positions (1), and the maximum
vehicle capacity weight (2) in
kilograms and pounds.
The Tire and Loading
Information label also shows the
size of the original equipment
tires (3) and the recommended

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
Driving and Operating 175
or the Head-Up Display (HUD),
if equipped. SeeHead-Up Display
(HUD) 0110.
When accelerating the vehicle from
a stop in snowy and icy conditions,
shifting to 2 (Second) gear, when
available, will allow the vehicle to
gain more traction.
The Manual Paddle Shift system
can be deactivated by pulling the
D (Drive) switch on the center
console.
With the transmission in D (Drive),
pull the right + paddle or the left
− paddle to place the transmission
in Temporary Manual Paddle
Shift mode.
To exit Temporary Manual Paddle
Shift mode do one of the following:
. Hold the + paddle for more than
one second.
. Drive at a steady speed without
manual shifts or aggressive
cornering for more than
six seconds.
. Bring the vehicle to a stop. While the Manual Paddle Shift
feature is active, the transmission
will automatically downshift through
the gears as the vehicle slows. The
transmission will select 1 (First) gear
as the vehicle stops. From a stop,
the vehicle will start from and hold
1 (First) gear unless Manual Paddle
Shifts are used to shift into a
different gear, or D (Drive) is
selected.
To cause the transmission to
downshift to the lowest gear
possible for the vehicle speed, in
Manual Paddle Shift or Temporary
Manual Paddle Shift mode:
.
Pull and briefly hold the
−paddle. If the paddle continues
to be held as the vehicle slows,
downshifts will continue as
vehicle speed allows.
The Manual Paddle Shift system will
not allow an upshift or a downshift if
vehicle speed is too fast or too slow,
nor will it allow a start from any gear
other than 1 (First) gear.
When in Manual Paddle Shift mode,
if upshifting does not occur when
needed, vehicle speed will be limited to protect the engine. When
in Temporary Manual Paddle Shift
mode, the transmission will
automatically upshift if the
accelerator pedal is pressed all the
way to the floor.
Manual Paddle Shift can be used
with cruise control. See
Cruise
Control 0196.
The vehicle speeds required for
Manual Paddle Shift upshifts
depend on several vehicle inputs,
which will vary the allowed upshift
speed by a few km/h (mph).
To prevent damage to the
powertrain, Manual Paddle
downshifts to a lower gear cannot
be done above certain speeds.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
178 Driving and Operating
Rapid Exit :This is intended for
use at a closed course race track
and not on public roads. Engine
power is reapplied to the wheels
quickly to support spirited driving.
The rate of launch is dependent on
how much the accelerator pedal is
pressed when the paddles are
released: The further the accelerator
pedal is pressed, the greater the
rate of launch. Tire spin may occur
with the accelerator pedal pressed
and the Traction Control System
(TCS) turned off.
This launch occurs when both of
these conditions are met:
. Vehicle speed is below
10 km/h (6 mph).
. Both the + paddle and −paddle
are released at the same time.
With the accelerator fully pressed
and the engine at the rev limiter,
peak performance only occurs if the
paddles are released within a short
period of time after reaching the rev
limit (i.e., a few seconds). Standard Exit :
Engine power is
reapplied to the wheels gently to
support normal vehicle operation on
public roads.
This occurs when paddles are
released under any of the these
conditions:
. Vehicle speed is above
10 km/h (6 mph).
. The vehicle is in R (Reverse).
. The + paddle and −paddle are
not released at the same time.
If the vehicle was in Temporary
Manual Paddle Shift mode before
entering Double Paddle Declutch,
the vehicle will return to D (Drive)
with automatic shifting upon exiting
Double Paddle Declutch.
{Warning
When exiting Double Paddle
Declutch, the vehicle may move
rapidly. You could lose control
and cause a crash with nearby
people or objects. Be ready to (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
release the accelerator pedal or
apply the brakes immediately if
the vehicle moves too quickly. Do
not use the Double Paddle
Declutch when people or objects
are near.