Four-Wheel-Drive Corvette on Summer Tires Sparks Outrage in Snow; Owner Says Damage Was Minor

A driver spotted a Chevrolet Corvette equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires on the highway, then noticed the car was being driven on icy and snowy roads—and also fitted with a roof rack. Passengers in the vehicle expressed surprise at this setup; some questioned, “Who would do that?” while others appreciated it. The car in question is the 2026 Corvette E-Ray, the first Corvette model to feature an electric all-wheel-drive system. It uses an electric motor to power the front axle and a 6.2-liter V8 LT2 engine for the rear axle, with Chevrolet stating it’s designed for use in various weather conditions. Despite its AWD system, the vehicle was fitted with Pilot Sport 4S tires—high-performance summer tires not specifically engineered for ice or snow. The video’s poster, Paragon Korey, is operations manager at the tuning company Paragon Performance and owner of the E-Ray featured in the clip. He explained that during filming, the car struck a large chunk of ice, causing minor damage to the underbody lighting and front lip. Replacement parts were already available, he noted. Korey confirmed the video was staged to demonstrate the E-Ray’s winter driving capabilities while also reminding viewers to remain cautious when driving on icy or snowy roads. Korey has been driving this pre-production E-Ray since December 2024. Although generally satisfied with the vehicle, he doesn’t typically keep cars long-term due to personal preference and plans to eventually switch to another Corvette—particularly an E-Ray variant with an even larger-displacement engine.