North Texas freeze and our summer tires, do you still drive your Stinger?

[John Strednansky]

So now that we are getting our first freeze here in North Texas this week, what are all of you doing? There won't be any snow or rain, will you still take your Stinger out? I'd hate to have to change out my tires for those handful of days we have freezing temps here over a winter...

 

[oddball]

I'm in Dallas. I would take it easy when there's ice or snow on the road - which I'd be doing anyway - but wouldn't hesitate from driving the stinger. Summer tires just means they suck on snow. But we don't get enough here for that to really matter.
IMO the PS4's aren't terribly impressive anyway, so they'll be swapped out for something else once they're worn.

 

[Johnnyfive]

I’ll be driving mine. As oddball said, I’ll just take the appropriate level of caution needed by the weather conditions. I’ll probably switch to all season high performance tires when the PS4’s need replacement.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I drove my first road trip over Soldier Summit at freezing temperatures and sleeting guck accumulating on the edges of the road. The Michelin summers worked just fine. The reason why has to do with "accumulated temperature effect" (ATE, my term to make the point): for weeks prior to the very temporary return to winter weather, the air even at that altitude had been above freezing during the day, which kept the ground from being frozen; which means that with the tires warmed up from driving they were above the temperature of the ground; which was well above freezing, i.e. the actual driving temperature of the tires was probably at or near the 40F recommended lowest limit for driving on the Michelin summers. If your winters are typically mild enough that you only drop occasionally to freezing temperatures, there is no way on God's green earth that the ground is going to freeze. If you have a lasting cold snap, it will still take days to overcome the residual warmth in the ground. Anytime you have above freezing during the day, if it dips to freezing at night it won't cause an ATE opposite of the dominant temperature built up during the daytime, day after day. In fact, the ground temperature is the beginning point of the running temperature of the tires; and they will warm up above that (which is why the pressure goes up 2 to 4 psi when warmed up).

Moisture on the road: if it is snowing and does not stick then treat it the same as rain. If the ground is frozen enough for the snow to stick as snow (not as slush), then don't drive on your summer tires, says I! If the snow will stick, then it will also freeze and you have ice beneath the snow on top: a perfect storm recipe for disaster. If you need convincing, just watch any video showing the tests between summer, A/S and winter tires on ice. Not pretty! Scary!

 

[Johnnyfive]

If the ground is frozen enough for the snow to stick as snow (not as slush), then don't drive on your summer tires, says I! If the snow will stick, then it will also freeze and you have ice beneath the snow on top: a perfect storm recipe for disaster. If you need convincing, just watch any video showing the tests between summer, A/S and winter tires on ice. Not pretty! Scary!

This I agree with completely. It’s this situation where disaster can occur!

 

[MisterMac]

Your summer tires ability to grip the road, because the rubber compound will become harder as the Temps fall below 40 degrees, will put you and others at significant risk. Please don't drive on summer tires at temperatures below 40f.

 

[DaJackson]

Your summer tires ability to grip the road, because the rubber compound will become harder as the Temps fall below 40 degrees, will put you and others at significant risk. Please don't drive on summer tires at temperatures before 40f.

In addition the tires will wear faster.

 

[falanger]

So now that we are getting our first freeze here in North Texas this week, what are all of you doing? There won't be any snow or rain, will you still take your Stinger out? I'd hate to have to change out my tires for those handful of days we have freezing temps here over a winter...

I bought mine on the coldest day of December last year, I believe it was 23 when I drove off the lot. The Stinger, just like every other car I've had with summer tires, does just fine in the cold. I've driven in light snow, ice and slush and I've never lost control, never slipped, never skidded. I know it's rare in ntx but driving with common sense and regard for the road conditions goes a long way.

Might be a good idea to throw it in eco when it gets really cold; that reduced power will lessen the chance of losing traction on takeoff.

 

[Wan El Guapo]

Your summer tires ability to grip the road, because the rubber compound will become harder as the Temps fall below 40 degrees, will put you and others at significant risk. Please don't drive on summer tires at temperatures below 40f.

I'm gonna have to agree with Merlin, it's a little more nuanced than your rule. Plus doing a few launches helps to get the tire temps up quick.

 

[MisterMac]

I'm gonna have to agree with Merlin, it's a little more nuanced than your rule. Plus doing a few launches helps to get the tire temps up quick.

Do whatever you like. I prefer safety first.

 

[TwinSnails]

How many of you are RWD?

 

[Roarbomb]

GT2 AWD with summer tires. We had a pretty good sleet storm last night and its supposed to be 23 when I leave work in the morning. I heard Amarillo got a good few inches of snow last night. Im going to ride these PS4 tires out till they need replaced then go with a UHP all season instead. Ill just be extra careful this season, or if it snows like a son of a bitch, ill drive my mother in-law's subaru.

 

[eflyguy]

It's not just about grip. The structural integrity of the tire is significantly compromised at low temperatures. Specifically, the flexing of the tire as the load shifts around the circumference during rotation can cause cracks and subsequent failures.

The Pilot Sport 4S excels in warm dry and wet conditions, so like all Max Performance Summer tires, is not intended to be serviced, stored nor driven in near- and below-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.
...
Note: Tires exposed to temperatures of 20 degrees F (-7 degrees C) or lower must be permitted to gradually return to temperatures of at least 40 degrees F (5 degrees C) for at least 24 hours before they are flexed in any manner, such as by adjusting inflation pressures, mounting them on wheels or using them to support, roll or drive a vehicle.

