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I am planing to go to flagstaff az. The overnight temperature is about 20 degrees. Is one night of 20 degree temperatures going to crack my michelin tires?
I'm in Massachusetts and was worried about this. I just got the car a few weeks ago and our weather has ranged from 25-75 in that time. In the cold, the tires don't have great traction. However, the only Michelin information I could find on their site advised that you don't move the car at 20 degrees or less, or that you store it for long periods at 20 degrees or less. I garage and won't drive in cold weather. On 30-40 degree days, I just drive carefully.
I'm in Massachusetts and was worried about this. I just got the car a few weeks ago and our weather has ranged from 25-75 in that time. In the cold, the tires don't have great traction. However, the only Michelin information I could find on their site advised that you don't move the car at 20 degrees or less, or that you store it for long periods at 20 degrees or less. I garage and won't drive in cold weather. On 30-40 degree days, I just drive carefully.
Try reading your owners manual!
Summer Tires
High Performance Summer Tires
This vehicle may come with P245/
40ZR18 and P285/35ZR19,
or P245/35ZR19 and P285/30ZR20
high performance summer tires.
These tires have a special tread and
compound that are optimized for
maximum dry and wet road
performance. This special tread and
compound will have decreased
performance in cold climates, and
on ice and snow. We recommend
installing winter tires on the vehicle
if frequent driving at temperatures
below approximately 5°C (40°F) or
on ice or snow covered roads is
expected. See Winter Tires on
page 10-44.
It has also been reported NOT to drive at tempertures below 20 degrees F due to tires cracking!
A fellow C7 owner in our area drove his car in cold weather and noticed that the tires did, in deed, crack. I do not believe they are covered by warranty if you do this.
I am planing to go to flagstaff az. The overnight temperature is about 20 degrees. Is one night of 20 degree temperatures going to crack my michelin tires?
Personal experience--twice subjected my tires to about 27 degrees overnight. No cracking (but markedly less traction).
Idea--since at 20 degrees you are on cusp of no drivability, consider parking in a garage which will be a few degrees warmer. From web search, looks like N AZ Univ has 2 parking garages, maybe downtown Flagstaff has one.
Good luck and be careful in the morning. Second time at 27 degrees took about 50 miles of driving for tire temp indicator to switch to Warm.
I'm in Massachusetts and was worried about this. I just got the car a few weeks ago and our weather has ranged from 25-75 in that time. In the cold, the tires don't have great traction. However, the only Michelin information I could find on their site advised that you don't move the car at 20 degrees or less, or that you store it for long periods at 20 degrees or less. I garage and won't drive in cold weather. On 30-40 degree days, I just drive carefully.
Get some Conti DWS06 or the new Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ (not the older 3's) for cool weather driving. I have the Conti's and I love them.
I have been driving my car with the temp in the upper 20s the past 2 weeks. There is no snow but the mornings are still quite cold. I don't push the car with cold tires and I have not had problems with the rubber. Sometimes you have to drive in the cold, or not drive at all!
Large Vette dealer in central Iowa had many of their 15' Vettes last winter needing tire replacements as they stored their cars outside. My 3rd party friend claims that neither GM or Michelin would stand behind the tires due to where they were stored and apparently test driven occasionally. Dealer very unhappy with big $$$$ expense, and now storing all C7s inside in limited space.
However, if anyone has this issue, I have 7500 mi Z51 take-offs as i recently went to non run-flat PSS.
Last edited by EcoBrick Bob; 03-28-2016 at 01:12 PM.
"Cold" tires refers to tires that are not up to operating temperature.
The "summer" tires put on ultra-high performance cars (like the Z51) by manufacturers are essentially street-legal racing tires.
They won't "explode" when subjected to mild sub-zero temperatures, but you must be careful driving them in cold conditions as the compounds are engineered to perform at racetrack temperatures.
Get some Conti DWS06 or the new Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ (not the older 3's) for cool weather driving. I have the Conti's and I love them.
I'm up by Lowell.
+1, I drove my car all winter in temps as low as 10 degrees on my Conti DWS06 tires. No issues at all. Never tried driving in any snow or ice but cold temps are no issue with these tires.
I'm in Massachusetts and was worried about this. I just got the car a few weeks ago and our weather has ranged from 25-75 in that time. In the cold, the tires don't have great traction. However, the only Michelin information I could find on their site advised that you don't move the car at 20 degrees or less, or that you store it for long periods at 20 degrees or less. I garage and won't drive in cold weather. On 30-40 degree days, I just drive carefully.
That Specifically will cause the tries to crack and in fact has happened as mentioned.
The rubber on these Summer only tires will actually Freeze when subjected to those conditions mentioned by Michelin.
And if you move them/the car, or let them sit too long at those temperatures they Crack.
They're talking about Extreme conditions.
Taking the car on a long trip in those temps and leaving it outside all night, by morning you might have a problem.
Taking the car out of a warm garage and driving in really cold temps will yield a loss of traction if pushed.
But while driving and the tires stay warm, there shouldn't be a problem with anything as drastic as the rubber cracking.
I keep my garage at 60 degrees and drove my Z51 from Nov to Jan in temps as low as 30 degrees or less, and now since the streets have cleared up.
Traction control will kick in when getting on it from a dead stop or a slow roll, but other than that the tires perform fine with a little discretion on the throttle
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20
I was in Lone Pine a week ago, and temperature was 48°F, and the Z06 fishtaled to the right while merging into the street from the hotel. I was not even pushing it. The tires were overnight cold, and that also contributed.
That gives you an idea how summerly these tires are.
I am planing to go to flagstaff az. The overnight temperature is about 20 degrees. Is one night of 20 degree temperatures going to crack my michelin tires?
No issues , traction will be limited until the tires heat up
My understanding is: driving the car with very cold tires, mine has set in my car hauler during the snow & very low temps here in Ohio. (12degrees) one night in the trailer, but I never move it until temps were above 45'. If you cannot wait for warmer temps that morning you may be buying a set where every you end up. "THEY" say it's more cosmetic than a safety but if mine started cracking I would replace them, then again I wouldn't drive in COLD weather save that money for my other toys.....
Mine is my daily driver. I decided not to take the risk, and had Michelin AS tires installed as a compromise between full on winter tires and the stock "summer only" rubber. I'll use them year round, but will avoid driving on snow or ice. I'm retired, living in NJ, and I can use my wife's AWD SUV if there's snow on the ground and I need to get somewhere. So far they feel as good as the original tires. Anyone want to buy an essentially new set of summer tires?
When your car has been sitting in anything under 32 and the tires are haven't warmed up yet, it will feel like you're on a sheet of ice when you take off from a standing start. You should look into all season tires. Much better ride all year long too.
03-28-2016, 02:55 AM
Tires in cold weather
That Specifically will cause the tries to crack and in fact has happened as mentioned.
