So this is less about being a summer performance tire for you and more about being a Pirelli VS Michelin Summer performance tire? You think I am safer with Michelins than Pirellis correct?

 

yes I feel Michelin 4S is for more forgiving than the P Zero. I have them both, and P zero turns to wood as soon as temps drop. I still cant thrash my car in cold weather with Michelin 4S, but I never feel unsafe or have huge traction issues

only suggesting you get 4S assuming you will find P Zeros to be "lacking" eventually

and like I said, safest bet is to NOT drive your new baby through $hitty Chicago roads with near freezing temps

 

I don't think debating the merits of P-Zero's vs. Michelin PS4S's is applicable here. The OP simply asked if they thought driving the car home from Chicago with summer tires is OK. Looks like opinions are split, and I gave my experience with summer tires (PS4S's) in cold temps, but I'll share a couple more, this time with P-Zero's....

I bought my 997 C2S in early March of '19. It had P-Zero's on it, and the fronts were coming close to aging out. The car was outside of Dallas, and I live in Colorado. I bought a one-way plane ticket, stayed the night in Plano, then picked up my car and drove it straight back to Colorado the next day. It was about a 12 hour drive from Dallas to Denver. Ambient temps were in the mid-50's for most of my drive through TX and NM, but as the sun set and I made it further north into CO, the temps dropped into the lower 40's. By the time I pulled into my driveway at 10pm that night, it was in the mid-30's. Never once did I feel unsafe or like the car was letting loose on me. Again, I wasn't pushing the car or my abilities. I was just soaking up the enjoyment of driving my new-to-me 911 home for the first time.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, and I went and test drove a PDK equipped 991.1 C2S with P-Zero's here outside of Denver. Temps were lower 50's that day. The car had been sitting in the shade and had no temp in the tires. I took it for a test drive, and I DROVE it. The only time the rear tires broke loose momentarily was at redline shifts from 1st to 2nd in manual Sport + mode. So I think driving your 911 normally in temps in the 30's with P-Zero's in dry conditions is fine if you take it easy.

I would keep the P-Zero's until you run out of tread before you consider something else. I have Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S's on my car now, and I love them, but I wouldn't throw P-Zero's in the trash if they still had good tread life on them. There is no shortage of threads or opinions on tires here on Rennlist when the time comes to replace the P-Zero's.

 

translation.. there is something wrong with your engine, please check HP, dyno and report back

lol

(I kid)

 

You will be fine. As someone said drive it like grandma's Camry. I drove my new to me 2013 Boxster S from Chicago to NOVA Nov 2019. The front PZero's were aged out. I watched the TPMS tire pressure and could see the tires heating up. If there was any snow forecasted on my route I'd consider changing dates or the route.

 

I really appreciate everyone input here. I think I will do a test drive around the dealership Saturday in Chicago (where it will be the coldest) and make a decision. As I head back towards Louisville things warm up marginally. I have the salesman coming up with a shipping quote in case I feel uncomfortable. I'm really looking forward to the drive though!!

 

When I left home for work today it was 31 degree weather and I'm out enjoying my new 992 on P Zeros. No issues. Now, I'm not driving like Ken Block so keep that in mind. Who can let a new car sit because of a little cold weather? Tires will build heat on the road quickly. Snow and ice on the pavement is another story though- that you want to avoid.

 

It's a matter of risk tolerance, contemplating the worst case scenarios and being responsible. If you slide off the road into a guard rail because your tires are not up to the weather conditions it will affect only you and your new car. However, a fender bender or something more serious will affect other people. Even though it may not be your fault, can you imagine colliding with a Toyota Prius whose driver has it equipped with winter tires, shovel, snow brush, extra windshield deicer fluid and ice scraper while you are driving your 911 on summer tires at temperatures below 7C? Just another jerk driving an expensive sports car the onlookers will gleefully say. I wouldn’t want to explain the logic behind my decision to drive to a police officer, judge or coroner’s inquest.

We have some roads that for good reasons require “Mountain + Snowflake” winter tires from October through March. It makes the decision about when to mount the winter tires on my 911 quite easy.

 

Ha! Although I won't disagree with PS4S's being the way to go for anyone looking for summer tires on these cars.

 

As stated above, stay off the road if there is any ice, snow or freezing rain-- take the weather forecast very seriously!
Just take it easy in all transient conditions and in particular be aware that it will take longer than expected to stop if you have to get on the brakes hard.

 

I have to chime in and suggest he's in the minority. A summer tire is a summer tire when it comes to below optimal temperatures.

Also, one more thing to consider when weighing opinions, is folks who have 991.1s will have a different experience. The 991.2 C2S cars in particular seem to react more to weather than others. I have Michelin PS4s on my 991.2 C2S now, and had them on my 981 Boxster GTS. I notice the car trying to break free a LOT more in this car than I did in the Boxster- a very good thing in perfect conditions, but something you have to be aware of in non-perfect conditions. This can be easily attributed to the power difference and how it's delivered. In the 991.2, the torque comes on STRONG, very early in the rev range. It is actually pretty easy to get the rear loose in warm and dry on purpose, but it could be easy to do it accidentally as the temps fall and water is introduced... to the point where I won't drive in the rain below 60 on these tires. Dry conditions are far more forgiving as long as the temps are reasonable (for me personally, above 40 is acceptable with the appropriate level of caution).

That said, I think if there's a way you can nearly guarantee you won't be driving in any sort of precipitation (not just snow), the car will behave just fine as long as you behave in cold(er) temps. I did drive my Boxster back to Maryland from Memphis, TN in late November a few years ago on summer tires, so it's a bit hypocritical for me to suggest you ship it or else... but I definitely wanted to warn about the rain, and that Michelins are definitely susceptible to it as well.

 

Get winter tires or have it shipped. Don't risk a new expensive purcahse. Some really bad advice on this forum. Your summer tires will have no traction and you risk fracturing the summer compound. Chicago? You really need winter tires. I would not drive on summer tires at freezing temps.Asking for trouble no matter what anyone says. A bit of frozen slick pavement and you are toast. I drive my car all year round in NH and this is my 4th season with snows. Car is fantastic to drive with the proper tires.

 

Well stated. It’s a basic cost/benefit analysis. Would you regret not driving as it’s delivered to your home more than the regret of having driven in temps that are likely below the stated safe threshold of the tire and hitting a curb or wrecking the car? Let’s me honest, it’s probably not that beautiful of a drive. Get it home safely then take it for an appropriate rip at thr proper temps based on your tire choice. Good luck. Keep us posted.
y

 

^^^ Yup...what he said. Summer tires are not meant to be driven under 40 degs, Pirelli or Michelin. Under 40, they may crack, and you're out $1500. More if the car gets wrecked. Ship or get different tires.

 

Congrats on your new purchase. I really have to agree with those who urge caution under those circumstances. After decades on all-season Michelins on my BMWs, I was surprised by the very noticeable loss of grip from the PS4's at temps below 40 after buying my 991.1 several years back. Not enough winter in Georgia to bother with an extra set of wheels/tires for a toy, so I just park it when it's that cold. Those summer tire temp recommendations exist for a reason. Your decision, of course, but dinging your new toy on the ride home would ruin what ought to be a great experience. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.