What is the lowest temperature is is safe to ride on OEM tires?
02-06-2018, 02:14 PM
#1
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What is the lowest temperature is is safe to ride on OEM tires?
Not planning on driving on snow/ice. I know summer tire get like hockey puck in the cold weather. Thx
02-06-2018, 02:35 PM
#2
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Really depends upon the make, model and age of the tire.
For summer performance tires *my* rule of thumb is
- wet roads: >50 degrees F, preferably. 40 degrees minimum if I have no choice. Below 40, no.
- dry roads: >40 F preferred. 30 F if absolutely required. Below 30, no.
At the above temperatures traction is adequate if you pay attention and are careful. But there’s little ‘extra’ traction.
As the tires get older traction goes down.
A relatively new summer tire will have almost no grip on a wet road at near freezing temp.
For summer performance tires *my* rule of thumb is
- wet roads: >50 degrees F, preferably. 40 degrees minimum if I have no choice. Below 40, no.
- dry roads: >40 F preferred. 30 F if absolutely required. Below 30, no.
At the above temperatures traction is adequate if you pay attention and are careful. But there’s little ‘extra’ traction.
As the tires get older traction goes down.
A relatively new summer tire will have almost no grip on a wet road at near freezing temp.
02-06-2018, 03:34 PM
#4
Here in S. Texas sometimes we have to drive on them when it's in the 20s. Not enough cold weather to warrant dedicated winter tires. I was very cautious, but really no issues.
02-06-2018, 04:20 PM
#6
I bought a set of winter tires and wheels for the 911, knowing that I needed to be able to DRIVE on sunny winter days! :-)
Last edited by dsh; 02-06-2018 at 04:39 PM.
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02-06-2018, 04:30 PM
#8
Sir Thomas Lord of All Mets Fans
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Originally Posted by saeyedoc
Here in S. Texas sometimes we have to drive on them when it's in the 20s. Not enough cold weather to warrant dedicated winter tires. I was very cautious, but really no issues.
T
02-06-2018, 05:04 PM
#10
Are you talking about the OAT (Outside Air Temperature) or the Road Temperature? How do you know the road temperature or tire temperature? Do you slow down for corners that are in the shade?
I recently drove to Reno, NV at night, and stayed the weekend, with temperatures in the single digits (Fahrenheit). I had no problems with my stock PZEROS.
I recently drove to Reno, NV at night, and stayed the weekend, with temperatures in the single digits (Fahrenheit). I had no problems with my stock PZEROS.
02-06-2018, 05:09 PM
#11
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These questions are similar to the endless questions regarding the break-in process. The manual says X, and people are going to say Y.....and Y is just fine because X is waaaayyyyy conservative.
Most summer tires are good down to 45 degrees according to the vendor manuals. You can look it up on tire rack. I run summer tires year round and drove my 911 with P Zeros at 1 degree ambient temps. I didn't have any problems. Of course, I couldn't (and wouldn't) push the car at all at those temps. My grip was fine for commuting and daily driving. Accelerating hard and I get tire-hop. Turning abruptly and I can feel the under steer. Drive it like a Camry, and you wont notice a difference.
This is all about risk tolerance.
Most summer tires are good down to 45 degrees according to the vendor manuals. You can look it up on tire rack. I run summer tires year round and drove my 911 with P Zeros at 1 degree ambient temps. I didn't have any problems. Of course, I couldn't (and wouldn't) push the car at all at those temps. My grip was fine for commuting and daily driving. Accelerating hard and I get tire-hop. Turning abruptly and I can feel the under steer. Drive it like a Camry, and you wont notice a difference.
This is all about risk tolerance.
02-06-2018, 05:28 PM
#12
I found out the other night just how bad these tires are in cold weather.
About 28 degrees, sun is down and I took a slow rpm rise to about 5k, shifted to second and eased into throttle, then stuck foot in too deep and the rear end jumped (not slid) sideways. Felt like a hard landing and was a bit startling.
Turned into a teachable moment.
About 28 degrees, sun is down and I took a slow rpm rise to about 5k, shifted to second and eased into throttle, then stuck foot in too deep and the rear end jumped (not slid) sideways. Felt like a hard landing and was a bit startling.
Turned into a teachable moment.
02-06-2018, 05:45 PM
#13
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Thanks for the advice. Might be taking deliver of a new 911. On my old Targa , I switched from summer to all season every season religiously. I’m trying not to get new tire with only a couple of months( hopefully)Of winter left. Also, it gives me time to consider a separate set of winter wheels and tires.
02-06-2018, 05:45 PM
#14
Burning Brakes
FWIW, I have a friend who put Sport Cup 2s on his car and swears he was able drive his 991 turbo S around Lake Tahoe one winter weekend with snow on the ground. Not recommended, but he got away with it. I don't know what it did or did not do to the life of the tires, as he sold the car within a year of that (and got a Ferrari).
02-06-2018, 05:47 PM
#15
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