Flexing of the specialized rubber compounds used in Max Performance Summer tires during cold-weather use can result in irreversible compound cracking. Compound cracking is not a warrantable condition because it occurs as the result of improper use or storage, tires exhibiting compound cracking must be replaced.

 

[TwinSnails]

It's not just about grip. The structural integrity of the tire is significantly compromised at low temperatures. Specifically, the flexing of the tire as the load shifts around the circumference during rotation can cause cracks and subsequent failures.

I have seen that this was issue with the Michelin’s but not the Continentals, just massive underperforming in these conditions. Without a doubt a summer tire is as limited as a winter tire would be in the summer. I think my next set is just going to be UHPAS’... with our winters I just can’t justify winter tires.

 

[Doel]

I have seen that this was issue with the Michelin’s but not the Continentals, just massive underperforming in these conditions. Without a doubt a summer tire is as limited as a winter tire would be in the summer. I think my next set is just going to be UHPAS’... with our winters I just can’t justify winter tires.

Central Alabama here and I'm in the same situation. I'm not so worried about traction, I can drive like a grandma if I need to, we'll see how the structural integrity of the tire holds up after a dozen or so mornings in the 20s.

 

[John Strednansky]

GT2 AWD with summer tires. We had a pretty good sleet storm last night and its supposed to be 23 when I leave work in the morning. I heard Amarillo got a good few inches of snow last night. Im going to ride these PS4 tires out till they need replaced then go with a UHP all season instead. Ill just be extra careful this season, or if it snows like a son of a bitch, ill drive my mother in-law's subaru.

That's my plan as well, get a great set of Ultra-High performance all-seasons once these wear out... looking at either the FGoodrich G-force UHP or ideally the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ ... I want to make sure the speed is rated as high or close to the summer tire (Y-Speed rating = 186 mph). Thoughts?

 

[MerlintheMad]

"Our" @Gordo bought his Stinger last December and went through a dicey winter on his summers. This winter he is on A/S, for a good reason. If you are on the flat, summers driven "like a grandma" when the roads are bad will probably get you carefully and sedately where you want to go. But going downhill will lock up the wheels on summers and you'll get sideways, and if you are in traffic when that happens, God have mercy (He did on Gordo! ).

I'm not recommending going through a sustained winter of frozen ground on summers, perish the thought. All I was pointing out is that air temperatures and ground temperatures are two different things. If you start for work during the first cold snap down to 23F, but the ground is still well above freezing; by the time you have warmed up your car to operating temperature your tires will have warmed up to the temperature of the ground plus a couple more degrees; it won't matter if the air is 23F, the ground isn't. Use your common sense.

 

[gilthanis1]

I'm not recommending going through a sustained winter of frozen ground on summers, perish the thought. All I was pointing out is that air temperatures and ground temperatures are two different things. If you start for work during the first cold snap down to 23F, but the ground is still well above freezing; by the time you have warmed up your car to operating temperature your tires will have warmed up to the temperature of the ground plus a couple more degrees; it won't matter if the air is 23F, the ground isn't. Use your common sense.

This was my thinking, however, I erred on the side of caution and had a set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ installed this morning. Yesterday was 38-40, from a nightly low of 29-30, and it was a cold rain all day. Tire pressures never did rise and there were a couple of moments on my drive home that could've went 'pear-shaped' really quick but luckily I'm a competent driver and no one was beside me. I was driving 35-40, but it's just to dam cold for the stock PS4 tires to function properly. They are now sitting in my garage waiting until next summer.

Drive to work this morning was way more comfortable and confidence inspiring on the A/S 3+ tires, and well worth the money. We're driving a $50k car, what's $800-1000 for a set of tires for a little extra security in the winter??? Cheap insurance to me, and I can still play on cold mornings and not worry about the car spinning around.

 

[Doel]

This was my thinking, however, I erred on the side of caution and had a set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ installed this morning. Yesterday was 38-40, from a nightly low of 29-30, and it was a cold rain all day. Tire pressures never did rise and there were a couple of moments on my drive home that could've went 'pear-shaped' really quick but luckily I'm a competent driver and no one was beside me. I was driving 35-40, but it's just to dam cold for the stock PS4 tires to function properly. They are now sitting in my garage waiting until next summer.

Drive to work this morning was way more comfortable and confidence inspiring on the A/S 3+ tires, and well worth the money. We're driving a $50k car, what's $800-1000 for a set of tires for a little extra security in the winter??? Cheap insurance to me, and I can still play on cold mornings and not worry about the car spinning around.

hmmm what exactly were you doing when things went "pear-shaped? lol

good choice in past cars, I used to drive a 96 GSR in forest green.

 

[Roarbomb]

I drive 20 ish miles each way to work. I leave my house at 6:15 pm and leave work at 7:15 am. My car sits outside all night and west Texas can actually get some decent snow fall/freezing days. Thankfully the roads are flat and traffic in the morning home is almost non existent.

I already told the wife I needed new tires and honestly I think the dealership should educate people that an AWD still needs good tires.

I’ll try to swing new tires this month, forecast has some days back in the 60s so I’m not worried about pre thanksgiving tempts.