Buyers of 2015 Corvette C7 Z06 with cracked tires continue to get caught between a rock and a hard place

If +General Motors fought a war, this war would be long lost, simply on the account of a failure to provide adequate and functional logistics support.  However, since most of the time GM manufactures cars, it manages to survive, no matter how many limping buyers it may leave behind, in the process of striving to create profit margins and satisfy expectations of both stock share holders and UAW organized crime syndicate.

Nothing shows this fuck up of truly epic proportions more than the ongoing drama resulting from the summer only tires made the only OEM choice on both base Corvette C7 Stingray and even more so, on the truly entertaining attempt by the team of automotive geniuses led by none other than +Tadge Juechter .

So what is exactly happening here?  The newest generations of Michelin tires in both Super Sport and Cup 2 variety, as Corvette C7 OEM equipment managed to distinguish themselves in a few areas already: improved traction resulting in handling and braking performance (in recommended ambient temperature range only), uncanny ability to attract and absorb nails, screws and other forms of road shrapnel, doubling as a gravel firing road version of Gatling gun, absolute lack of traction under less than ideal winter conditions but most of all, these newest Michelin tires managed to gain wide notoriety for their ability to crack on a whim and at will in cold winter temperatures.

Not all of these distinguishing characteristics are necessarily bad, especially for Michelin, body shops and installers of car body protective films.  However, the buyers of these cars do get fucked on the account of all of the factors above, including that improvement in traction and braking that manages to shorten the life span of these tires, especially in Cup 2 variety significantly, at prices of replacements way up there.

Now, where the buyers of the latest Corvettes truly take it up their bow tie marked asses is in the instances where tires need immediate replacement. 

By all accounts, these tires cannot be safely plugged or patched, thus, for the buyers going cheap and not purchasing the option road hazard replacement warranty, the cost of replacement one single tire, especially the rear tires can easily hit eight hundred dollars PER TIRE.

Of course, with the tires cracked due to cold, especially before the car is delivered to the buyer, the cost is irrelevant but...  this is where the shitty logistics come in to play and turn the ownership of these turds a trying experience.

There two big issues here:

1. The extent of the tire cracking problem and Corvette specific tire sizing continues to create replacement tire shortage, with needed tires being in stock when needed being an exception and not a rule.  In this case, the financial aspect is irrelevant, it is the wait that can easily turn into not just days but weeks, with the buyer applying even more paint sealant or wax than they would otherwise.  Apparently GM did not bother to secure the necessary replacements, counting on tires not cracking?

2.  EVEN WHEN THE TIRES ARE AVAILABLE, none of the supposedly Corvette certified dealers have the necessary equipment and more important, qualified personnel to replace these tires.  Yes, this is that extra bonus for the low profile run flat tires, super short and super stiff sidewalls, rendering any attempt to mount the wide tire on the rim a great opportunity for the installers to practice their cussing skills while the car buyers practice their relaxation techniques to keep their blood pressure and ulcer growth down...

As a rule, those supposedly certified dealerships cannot mount the tires and end up sending them out for a "specialized" tire shop to handle this part.  Of course, this is where the next part of the nightmare waits for the car owners, a very strong possibility that their precious rims will get nicked during a painful tire installation process.  When the rims get nicked or scraped, then of course it is back to square one for the car owner, waiting for either the rim to be repaired or replaced and hoping even more that the same thing does not happen again.

Of course, when everything goes Murphy's way, this is what happens:

Could this be avoided?  Unfortunately, not as long as run flat summer tires are used, non run flat tires and all season tire variety would minimize this nightmare but expecting the typically decrepit AARP members to use a tire inflator may be a bit much.  And no way Juechter would be adding the weight of the compressor to the feather weight newest Corvettes.  Thus, the show goes on and thankfully, this is about Corvette numbnuts and not fighting a war...