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Originally Posted by My 5th
I have Pirelli Scorpion Snow & Ice tires on my 2010, in the stock sizes. I found the traction control does help, but mostly in one circumstance.
I have the M6 transmission, a few winters ago I noticed that when going up a moderate slope hill, one where just about everyone else was going sideways or not at all, my Camaro did best when going slow with RPM around 1,000 to 1,200 almost lugging it, and slipping the clutch just enough to get going then letting the clutch all the way out.
When the clutch pedal was fully released I could feel the rear tires bite, and I drove right by front wheel drive and lesser rear wheel drive cars. This was a first for me because all my previous Camaros were like pigs on ice in the snow. The Gen 5's seem much better in the snow than the earlier generations.
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You sure they are all four the same size as stock? Respectfully you do not want a wide snow tire.
I have the same tires for winter on my LS3 and all four are the same size despite being on factory staggered wheels. Maybe the tires have changed slightly since I bought mine in 2012 but my understanding is that the Pirelli Scorpion Snow & Ice tires are SUV tires that happen to fit out wheels and are more or less an 'in between' size.
The phenomenon you found with low rpm is exactly why I choose a gear (or two) higher than normal when taking a turn in inclement weather. Why? I am cutting available torque to the rear wheels.
Now that you have discovered that low rpms are helping more than high rpms- higher rpms get you closer to peak torque, and we want the tires to stop spinning, not start- consider your gear ratios. Each gear in your manual gearbox is a torque multiplier (as is your rear gear). If you are stopped and you select first and the tires can't get traction, try starting in second. You might find you don't need to slip the clutch so much.
I have had the "pleasure" of driving a '78 Firebird Formula through a snowy winter, and it was terrible. My '70 Buick with the 7.5L engine and 510 lb/ft at 2800 rpm was five times the winter driver, with summer tires on it!
My 5Gen LS3 is a perfectly fine winter car when it has snow tires. Never stuck once, and we set all-time snowfall records last year. My front wheel drive owning co-workers got to work hours after me and were stuck in the parking lot at quitting time. I just drove to and from work.
