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SUMMER PERFORMANCE TIRES - TEMPS AND WHEN TO PARK YOUR CAR
So I must have read a million discussions around when you should park your car when temps drop below 38 degrees riding on Summer Performance tires. As we know, in freezing temps these tires basically turn into hockey pucks. At what point or gauge in temps is COLD too COLD to drive your car? At what temps do you guys use to gauge to not drive. I am not talking snow on the roads because you should never drive on these tires in the snow ever! Let the discussion begin.
It depends on the tire (and tire age), the car, and how aggressively you have to drive. I do not park my cars until the salt trucks roll out for the first time, regardless of temperature.
I was out a few days ago, 30 degrees with BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2's. Spun a bit more easily when taking off but otherwise had good traction. Last year, same tires on a few days in the low 20's.
P-Zero's? From personal experience I'd park the car once it reaches the low 40's.
Yes,
Summer tires loose a lot of grip when it is cool. Only an issue in traffic during an emergency stop. Summer tires are completely worthless in slush and snow. I had 4 M+S tires for my 86' Carrera for winter driving. Now that I have moved out of the snow belt my All Season Sport tires seem to work well for every day driving around town. I would mention the brand but when I do some Rennlister's seem to flail at the thought.
It depends on the tire (and tire age), the car, and how aggressively you have to drive. I do not park my cars until the salt trucks roll out for the first time, regardless of temperature.
I was out a few days ago, 30 degrees with BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2's. Spun a bit more easily when taking off but otherwise had good traction. Last year, same tires on a few days in the low 20's.
P-Zero's? From personal experience I'd park the car once it reaches the low 40's.
Great! I am running P-Zeros
They are really lumpy before they warm up even in warm temps. I am going Michelin next go around. I don't love them.
With the winter setting in, I’m glad this topic is being discussed.
For those of you with re71r tires, do you take any special precautions to keep them warm in the winter, even when they are off the car? I believe the tread compound can get damaged if you let them get cold, even if you aren’t driving on them, correct?
I’ve set up a heater in my garage to keep the temp over 40 degrees to try and preserve the rubber. Is that overkill?
40 degrees is really the threshold.
Remember also to check the tire pressure if you are using the summer tires at 40-45 degrees temps.
I think in principle this is true, but if you are coming from a warm garage your tires will have some heat in them to begin with and driving will warm them further, especially the rear. In my experience you can get away with slightly colder ambient if you are starting and ending in a heated garage. If there is any chance of wet, or icy, roads forget about it. Only works if its a clear, sunny day with clean roads and cold temps.
Yesterday... I drove the 964 into Boston again this AM, but the temperature is plummeting down to 28 degrees this evening. I will check the pressure on the RE 71R's before a careful ride home this evening.
I've got winter wheels/tires that I'm planning on throwing on my 964, but I'm still waiting on the new sway-away racing studs to go with the 10mm spacers I picked up from Rennline. I'm hoping to stretch the season out for at least a few more weeks...
I have Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 on the 993 so I am good to go until some real snow flies.
I'm running Michelin Pilot Sport 3 on the Audi TTS. Snow tires mounted on 17" wheels will be
going on the day after Thanksgiving.
I did some reading on TireRack earlier this summer, and some R-comp tires say the tire should stored above freezing temps.
I'm pretty sure the warning on RE-71's say not to DRIVE on them at freezing temps because the compound could get damaged, but I don't think it said that they need to be stored above freezing - like the R-compound tires.
As you can see below, from Pirelli, the stopping distance is longer than the usual.
No doubt your car will MOVE FINE with cold temps, the risk is a kid crossing the street all of a sudden and you slamming on the brakes: those fancy PZERO won’t be of much help.
just play it safe guys and if you still drive on summer tyres just be aware of it and take it easy.
I've been driving on summer-rated tires in the winter for almost fifteen years. Sure, grip is slightly reduced, especially when the tires are cold, but the rubber performs fine if you use common sense.
I normally drive the 993 until the roads have been salted. I'll wait for either a good rain or the spring rains before it hits the road, trailering to the shop notwithstanding.
GT-4 with R-compounds: driving style changes to more moderate below 45F and car stays in the garage below freezing.
993 with summer performance tires: driving style changes to more moderate below 45F and car stays in the garage below 25F (and only comes out on clear, dry sunny days in the winter).
I learned the hard way how slippery summer performance tires can be when the temps are below freezing.
11-10-2017, 09:35 AM
SUMMER PERFORMANCE TIRES - TEMPS AND WHEN TO PARK YOUR CAR
Let the discussion begin. 
