Drove summer tires in 17F weather tonight through 260miles

wdkwang · 02-20-2011, 03:46 AM

I've been rolling in winter rims/tires since I got the car last Tuesday. Been too scared to try summer tires on but the temperature during the daytime has been picking up and I didn't want to continue running down the thread on the winter tires. Drove to Foxwoods (130 miles, 2.5 hours one way) and back just tonight and it surprisingly wasn't too bad. The car doesn't feel as planted but I had no problem crusing 50-90mph. Mostly 70-75mph.
I was reading on a lot of near-miss accidents with the summer tires turning into "hockey pucks" below 25F. Perhaps my tires got a little warmed up after driving for a bit but I'm very hesitant to punch it. It only takes one time...

CrownR426 · 02-20-2011, 07:41 AM

LOL, nah bro I've been driving my Z through winter time.
This was the second winter it saw with my summer tires.
When you try making a turn it makes annoying *** noises due to the tires being frozen like you mentioned hockey pucks.
Gotta warm the tires up!
I'm at 28,880 with my stockers.

JACKPAC · 02-20-2011, 08:52 AM

It's really only dicey when there is ice on the roads!!

Cmike2780 · 02-20-2011, 09:49 AM

The problem is with any light snow or ice on the road. The summer compound and tread design can handle those conditions. On dry cold days, the performance is closer to "normal" tires but reduced traction. They will break loose a lot sooner. Drivable, but you should be careful.

red6spd · 02-20-2011, 09:57 AM

You must be a god!!!

Where not worthy

Where not worthy

Where not worthy

LOL

m4a1mustang · 02-20-2011, 09:58 AM

The issue with summer tires in sub 40 degree temperatures is extremely limited traction for the first 15 or so minutes of driving. If you had to make an extreme avoidance maneuver or slam on your brakes while the tires were still super cold and rock hard, you're going to have no grip and likely crash.

After 15 minutes of regular driving the tires get enough temperature in them to be able to drive normally, granted you won't have as much traction as you would in warmer weather. You must always keep this limitation in mind when you drive in cold weather with a summer tire.

Summers are perfectly manageable in winter provided you:

- Take it very easy during the warm-up period. This means easy acceleration, slowing down sufficiently for corners, and avoiding all hard cornering.
- Leave a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you so you have enough room to stop in an emergency. Cold summers WILL slide in an emergency stop.
- Avoid all ice/snow

cossie1600 · 02-20-2011, 10:48 AM

I have been driving the car on bald RE11. Just stay out of the ice/snow/rain and you will be okay.

wdkwang · 02-20-2011, 03:28 PM

m4a1, that was a good post there.
i suppose i'll be leaving on my summers then, since ::cross fingers:: snow is done for the rest of this winter

kenchan · 02-20-2011, 08:35 PM

+1 to mustang's post.

02-20-2011, 03:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
wdkwang Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: N/A Posts: 899 Drives: slidewayz Rep Power: 21	Drove summer tires in 17F weather tonight through 260miles I've been rolling in winter rims/tires since I got the car last Tuesday. Been too scared to try summer tires on but the temperature during the daytime has been picking up and I didn't want to continue running down the thread on the winter tires. Drove to Foxwoods (130 miles, 2.5 hours one way) and back just tonight and it surprisingly wasn't too bad. The car doesn't feel as planted but I had no problem crusing 50-90mph. Mostly 70-75mph. I was reading on a lot of near-miss accidents with the summer tires turning into "hockey pucks" below 25F. Perhaps my tires got a little warmed up after driving for a bit but I'm very hesitant to punch it. It only takes one time... __________________ Powerhouse Amuse \| K&N Typhoon Intakes \| MotorDyne ART Pipes \| Borla Catback Exhaust \| B&M Short Shifter \| Intake Ducts \| Ichiba 25mm F/R Spacers \| Carbon Fiber Interior Vinyl Wrap \| Tints \| 10000k HIDs \| Vtak, yo!

02-20-2011, 07:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
CrownR426 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South Korea Posts: 4,676 Drives: Manual Rep Power: 848	LOL, nah bro I've been driving my Z through winter time. This was the second winter it saw with my summer tires. When you try making a turn it makes annoying *** noises due to the tires being frozen like you mentioned hockey pucks. Gotta warm the tires up! I'm at 28,880 with my stockers. __________________ Love + Hardwork + Passion RIP SVTRacer

02-20-2011, 09:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
Cmike2780 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 5,059 Drives: slowwww Rep Power: 29	The problem is with any light snow or ice on the road. The summer compound and tread design can handle those conditions. On dry cold days, the performance is closer to "normal" tires but reduced traction. They will break loose a lot sooner. Drivable, but you should be careful. __________________ [09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R] [ArchitTEK Photography]

02-20-2011, 09:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
red6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 3,277 Drives: 2010 Z Coupe M6 SPT Rep Power: 21	You must be a god!!! Where not worthy Where not worthy Where not worthy LOL __________________ 2010 Base+Sport 6spd: Stillen G3, FI Non-Resonated CBE, FI Non-Resonated Test Pipes, UpRev Tuned, Custom 24R Oil Cooler, JDM Rear Fog-OEM Harness. ???Whp ???WTQ (Will find out come spring time)

02-20-2011, 09:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	The issue with summer tires in sub 40 degree temperatures is extremely limited traction for the first 15 or so minutes of driving. If you had to make an extreme avoidance maneuver or slam on your brakes while the tires were still super cold and rock hard, you're going to have no grip and likely crash. After 15 minutes of regular driving the tires get enough temperature in them to be able to drive normally, granted you won't have as much traction as you would in warmer weather. You must always keep this limitation in mind when you drive in cold weather with a summer tire. Summers are perfectly manageable in winter provided you: - Take it very easy during the warm-up period. This means easy acceleration, slowing down sufficiently for corners, and avoiding all hard cornering. - Leave a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you so you have enough room to stop in an emergency. Cold summers WILL slide in an emergency stop. - Avoid all ice/snow __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

02-20-2011, 08:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
JACKPAC Track Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 516 Drives: MB 370z Rep Power: 17	It's really only dicey when there is ice on the roads!!

02-20-2011, 10:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	I have been driving the car on bald RE11. Just stay out of the ice/snow/rain and you will be okay.

02-20-2011, 03:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
wdkwang Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: N/A Posts: 899 Drives: slidewayz Rep Power: 21	m4a1, that was a good post there. i suppose i'll be leaving on my summers then, since ::cross fingers:: snow is done for the rest of this winter __________________ Powerhouse Amuse \| K&N Typhoon Intakes \| MotorDyne ART Pipes \| Borla Catback Exhaust \| B&M Short Shifter \| Intake Ducts \| Ichiba 25mm F/R Spacers \| Carbon Fiber Interior Vinyl Wrap \| Tints \| 10000k HIDs \| Vtak, yo!

02-20-2011, 08:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	+1 to mustang's post.

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