The agony of Summer Tires in the Fall/Winter
#1
Advanced
Thread Starter
The agony of Summer Tires in the Fall/Winter
Four times in the past month, I couldn’t drive my C7 to work on a day with clear blue skies because temps were below 40 degrees. What a bummer. GM Bulletin 13-03-10-001A: "Information on Tire Cold Weather Cracking" – (Jan 30, 2014) advises “avoid driving, moving, or test-driving vehicles equipped with high-performance summer-only tires below 20º F as operating at these temperatures can cause damage to the tires.” The GM bulletin advises not to drive the vehicle at 40 degrees and below "Advise customers ... summer only tire that will have reduced traction performance at temperatures below approximately 40F...It is recommended that suitable Winter Tires be fitted below this temperature." To comply with these warnings, I ordered a set of Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season Plus (Ultra-High Performance Sport) from Tires Plus a month ago. The rear tires (P285/35ZR19) are on back-order and when I contacted Michelin about their availability, I was told these tires were not in the production schedule for at least the next 4 weeks.
Last edited by Lmmgr; 11-16-2015 at 02:15 PM. Reason: Punctuation
#2
Burning Brakes
I hear ya! However, I drive my Vette at temps below 40 but above 32. First, it sits in a garage that is at least 10 degrees warmer than the outside temp starting off. It doesn't take many miles for the tires to show "warm" in the DIC. Run it in "eco" or "weather" mode if it's really cold and just take it easy. Not had any issues. Not saying this is what you should do, it's just what I do.
I am going to get another set of wheels and go with an all season tire on the near future.
I am going to get another set of wheels and go with an all season tire on the near future.
#3
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Dec 2008
Location: Mount Airy NC
Posts: 2,073
Received 560 Likes
on
379 Posts
C7 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I took the plung today and ordered DWS 06 tires today and will get them installed Monday. I'll pick up a second set of wheels and remount my summer tires on those this spring.
Last edited by chefcg1; 11-16-2015 at 06:13 PM.
#4
Huh? The bulletin tells you not to drive below 20 F and to be careful below 40 F. Just don't drive like an idiot. Your tires aren't going to suddenly become butter because it is 39.9 F. I drove my mustang on summer tires in temperatures of 15-20 F, feels just like driving in pouring rain, less traction but its fine. They are just trying to cover their *** legally.
The following users liked this post:
1ccrider (11-16-2015)
#6
Safety Car
The problem with "be careful below 40F" is that you can't always control things. If you need to make an emergency stop because someone else does something stupid, braking distances will be longer. Potentially quite a bit longer.
I prefer not to take the chance. MHO, YMMV, to each his own.
I prefer not to take the chance. MHO, YMMV, to each his own.
Last edited by meyerweb; 11-16-2015 at 06:58 PM.
#7
Race Director
#9
Safety Car
I drive mine until they start laying brine or salt down. I don't drive it below 30 degrees but I have had no issues with traction as long as I don't try and accelerate too fast. That is not easy at my power level.
#10
cool tires
When I picked up my 2014 z51 it was 5 degrees out. no problems.
#12
Instructor
Although I drove my 2015 throughout the frigid Virginia winter last year in temps as low as -10 (yes, minus 10), I won't do it this year. Last year was pure ignorance, although I did get back and forth to work every day. My question is, what does everyone do with a near-perfectly good set of OEM summer-only tires when they put the A/S tires on? Keep them, store them, sell them?
#13
Advanced
Great looking tires! Thanks for the pic. Now don't burn them up unless that hellcat pulls up next to you at a stoplight. It's Sat. Night 2 snot nose punks drinking schlitz beer and passing a joint eyeball you. They start reving the motor. You look over and all you see is a mike Tyson lightning bolt tatoo on the passengers face. On further inspection you notice a mom tattoo on his boyfriend driver. What are you gonna do worry bout your new tires!
#14
Race Director
Member Since: Aug 1999
Location: Bluffton SC via Canton Oh
Posts: 11,351
Received 1,983 Likes
on
1,142 Posts
Acceleration can be controlled a panic stop cannot!!! Think about that!
#17
Safety Car
Although I drove my 2015 throughout the frigid Virginia winter last year in temps as low as -10 (yes, minus 10), I won't do it this year. Last year was pure ignorance, although I did get back and forth to work every day. My question is, what does everyone do with a near-perfectly good set of OEM summer-only tires when they put the A/S tires on? Keep them, store them, sell them?
The following users liked this post:
MarCorpsMustang (11-22-2015)
#18
Pro
Last week I had the Continental Extreme DWS A/S tires put on for the winter. They ride and handle great. I went for a 75 mile drive yesterday in 30 degree temps. It was a blast! This car is WAAAYY to much fun not to drive. If the sun is out and the roads are dry....I'm driving!
When Spring rolls around, I too will get a second set of wheels for the summer rubber...
-M
#19
Le Mans Master
Although I drove my 2015 throughout the frigid Virginia winter last year in temps as low as -10 (yes, minus 10), I won't do it this year. Last year was pure ignorance, although I did get back and forth to work every day. My question is, what does everyone do with a near-perfectly good set of OEM summer-only tires when they put the A/S tires on? Keep them, store them, sell them?
#20
Instructor