Porsche 718 Forum banner
1 - 20 of 20 Posts

· Registered
Joined
·
2,203 Posts
I have never before had a car with summer tires. What is the minimum outside temperature in which a car with summer tires can be safely driven?

Depends, on dry roads you can drive under freezing point (with caution) but wet roads at 0-5 degrees C calls for winter tires.
And is there snow on the roads winter tires is a must!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
702 Posts
When temperatures go below 10 degrees C, the rubber on summer tyre's gets 'harder' and they lose their grip.
With winter tyre's it's best to not use them above 10 degrees C,or they will wear down quickly.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,203 Posts
When temperatures go below 10 degrees C, the rubber on summer tyre's gets 'harder' and they lose their grip.
With winter tyre's it's best to not use them above 10 degrees C,or they will wear down quickly.



Were live the winter temp can go between +15/C to -20/C in a day or two :/
Also the M/S tires that we use have the best grip in snow and awful grip in the wet.
So for me in the south of Sweden should use the EU model M/S for best result but they are illegal in Sweden!!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
702 Posts
Were live the winter temp can go between +15/C to -20/C in a day or two :/
Also the M/S tires that we use have the best grip in snow and awful grip in the wet.
So for me in the south of Sweden should use the EU model M/S for best result but they are illegal in Sweden!!
Darn, I always taught the Swedish government was quite rational, asks for a change in legislation. In Belgium we hardly see snow, most people change to winter tyre's while temps are above 10 degrees C, the tyre companies are really pleased with this. Snow tyres are also forbidden here. I manage to drive all year with summer tyre's , is a bit more fun too, keeps you on your toes >:D
 

· Premium Member
Joined
·
1,891 Posts
@Swdea : If anyone on this forum has an understanding of the temperature limits of summer tires, it's a Swede like @johan . ;)

Even so, I'll add some info:
- In the interest of measuring in Fahrenheit: In the U.S., most tire manufacturers emplore folks not to run on summer performance tires below 40 degrees F -- and a couple forbid it to the point where warranties will be void if the tire is found to have deterioration consistent with low-temperature use.
- Some summer tires will deteriorate quicker than others, both performance-wise and physically. In past years, both Goodyears and Yokohamas both had a reputation for exhibiting cracking in temps as low as the high teens F. When I had the Yoko Advans on my 718 the first nine months or so of ownership, I watched them CAREfully during the winter here in Texas, particularly during a couple of times where overnight temps dipped into the teens F. They ended up being fine.
- The above points are compounded (pun partially intended) by storage on (and of) max summer tires. Generally, they should not even be exposed, either indoors or outdoors, to temperatures below 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit or so. So for even those who use winter tires, the summers need to be stored somewhere that's protected from the elements and (somewhat) heated.

In my experience, as well as the experience of two good friends who have done tire testing for Continental and Goodyear (part of the reason I have some knowledge about all of this), one can run most summer tires:
- Down to about 38 degrees F, after which the rubber hardens to the point where, as one of those pals likes to say, 'it's like driving on hockey pucks'.
- At that temperature, the tires are still driveable and will still grip somewhat, but they will not 'warm up' like they usually do, and they do not take lateral (cornering) or stretch (braking/acceleration) stress well. Basically, drive like you're driving in an area that might have ice. One can generally tell when summers are near or at this point if the tires emit a high-pitched 'squeak' on polished concrete while the steering wheel is being turned.
- Never, never, ever drive on summer tires below the freezing point F. Even if the tires can take it, there's too much environmentally that can cause bad things to happen.

Hope this helps.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Swdea and johan

· Registered
Joined
·
2,203 Posts
Darn, I always taught the Swedish government was quite rational, asks for a change in legislation. In Belgium we hardly see snow, most people change to winter tyre's while temps are above 10 degrees C, the tyre companies are really pleased with this. Snow tyres are also forbidden here. I manage to drive all year with summer tyre's , is a bit more fun too, keeps you on your toes >:D

The goverment can be pretty anal sometimes, but the list with Ok tires is made for our safety, so in a way it is a Win.
Half of Sweden have constant snow between December and April, thats the reason for it.


Snow tires, like the ones with spikes?
Good on ice, useless on snow!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
702 Posts
The goverment can be pretty anal sometimes, but the list with Ok tires is made for our safety, so in a way it is a Win.
Half of Sweden have constant snow between December and April, thats the reason for it.

Those are true winter's, here even winter tires are not obligated by law, because most parts of the country never have "hard" winter conditions.

Snow tires, like the ones with spikes?
Good on ice, useless on snow!
Indeed the spike tires ;) Must be cool to drive on frozen lakes with them :D
 

· Registered
Joined
·
679 Posts
Nothing scientific, but in my personal experience, I tend to notice summer tire traction starts to lessen at around 45F.

