As I got into my car today after grocery shopping at Wegman's, I happened to glance at the MB CLS-55 AMG. I noticed that it wore summer tires. Temparature wise was 30F, with day time high projected to be 38F. Then my curiosity got into me. I looked around and saw a Boxster and a Corvette Z06. (This Wegman's is in a well-to-do area.) I checked their tires, and both wore summer tires. Which got me thinking ....
to those who live in the cold weather, how cold do you drive your car with summer tires on at the time you go out?
- Assume day time high will be 5F higher than when you're about to go out.
- Roads are clear, free of ice, snow, salt and it's a beautiful day.
It seems most tire companies consider 40 F to be the lower limit of summer tires, under that you loose more than 30% of your traction. But, if you don't have snow or ice, you are okay if you take it easy (and use traction control). Once snow or ice is present and under 40 F you are toast.
Surprisingly, even all-season tires (which say M&S (for mud and snow) on the sidewalls) aren't recommended for sub-freezing temperatures or deep snow. Only winter tires (they have a jagged mountain with a snowflake on it symbol on the sidewalls) are good in really low temperatures and snow. So you Canadian people are right in switching tires (but you knew that). BTW, if your tires don't have M&S or the jagged mountain on the sidewalls, they are summer tires.
Conversely, winter tires usually won't have a high speed rating, their soft rubber compound will wear too much and not hold up to high speed driving. They also have much less traction and poor handling in hot weather.
I live where it gets cold, real cold, where you have to consider the temp of the road surface, not the air temp. It can get to 50F air temp but the road surface still be near freezing here. I've had the GY Supercars slip when the air temp was 45F in the fall and above 50F in the spring. When you consider the engine is also making more power at those temps you gotta be careful getting on the gas. This is different than down south where the air temp can get below 40F but the road surface is well above that. Under those conditions, enjoy the extra power the engine is making.
Location: Myrtle Beach & Greenville, SC -- Hung Like a Republican -- Network Admin/IT
I have been debating whether to get Summer tires again for my daily driver or if it would be safer to get an all season for the near freezing and freezing temperatures we (SC) get for about 3 months.
December through February are our colder months and we typically see temperatures in the 20s through 40s.
Both tires get excellent reviews and the Bridgestone gets better treadwear and comfort ratings.
Is it worth it to get an all season for a few months of cold temperatures? I am not considering snow and ice in my decision, just cold temperatures and the effect it has on the traction of summer tires.
Here is Tire Rack's Survey Performance Chart for - Ultra High Performance All Season:
And Here is Tire Rack's Survey Performance Chart for - the top 10 Summer Tires of each cat.
__________________ PROUD OWNER (5-2006) of a 06 Spice Red A4 GTO
v3.826 V1
Pedders Serious Street Suspension + 70% bushings
DBA 4000 Rotors /w Hawk Ceramics
0 to 60 - 4.6 secs
Summer tires in cold dry sunny winter days
, and my sizzlin Spice Red GTO.
