Is there a real issue in driving on these tires during the winter months when the temperature is in the 30's and 40's?

 

Issue? other than you might die? not really...


I have Nitto's on my car - summer tire - and they mean it.. in the cold you can feel they are hard and do NOT give the confidence in a corner they do on a hot summer day... Once the gound gets the slightest bit wet... Good bye! You're ice skating...

We won't even bother talking about snow.... for me, the car won't move.

 

Yea summer means summer. you drive those in the winter and you're really pushin it. The tire isn't made to perform in low temperatures or snow, ice, or super wet conditions.

Buy yourself a winter tires. I'm a DD of my GT and being in the midwest I opted for a set of Michellin xice xi2's. on a smaller 17 inch setup. They're winter tires- which means I wont use them to drive in the summer time. same idea.

 

They channel water okay when it rains, but under 40 degrees the rubber compound gets too hard and traction goes away big time. GT500's have summer only F1 SuperCar tires with a warning label in the door jamb not to drive in sub 40 degree weather. Don't risk it, get a set of winter wheels/tires to enjoy a TrackPack car year 'round.

 

The Mustang would be in the garage on a wet day; rain, ice or snow, etc. so wetness is not a concern. This car will be replacing my 1973 Corvette which is a 'nice day' car only. Living in Virginia the winter temps are usually above 40, like today it is 64F now anfdtomorrow it is forecast for low 50's. I am trying to avoid another set of the OEM 19" wheels and 'more' standard tires which will cost < $1500. I've been looking on ebay and have not seen a set of the OEM 19" wheels in th epast three months. During the winter days the car would just be driven around for 'exercise'. For everyday driving and the cold days and/or wet days the ole '94 F150 will be driven.

From the responses it appears that 40F would be the temperature cut off for driving time.

 

Here's an article on this topic. Here's the important part:

"Even when the temperature was above freezing, Winter tires were also shown to reduce braking distances. At 44 degrees Fahrenheit, on a road as wet as might be experienced during a snow melt, the braking distance from 56 MPH to 0 was reduced by 15 feet -- a full car length."

A short trip at 40 degrees on a completely dry road? I don't know. Maybe you should write to Pirelli and ask them exactly how they define summer and winter.

 

Never drive on summer tires in temps below 40 deg. unless you want to put a lot of people at risk. Trust me on this one. Buy a set of all-seasons or winter tires and a spare set of wheels and save yourself the hassle. Winter tires & rims will cost less than your insurance premiums increase & deductible.

 

It looks like Tire Rack already has the 2011 tires on their web site. They are a version of the same Pirelli's Ultra High Performance All-Season that they have been using for years now. Anybody have any experience with these?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...&filterType=oe

 

Yea the Pzero Nero are the all seasons on mine. I've driven in rain, snow, dry, 90 degrees and 10 degrees. basically a lot of conditions... Through snow and wet they were good. I mean I wasn't on edge with them, but just comparing it to a winter tire is like night and day. But they're a good compromise to all conditions. They handle quite well and hook up pretty decent in dry/hot. Granted they're no ultra dry performance tire, but if you don't drive like an Andretti all the time- who cares.

 

Man, I'll have to look for that, but yeah, the GY F1's are interesting to say the least below 40 degrees. Good thing the engine is very tractable once you get a handle on the clutch.

 

I have also had the "fun" of spinning tires on a FLAT road in a car with summer tires during the winter. The termperature was less than 40 degrees. As Five Oh and others mention, you lose grip quite dramatically because the rubber compound gets hard.

The Pirelli all-seasons on the optional 19" wheels on the '10 GT I got last month work on not only the lower termperature wet roads, but in light snow as well. I have driven around with 2" of snow on the ground and didn't feel unsettled doing it (watching speed and distance between other cars, of course).

If you occasionally drive your car around in winter on dry roads, it would be safest to do it when the temperature is above 40 degrees (more like 45) if you want to have a single set of tires.

 

You just don't push the car that hard. I have Pirelli Pzero Nspecs on the 997 and I have been driving around in 42deg F. weather and there is a loss in traction but nothing treacherous. Just dont plan on any hard driving. Also, the tire will heat up even in cold temps from the sidewall flexing all the time. Its still a DOT tire so you should be fine.

Dave

 

I only have summer tires on two of our cars (the Bullitt and Miata), and have driven them as low as 25-30°F in the winter when the roads were dry, as well as several other cars in the past with summer-only performance tires in the colder months. There was definitely a loss of traction compared to warmer temps, but it wasn't terribly dangerous as long as you realize and compensate for it. Where it really gets treacherous is when there is any precipitation on the road in colder temps, whether snow, ice, or rain. Definitely not worth the risk if there is ever a chance of driving it on snowy roads where you live.

A few years back I had to pick my mom up at work and take her home in a snow storm with a couple of inches of snow on the road. I was driving a FWD car with 150 hp and summer-only performance tires. It was so bad I stopped at my house on the way to take her home and swapped on all-season tires before continuing on. I can only imagine how much worse a RWD car with over 400 hp and summer tires would do in the snow.

Either get a winter beater or a set of different wheels with all-seasons for winter use if there is inclement weather where you live in the winter.

 

That is precisely why I would not drive summer onlys in low temperatures...it would STINK to get caught when it is wet. Of course, if one wouldn't be driving it much and trusts the weatherperson, you might be fine.

 

Do yourseves a favor: buy a set of cheaper wheels (that's what the 17" wheels are for, right?) and get some snow tires.
They just work. Period.

You can theoretically buy just rear snow tires... but I wouldn't advise it. You do all your braking and most of your turning with your fronts, so get all fours at once.

 

The problem with this advice is that the summer-only Pirellis for 2011 Mustangs come with the bigger Brembo brakes, and you may not be able to fit 17" or even some 18" wheels over them.

For 2010's though, this is great advice, and even a set of 2005-09 17" takeoff wheels/tires with the stock 235/55-17 Pirelli all-seasons, will get most people through the winter ok.

 

Wife's Charger came with all season Continentals, which were horrible. My daughter called the car the death mobile. We bough a set of Goodyear Ultragrip GW3 cop car tires, and the car is way more capable in the snow, actually comfortable. We replaced the Conti's (which were worn out after 15000 miles) with Dunlop SignatureSport all season tires. We had these on when we had our first snow, and though OK, they aren't as good as the winter tires.
When my daughter ordered her 2010, I convinced her not to get the track pack, but get the 3.73 package. She is happier, can drive in the snow until March and got to get her glass roof. She also won't be saddled with a $1200 tire replacement bill.

 

What 2011's, I don't see any 2011's. By the time 2011's see snow... it's going to be a month away from 2011.

I agree on the stock Pirelli's being ok for the winter: they work surprisingly well. But two full winters on the Pirelli's and half of one on snow tires have proven to me that the snow tires, even the cheap Generals Altimax Arctic's, are a level of reassurance that all seasons can't come close to touching.

 

I will not be getting the Brembo package for the 2011 just beacuse of the tires. It may only snow a few days a year, but I value being able to drive when I want and not when the weather allows.

 

How many people here have driven on a set of winter tires? If you haven't, you really don't know what you're missing. The level of confidence and traction is second to none. I'd buy a set of 18" replicas, then throw some Blizzaks or Pilot Alpin A3's on there in equivalent size, and you'd be set in the snow, ice, and cold weather. Great thing too is that if you don't really drive on the winters in warm weather, you won't be replacing them that frequent.