A lot of people don't realize that [studless] winter tires perform better not just in snow and ice, but even cold, but dry conditions as well (even over all-season tires). I've read about some people switching from summer tires to all-season tires, which doesn't make much sense to me. If you're already going through the hassle of swapping tires, might as well get the best tires for each season!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
147 Posts
Discussion Starter · #13 ·
@Swdea : If anyone on this forum has an understanding of the temperature limits of summer tires, it's a Swede like @johan . ;)

Even so, I'll add some info:
- In the interest of measuring in Fahrenheit: In the U.S., most tire manufacturers emplore folks not to run on summer performance tires below 40 degrees F -- and a couple forbid it to the point where warranties will be void if the tire is found to have deterioration consistent with low-temperature use.
- Some summer tires will deteriorate quicker than others, both performance-wise and physically. In past years, both Goodyears and Yokohamas both had a reputation for exhibiting cracking in temps as low as the high teens F. When I had the Yoko Advans on my 718 the first nine months or so of ownership, I watched them CAREfully during the winter here in Texas, particularly during a couple of times where overnight temps dipped into the teens F. They ended up being fine.
- The above points are compounded (pun partially intended) by storage on (and of) max summer tires. Generally, they should not even be exposed, either indoors or outdoors, to temperatures below 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit or so. So for even those who use winter tires, the summers need to be stored somewhere that's protected from the elements and (somewhat) heated.

In my experience, as well as the experience of two good friends who have done tire testing for Continental and Goodyear (part of the reason I have some knowledge about all of this), one can run most summer tires:
- Down to about 38 degrees F, after which the rubber hardens to the point where, as one of those pals likes to say, 'it's like driving on hockey pucks'.
- At that temperature, the tires are still driveable and will still grip somewhat, but they will not 'warm up' like they usually do, and they do not take lateral (cornering) or stretch (braking/acceleration) stress well. Basically, drive like you're driving in an area that might have ice. One can generally tell when summers are near or at this point if the tires emit a high-pitched 'squeak' on polished concrete while the steering wheel is being turned.
- Never, never, ever drive on summer tires below the freezing point F. Even if the tires can take it, there's too much environmentally that can cause bad things to happen.

Hope this helps.
This is extremely helpful. Thank you.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,203 Posts
Today on Pirelli Zero, 4*C and a bit of rain in second gear @ 2500rpm.
It does not take much for the back wheels to loose traction, switch the traction Control to Sport and it start to be really funny ;)


Another way to notice that it starts to getting Cold is when the front tires start to jump at low speeds/Sharp turns.
So it is time over here to put on the Winter tires :)
 

· Registered
Joined
·
717 Posts
Another way to notice that it starts to getting Cold is when the front tires start to jump at low speeds/Sharp turns.

This happens to me at about 50F, with the yokohamas. They are very unimpressive when it gets a bit cold. The rears are super easy to spin under acceleration if there is even the hint of dampness on any paint. I'll be switching to winter tires in a few months, and dumping the yokohamas for michelin pilot sport 4s next year.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,203 Posts
This happens to me at about 50F, with the yokohamas. They are very unimpressive when it gets a bit cold. The rears are super easy to spin under acceleration if there is even the hint of dampness on any paint. I'll be switching to winter tires in a few months, and dumping the yokohamas for michelin pilot sport 4s next year.


Pirelli Zeros also starts to behave bad at 60-50F (15-10C)
In some thread a member did some tracking with the Zeros and it took big chunks of rubber from the fronts....
I will also go for the PS4S next year :)


Some years back i was way to late to change tires and it ended up with me on snowy roads with PS2 on the car.
I manage to get back home without any incidents, there is No Way i could have done theat with the Zeros!!
If anybody wants a adrenaline rush, now you know what to do...
 

· Registered
Joined
·
82 Posts
I have never before had a car with summer tires. What is the minimum outside temperature in which a car with summer tires can be safely driven?
My dealer recommends installing winter tires when the outside air temperature is less than 45 degrees (F.) 90% of the time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Swdea

· Registered
Joined
·
258 Posts
I'll "run" summer tires down to close to freezing here in Texas. However, any snow and it will be parked, period.

You have to be extra, extra careful running summer tires in Temperatures below 40 degrees.

Also, if Summer tires get well below freezing for any period of time, I do not advise driving on them until they are allowed to come back up to temperature. Some summer compounds will crack and otherwise when cold and caused to flex.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
717 Posts
I'll "run" summer tires down to close to freezing here in Texas. However, any snow and it will be parked, period.

You have to be extra, extra careful running summer tires in Temperatures below 40 degrees.

Also, if Summer tires get well below freezing for any period of time, I do not advise driving on them until they are allowed to come back up to temperature. Some summer compounds will crack and otherwise when cold and caused to flex.

The first and last track days of the season here in the north east of the US you get tempertures just above freezing at times! It can be very slippery then.
 
1 - 20 of 20 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top