2021 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8 steering wheel

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 9/22/20
Driving and Operating 179
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off the
edge of a road onto the shoulder while
driving. Follow these tips:1. Ease off the accelerator and then, 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
loss of control of the vehicle, which could
injure or kill you or others. Always drive
safely.
Participating in track events or other
competitive driving without following the
instructions provided may affect the vehicle
warranty. See the warranty manual before
using the vehicle for racing or other
competitive driving. See Competitive Driving
Mode 0214.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 9/22/20
186 Driving and Operating
road is wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is hydroplaning, it
has little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow
down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet weather
driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping equipment in
good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir
filled.
.Have good tires with proper tread depth.
SeeTires 0261.
.Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through mountains
is different than driving on flat or rolling
terrain. Tips include:
.When driving downhill in D (Drive), the
vehicle may automatically downshift to
assist with speed control.
.A lower gear may also be selected to
provide further speed control.
{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 0205.
.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) 0203.
.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.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 9/22/20
Driving and Operating 187
.Turn off cruise control.
.Turn on Weather Mode. SeeDriver Mode
Control 0207.
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
Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program
0 311. 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 0196.
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
0 205.
{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).
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,

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 9/22/20
200 Driving and Operating
Manual Mode
Manual Paddle Shift
With the transmission in D (Drive), press the
M (Manual Mode) switch on the center
console to enter Manual Mode. Use the
paddles on the steering wheel to manually
upshift or downshift the transmission. The
right + (plus) paddle upshifts, and the left
−(minus) paddle downshifts. When using the Manual Paddle Shift
feature, the current gear will be displayed in
the instrument cluster or the Head-Up
Display (HUD), if equipped. See
Head-Up
Display (HUD) 093.
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.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 9/22/20
Driving and Operating 203
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 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.
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost
Vehicles equipped with electric brake boost
have hydraulic brake circuits that are
electronically controlled when the brake
pedal is applied during normal operation.
The system performs routine tests and turns
off within a few minutes after the vehicle is
turned off. Noise may be heard during this
time. If the brake pedal is pressed during
the tests or when the electric brake boost
system is off, a noticeable change in pedal
force and travel may be felt. This is normal.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) helps
prevent a braking skid and maintain steering
while braking hard.
If there is a problem with ABS, this warning
light stays on. See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light 088.
ABS does not change the time needed to
get a foot on the brake pedal and does not
always decrease stopping distance. If you
get too close to the vehicle ahead, there will
not be enough time to apply the brakes if
that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room ahead to stop, even
with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down firmly. Hearing and feeling ABS
operate is normal.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 9/22/20
204 Driving and Operating
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows steering and braking at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can
help even more than braking.
Electric Parking Brake
The Electric Parking Brake (EPB) can always
be applied, even if the vehicle is off. In case
of insufficient electrical power, the EPB
cannot be applied or released. To prevent
draining the battery, avoid unnecessary
repeated cycles of the EPB.The system has a red parking brake status
light and an amber service parking brake
warning light. See
Electric Parking Brake
Light 088 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light 088.
There are also parking brake-related Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages.
Before leaving the vehicle, check the red
parking brake status light to ensure that the
parking brake is applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The red parking brake status light will flash
and then stay on once the EPB is fully
applied. If the red parking brake status light
flashes continuously, then the EPB is only
partially applied or there is a problem with
the EPB. A DIC message will display. Release
the EPB and try to apply it again. If the
light does not come on, or keeps flashing,
have the vehicle serviced. Do not drive the
vehicle if the red parking brake status light
is flashing. See your dealer. If the amber service parking brake warning
light is on, press the EPB switch. Continue to
hold the switch until the red parking brake
status light remains on. If the amber service
parking brake warning light is on, see your
dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the vehicle is
moving, the vehicle will decelerate as long
as the switch is pressed. If the switch is
pressed until the vehicle comes to a stop,
the EPB will remain applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply the EPB
in some situations when the vehicle is not
moving. This is normal, and is done to
periodically check the correct operation of
the EPB system, or at the request of other
safety functions that utilize the EPB.
If the EPB fails to apply, block the rear
wheels to prevent vehicle movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Turn the ignition on or to ACC/ ACCESSORY.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The EPB is released when the red parking
brake status light is off.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 9/22/20
208 Driving and Operating
To activate Z-Mode, press the Z-Mode button
on the steering wheel. To deactivate, the
driver can either select a different mode
through the DMC knob or press the Z-Mode
button on the steering wheel. When Z-Mode
is deactivated through the Z-Mode button,
DMC is always set back to Tour Mode.
Mode Description
uWeather :Weather Mode is used for
slippery surfaces to help control wheel
speed. This can compromise the acceleration
on dry asphalt. This feature is not intended for use when
the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, ice, snow,
or gravel. If the vehicle becomes stuck, see
If
the Vehicle Is Stuck 0187. See “Driver Mode
Attributes,” later in this section.
sTour :Use for normal city and highway
driving to provide a smooth, soft ride. This
setting provides a balanced setting between
comfort and handling. This is the standard
mode. See “Driver Mode Attributes,” later in
this section.
rSport : Use when road conditions or
personal preference demand a more
controlled response. When this mode is
selected, a down shift will be immediately
felt. In this mode the vehicle also monitors
driving behaviors and automatically enables
Performance Shift Features when spirited
driving is detected. These features maintain
lower transmission gears to increase
available engine braking and improve
acceleration response. The vehicle will exit
this feature and return to normal operation
after a short time when spirited driving is
no longer detected. The steering will change
to provide more precise control. If the
vehicle has Magnetic Ride Control, the
suspension will change to provide better cornering performance. When in Sport
Mode, the displays will change to sport
theme.
Competitive Mode can be accessed through
this mode. See
Competitive Driving Mode
0 214.
tTrack : Track Mode is used for closed
race tracks. Use when maximum vehicle
handling is desired. When in Track Mode,
the dual clutch transmission and steering
will adjust to track settings. The accelerator
pedal is adjusted to give maximum control
during the highest level of spirited driving.
This mode also modifies real time damping,
exhaust valve tuning, engine sound, brake
pedal feel, Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
performance and Traction Control System
(TCS) performance. When in Track Mode the
displays will change to track theme.
Performance Traction Management (PTM)
can be accessed through this mode. See
“Performance Traction Management,” later
in this section.
qMy Mode : My Mode is used to
personalize everyday driving. This mode
allows the driver to configure the driver
systems to their driving preferences. This
mode modifies the suspension, steering,

