I have asked and gotten many opinions on the decal in the door jamb of my Boss about not driving in temps below 40 degrees. The tire warranty manual says 45 degrees. I called Pirelli and the lady that answered said that "I just wouldn't get the same performance out the tires". I told her that i don't need performance just want to get from point A to point B and back. She said "i'd be fine"...........a little too non-caring sounding was the problem. Hopefully someone from FORD will read this and give a firm answer.........I'd rather not find an answer as my car gets pulled out a ditch. >

 

You'll be fine. You'll have reduced grip but as long as you don't expect to floor it everywhere, the car will stop just fine.

 

The stock Boss (and Brembo Pkg) Pirellis get very hard when the temps drop below 40F. This means they don't grip the road very well. Add in the fact that they also do not have sipes in the tread also means that even in a light snow they are pretty much useless. Even in a decent rain they are not the greatest. When a car manufactuer says a tire is 'summer only' they mean 'summer only', for safety reasons.

So when you're upside down in a ditch with your Boss you can't sue Ford for driving on 'summer only' tires in 20F weather.

 

Welcome to tms!

 

Summer tires basically turn into pencil erasers below 50 degrees. They wear stupid fast and are slicker than snot.

Get a set of 18s off a GT500 and some Blizzaks (if you're in the snow belt) or a good all-season tire (if you're not). Or spend that $1800 on a beater for the winter and spare the Boss.

 

I've been driving my 2011 GT on "Summer Only" tires for the last 9k miles. Last winter was interesting, but we don't get snow very often down here. Below 40, the car would stop just fine. But I can spin the tires through 4th if I get on it. I could still get pretty aggressive once the tires were warmed up, but you just have to treat your car like you're driving in the rain during the summer. Just be aware of it and you'll be just fine.

 

From a post I did yesterday, and this was in the high 50's:

Today I drove my car to an early lunch and it was still in the 50's, pretty cool for here. Anyway as I was getting on the FWY I like to practice my drifting moves and I was surprised how quickly my car rotated in the cooler weather. I almost lost it but my friend thought it was pretty neat.

 

danger Will Robinson DANGER. Once they do let loose there will be no getting control back untill you stop. But I bet you would be alright if you don't try to be speed racer.

 

Someone from Ford answered this question on BMO and said don't drive your car when it's under 40 with the stock Pirelli's. I think he said the tires turn into "hockey pucks".

 

Hahahahaha

 

Gonna strongly disagree with this. I've had my car sideways at 70mph with all four tires not gripping well and recovered without too much effort. It's all about the drivers skill and ability to remain calm IF you get the tires that loose.

 

+1. I've gotten pretty good at drifting four different corners on my drive to work. Tires getting thin fast though lol

 

No kidding! Even in the summer, it's SOOOOOO easy to get these cars sideways! I LOVE it! Wife is pissed though. I'm gonna need new rear tires soon. LOL!

 

I have a set of Blizzaks on a 18" wheel that I WAS going to put off on installing till December 1st, but today...October 29th I woke up too SNOW on my car....oh and I laid into it leaving my house 1-3 was funny and left some nice marks from the spin fest in the cold haha

 

It was 32 degrees when I got in my Boss 302 this morning. The fact that I am writing this post now confirms the over exaggeration of said warning. True summer high performance tires aren't at their best in sub 50 degree weather, but they aren't un-driveable either.

 

Thanks for all the input...........my concern is on a nice winter day........clear no snow or ice ............is to just drive the car easy as if it was a pinto..............just to enjoy a mid day ride and then park it back in the garage. you guys have basically said no problem....just dont get crazy. thanks!

 

well the BOSS stock tires are AWESOME in the rain and i just drove home in the SNOW.... granted it was laying on the road yet, and its not coming back out till the roads are clear......

 

had my stock summer only perellis out in 7* weather..

no different then driving in 30*..

just dont floor it.. drive slower and stop sooner and you will be fine...

dont use them in the snow.. even a llight dusting was near impossible to get moving.. had no choice to drive in those conditions..
when possible i drive my GF car in bad weather.. but sometimes you have no choice, and have to do what you have to do..

 

You will have less traction for not only accelerating, but stopping and turning too. Note that old tires also have this problem (as do cheap tires), and if you ever track your car you may have plenty of tread, but the heat cycles will have hardened the tires to the point where they have no grip. (and ruin your track weekend)

 

The first session in my first track day in the Boss was in a steady rain. The stock Pirelli's worked much better than I expected even at speeds North of 80 MPH.