Minimun driving temp
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: dalton ma
Minimun driving temp
I have Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires on my base 2019 Stingray. I'm not worried about losing traction as I am a very conservative driver but I am concerned about doing damage to the tires if I use them at too low temperatures. What is a reasonable cut off point where I should stop using the car as fall is here and winter is approaching ?
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From: SE WI
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: dalton ma
I got caught out late yesterday with the temp in the high 30's. That appears to be borderline. Per the above post it looks like I will be adhering to the 40 degree threshold and keeping my fingers crossed.
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From: Athens AL
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At or just below freezing. I've taken off for work in the morning with temps in the high 20s. I put it in Weather mode when I do this.
Its not going to slip and slide all over the road, but you just need to stay out of the power.
Its not going to slip and slide all over the road, but you just need to stay out of the power.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: GSO, NC
I have used Michelin summer only tires (MPS, MPS PS2 and MPSS) down to temps in the teens, but only because I had no choice at the time. It did not have any detrimental effect on the tires as far as I could tell but it demanded way more attention on driving (lots of pucker factor) than I care for now. On the Vette, 40 has been my limit, not because of tire degradation, I just don't want that much uncontrolled excitement.
Best regards,
Vip.
Best regards,
Vip.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: Naples FL, & Lombard IL
Keep in mind, your tires warm up while driving. If its in your warm garage, then you pull out and drive, your tires are warming and the pavement might be warming if its sunny. I called Michelin 2 years ago, before a trip, they said dont drive it below freezing temperatures. I asked them what does the factory in Bowling Green do on below freezing days with new corvettes outside. He said they dont know. I had mine in a heated garage in Chicago, pulled it out when it was below freezing, drove it to Florida with no issues. It was 8AM 29 degrees and sunny, I was able to watch the tire pressure increase while driving so I felt totally safe and it handled the same as normal.
Be safe, Rick
Be safe, Rick
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Melting Slicks
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From: Leonardtown Maryland
For me it depends upon how much crowning the road has. Some of these country roads in Maryland are pretty steep. Main highways aren't too bad except for pot holes but I don't feel comfortable if the temp is below or close to 50. It's like driving a 800 HP supercar with traction control off.
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From: Bonneville Salt Flats
Any temp is "possible," but as i recall my '18 Manual says 40-degrees. I've seen these tires split; I don't want any part of that so personally, since I've other vehicles, I don't drive at much less than 50-degrees... 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Atlanta GA
Michelin's tire cracking warning is for cars that sit outside unprotected for extended periods of time IE on the dealers lot in January . It is not recommended to drive the car because it will cause cracking. . But if you car is in the garage and it's 35 degrees outside predicting to rise during the day , you will be fine as long as you don't put your foot into it . I drive my car to work every day as long as the Temp is above 35 degrees in the AM when I leave and never have experienced cracking on my C5, My C6 and now my C7 , all of which had or have MPSS runflats . Now I am careful with the gas pedal ....
Dave
Dave
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As others stated, GM & Michelin tell you to not drive or move the factory PSS tires in temps below 20'F, to prevent possible cracking. Some people have gotten away with it, others had to get out their wallet.
Either way, traction will be something between really poor and horrible.
A few weeks ago on the PSS tires I did our last autocross of the season, when I left home there was frost on the ground but it was sunny, the course was dry. My first few runs (in Sport) I couldn't use more than half throttle even after slowly getting up to about 40 mph, or the car would immediately go sideways. When the air got up to about 50' and I'd warmed the tires, traction was better but still noticeably less than during summer. My buddy on the Michelin AS tires totally cleaned my clock.
We have a set of the Michelin AS on another set of wheels, I haven't autocrossed on them but at any temperature they have enough grip for any driving that's sane on public roads. I've driven on them down to -16'F and they still worked well, though I wasn't zooming around.
Either way, traction will be something between really poor and horrible.
A few weeks ago on the PSS tires I did our last autocross of the season, when I left home there was frost on the ground but it was sunny, the course was dry. My first few runs (in Sport) I couldn't use more than half throttle even after slowly getting up to about 40 mph, or the car would immediately go sideways. When the air got up to about 50' and I'd warmed the tires, traction was better but still noticeably less than during summer. My buddy on the Michelin AS tires totally cleaned my clock.
We have a set of the Michelin AS on another set of wheels, I haven't autocrossed on them but at any temperature they have enough grip for any driving that's sane on public roads. I've driven on them down to -16'F and they still worked well, though I wasn't zooming around.
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I too now have Michelin A/S 3+ ZPs on my car but when I had the original tires on there, I did not drive the car in temps below 40* - just not enough traction for my liking.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: Nashville TN
I have two sets of wheels and tires. Just put the A/S set on this week. We had some temps in the 40s, so it was time. Anything around 40 or below compromises the summer tires, and below freezing gets spooky unless you're extra cautious. I prefer the summer tires, buyt like the A/S for what they do in colder months... allow the car to be driven safely.
Attachment 48335553
Attachment 48335553
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2019
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From: Georgetown, Tx
This PDF brings into focus a call for proper tires while winter driving. I'll be moving quickly to locate a set of wheels and all season tires.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I wouldn't worry about it with the PSS ZP. If you have the PSS Cup2 tires you don't want to use or store them in temps below 20 degrees. The difference between the two is the PSS ZP is a full-fledged street tire (although a summer tire) while the Cup2 tire is truly a DOT R compound competition tire that is barely street legal and falls into the same category as the Hoosier A and R7 tires, Toyo R888 and others. The Cup2s have been known to suffer tread cracking when exposed to temps below 20 degrees. I have never seen reports of any issues with the PSS ZPs suffering any ill effects due to cold weather operation. Yes, it takes more skill to drive with them than it does a set of All Seasons due to having less grip in cold weather but that shouldn't be a big issue for drivers willing to learn how to use the throttle pedal properly.
Bill
Bill