Help Needed: Stock Bridgestones safe in 20-30 deg F?
 

First of all, thanks for the good advice about snows for the Z. Based on the advice of members, I won't be bothering. However, this still leaves open one question that has been bothering me a bit. Are the OE Bridgestone Potenzas manageable in colder weather? Most of our winter here is in the 20-40 deg range. Mostly in the 30's. According to the manufacturer, the Potenza loses flexibility in temperatures near freezing.

Another tire I found on tirerack.com is the Michelin Pilot Sport AS plus. This is an all weather tire with what appear to be better performance numbers than the Potenzas. I only have 1400 miles on the car, so the tires are not worn. I am just concerned about how the car will handle in the 30-40 deg F range.

Remember, this is my DD, so I am not looking for optimum ultra high speed performance. 4 of the Michelin's cost about $1,200 plus mounting. I would love to not spend that money.

Does anyone have winter experience with the stock Portenzas? What's your advice?

Thanks,
Bob

It all depends on how you drive. If you drive slow and normal, you are okay. Just don't use it when it is wet or snowing out, I guarantee you will get stuck. I drove a whole winter with bald race tires, I just made sure I never got trapped in the snow or rain in the winter time.

They do tend to get pretty hard in the cold. As said above, don't even think about trying to drive on ice or snow. They won't go anywhere.
Had to let mine sit for a week last year until I got snow tires.

I plan to get All season tires when temps drop below freezing and just swap back next spring. I did that for years with my NSX before I got a second set of wheels, and with the TPMS the 370Z makes a second set of wheels a bigger problem.

You'll be safer and you won't be spending much more swapping tires, it is just a little inconvenient.