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 213
Vehicle Settings, select“Drive Mode
Customization” to customize and personalize
My Mode and/or Z-Mode.
Engine Sound:
Engine Sound adjusts the volume of engine
noise. Setting range from quietest to loudest
volume as you move from Stealth through
Track.
.Stealth, Tour, Sport, Track
Steering:
This setting adjusts the effort required to
turn the steering wheel. The steering wheel
offers better feedback but requires more
effort as you move from Tour to Track.
.Tour, Sport, Track
Suspension:
This setting adjusts the firmness of the
suspension in the vehicle. Suspension adjust
stiffness of the shocks and / or springs. The
ride is more comfortable at lower settings
and is stiffer at higher settings for better
control.
.Tour, Sport, Track Powertrain:
This setting adjusts the throttle response,
gear shifting and engine performance. An
increased throttle response enhances the
acceleration feel as you move toward Track,
but with a comfort trade-off due to more
aggressive gear shifting.
.Weather, Tour, Sport, Track
Brake Response:
This setting adjusts the brake pedal
response. Settings range from a slower
response for more comfortable driving to
the quickest response for quicker
deceleration. Brake pedal travel decreases
and caliper pressure increases as you move
from Tour to Sport. Track allows for
improved pedal precision at higher
decelerations for high performance driving.
.Tour, Sport, Track
Performance Traction Management (PTM):
To activate PTM through Z-Mode, configure
Z-Mode to the desired PTM state in the
center stack (Vehicle>Settings>Drive Mode
Customization>Z-Mode). Press the Z-Mode
button once to activate Z-Mode. When PTM
is configured on, a message will appear in the Driver Information Center (DIC)
“Z-Mode
Active —Press Again for PTM On —ESC
May be Disabled”.
To confirm, and enter PTM, press the
Z-Mode button again. The PTM state can
now be modified using the mode knob or
changing the Z Mode setting in the center
stack. Both the Z Mode and PTM indicators
will be displayed.
To cancel, press the center dismiss button
on the steering wheel (Z Mode remains
active). Selecting PTM states may modify
other Z Mode customization options.
.Off, Wet, Dry, Sport, Race 1, Race 2
Display:
This setting adjusts the cluster display
theme (this setting is only configured
through the cluster using the steering wheel
controls).
.Tour, Sport, Track, Weather (and any
informational tiles set-up).
Front Lift System
A two-position lift actuator (one per damper)
with 35 mm (1.5 in) of stroke will
hydraulically raise the front of the vehicle to
provide approximately 50 mm (2 in) of
increased clearance in approximately