Pirelli tires during winter storage
 

I have a co-worker who owns a 2012 Camaro that came with Pirelli summer tires. He said he heard on some forums that these tires can get ruined in the cold (cracking or becoming permanently hard). He drove his Camaro a lot during the winter (when it didnt snow) and he said this spring his tires were all the sudden horrible. He said they became very hard and had no grip, even when hot. He eventually got all new tires. Fall is coming soon, which eventually means winter. I will be storing my car all winter and I have the Brembo package that came with the Pirelli summer tires. Should I store the wheels and tires in a climate controlled area? Or is this all just BS? I am having scary thoughts of having to store the car on jack stands all winter!

Thanks

I have had mine for 2 years now. You know what I did to my tires/wheels for winter? Nothing. Just parked in garage and started every so often... No issues and no loss in grip.

How cold does your garage get during the winter though?

Iowa winters can get bitter. Not like Canada, but close :) Mine is not heated either.

If you're concerned, put the car on jack stands for the winter. Or for when you're not driving it at least. My last car would get some flat spots on the tires after sitting for a while in the winter, but they would work themselves out after a bit of driving... doubt you would have any issues with the tires either way

Uggh he said Fall is coming soon.

"They" say the tire compound of these tires doesn't like cold, and they should be stored in a place that doesn't get below ~50F. Apparently freezing temps can ruin the tires. Some would consider that a godsend and a good excuse... :)

Mine is a DD and I take my summer tires and wheels off and store in the corner of my non heated garage in IL. I use an all year tire October through March then put the other wheels and Pzeros back on April through September. About 6000 total miles on Pzeros (1000 last summer, 5000 this summer so far). Bought the car last year July 25. No problems, although they are really not that good to begin with. If they die... Good buy others, but storage in cold, no problem. Driving... A different story.

Did someone say Canada lol! Well, here in Toronto it does get cold but not as cold as the Prairies. I also will just park the car in my garage and its not heated either. And yes the tires will flatten out but it should be fine if you take it out to give it a stretch once in a while.

thanks for the responses. I just want to clarify though, that I'm not worried about flat spots. That is the least of my concerns. I will rotate the tires around every week. I'm more worried about the compound of the tire being affected by the cold

I drove with mine until my winter tires got here last year. They do handle like crap when they are cold but no ill affects after I put the Pirelli's back on in the spring.

Not sure how rubber would be affected from a material perspective by the cold. It should not go thru any changes that would affect it. No temps below 50 or whatever is related to the rubber becoming hard and limiting traction. I have used summer only tires year round before with no issues aside from a little traction loss in snow! Ok, massive traction loss in snow but what an experience in car control!!

Ha! I'm considering buying 20" charcoal AMR's with Mickey Thompson street comp summer tires and keeping them on all year.

I hated switching out my 19" Brembo wheels with summer tires to ugly stock all seasons for five months of the year.

I forgot to mention that I start mine 2x a month or so, let warm for a bit then move car in garage to allow for a different spot for tire contact.

Ps ... Yes she is always trickle charged.

Mine were stored in an unheated garage last winter (in frosty New England). I even took her out in "warmer" winter days (when no salt was on the roads) with no ill effects.

you guys all had the Pirelli tires, right??

I have the track package with pirelli's

Yep, Stock P-Zeros.
BTW mine are stored in a Semi heated garage off the car laying on their side stacked.

I know, right?!?! No more fall and no more winters!! lol :nice:

so did you leave the car on jack stands all winter?

and lol about the "he said fall" thing. Sorry to depress you guys. I'm not happy about it either, but it is coming