mickey6

This is the first time I went with the Summer tires/Winter tires. I was looking at the weather for the next 10 days and temps seem to be rising. Question for the VA/DC/MD peeps, is this a good time to switch to summer rubber as the temps seem to be in the 50s and 60s constantly.

exlondoner

I took the car out after a few weeks for a nice meet and run today. Having the car in storage and keeping the Summer tires on I was a little weary. The back swiveled side to side a little on the PS2's but not tooo bad ()....

If it's your daily then I'd keep the winters on for a tad bit longer otherwise you should be ok.

Palting

IIRC, summer tires start to lose grip below 55 degrees. OTOH, I've been going stir crazy here in OH, and actually took my somewhat worn Pilot Sport Cups out with temps in the teens. Dry grip was actually decent. There was still a thin layer of snow/ice on my driveway though, and had to go slow and work it a bit. You should be fine if there is no snow or ice, temps 50 and up, on summer tires , so long as you don't intend to set speed records..

Barn996

I have taken my 911 out whenever the temps hit 40 degrees this winter(on summer tires) and have not had any issues with grip or cornering once. No doubt that snow or ice on the road would be different, but I was able to enjoy spirited driving off and on all winter on summer tires.

Chads996

Switch? We're supposed to switch? I didn't get THAT memo...

fast1

It's only necessary if you intend to drive in the snow. Summer tires lose their grip at temperatures below 40, but all that means is that you have to take it a little easier when it gets that cold.

Chads996

Uh....thanks Captain.

I live in Atlanta.

C.

Luke@tirerack

I typically wait until the end of March but, I am quite a bit further north than you .... even though the summer tires do not have as much grip below 50 degrees so, long as there is no precipitation when it is on the chilly side and you exercise some common sense you should be fine

rmillnj

You might want to give it another 2 or 3 weeks just to be safe. Here in NJ I usually wait until the first week of April before I take off the winter tires. After that the risk of any snow is gone.

I will probably leave my winter tires on a bit longer this year though. Blizzaks are only good for snow down to 6/32" tread. After that they are just average all seasons down to 4/32". Since I started the winter at 7/32" I will run them out and buy a new set for next winter. I probably won't put the summer tires on until June when it really gets hot.

washington dc porsche

I have yet switched out seasonal tires on this car. But if I did so, I would switch when I thought there was to be no more snow nor cold rain near freezing temps.

Palting

LOL!!!!
That's what you get for egging us grizzlies, Chad.

My sig still lives!! Thanks again, Chad.

BruceP

Luck, or you weren't driving very hard. At 40 degrees F, you are right on the margin for fresh summer performance tires, and below it for seasoned ones. Below that temperature (or thereabouts), they become a radically different tire and quite suddenly. Not a matter of opinion, I'm afraid. You can dial back your driving to manage the risk to a certain extent, but it's irresponsible and untrue to say that temperature doesn't matter. It does.

BoulderNick

Which where I live would be... August..

- Nick

spiderv6

It was still below freezing this morning when I left home, so it's a bit early in NJ for the summers to go back on quite yet.

Barn996

I didn't say temp.. didn't matter, only that I have had no issues with my 'well seasoned' summer tires in temps. @ 40 degrees this winter while driving. It's not my opinion, but my actual driving experience that has shown me that my tires haven't been comprimised because I just have not had any sudden changes in handling or lack of grip.