Sumer Tires and Winter cold
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From: Indianapolis, IN
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From: Ontario Canada
Gary, IMO there is nothing worse than hitting black ice, if I lived in your region I'd get a set of winter tires with a good ice rating, rather than needing to worry much about snow accumulations. You may only encounter black ice in rare instances but once you hit that stuff it can change your life forever, especially in a RWD vehicle. The ice rated tire will also help in dry cold conditions.
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FWIW, I usually drive my s2k till the first sight of freezing wet stuff. I've had Sumitomo HTR Z3's as well. I've driven it when temps are in the low 30's and like others said, just be careful and mindful and you should be fine. I haven't noticed them to be particularly bad, although I'm sure cold and wet you'd have to be a little more careful. Like anything, you just need to exercise some caution and see how the tires feel. Try a few hard stops in the cold and see how they perform.
Now, you probably could use them in the snow (we all know someone that's run summer tires in the snow), but again, it takes more attention, and you have to understand that traction will be limited. Having a second car for the winter if you get snow regularly seems like a better idea, but you certainly CAN drive it in the snow.
Now, you probably could use them in the snow (we all know someone that's run summer tires in the snow), but again, it takes more attention, and you have to understand that traction will be limited. Having a second car for the winter if you get snow regularly seems like a better idea, but you certainly CAN drive it in the snow.
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Ive driven my star specs in snowy weather. There is a noticeable loss in grip, but we made it home. If I lived up north I'd have two sets of wheels. jm2c.
Just go with all seasons...there is no need for "snow" tires on an s2000. If you need snow tires on an S...you need another car for winter
Ive driven my star specs in snowy weather. There is a noticeable loss in grip, but we made it home. If I lived up north I'd have two sets of wheels. jm2c.
Just go with all seasons...there is no need for "snow" tires on an s2000. If you need snow tires on an S...you need another car for winter
It is OK to drive the S2000 on summer tires (provided one is not hammering it) when all the snow has melted and the roads are dry, but you still have to deal with things like black ice and road salt corrosion. Best to pack up the car during the winter and drive a beater OR get a set of blizzaks mounted on AP1 wheels. Anything more than a light dusting on the ground magnifies risks.
We have a bunch of long-time owners Upstate that drive the cars all year. They all use a set of dedicated snows for the winter.
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From: California
Originally Posted by PureFunction' timestamp='1381728032' post='22826093
Summer tires are still going to grip better than all seasons when it is dry out, even when it is cold.
I do agree that summer tires are absolutely junk when it comes to traction in snow. Also the slightest bit of moisture on the road can affect summer tires quite a bit.
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Gary, IMO there is nothing worse than hitting black ice, if I lived in your region I'd get a set of winter tires with a good ice rating, rather than needing to worry much about snow accumulations. You may only encounter black ice in rare instances but once you hit that stuff it can change your life forever, especially in a RWD vehicle. The ice rated tire will also help in dry cold conditions.
2. Not much recourse with black ice!
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No!!
summer tires get rock hard and lose most of their grip at tempuratures under 40F. Their rubber compound is designed to work at higher ambient temperatures.
This is what Bridgestone says about the AP2 OEM Potenza RE050s in their own description of the tire-----"It is not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice." and what they say about the AP1 OEM Potenza S-02 ----- "Bridgestone S-02 and Potenza S-02 tires are tuned for dry and wet conditions, but like all summer tires are not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice."
May want to give Jim at Tire Rack a call to discuss pros and cons of each option---he's the one that covers this tire forum for Tire Rack. He lives over in South Bend so he'll be familar with Indy weather and he drives an S2000 himself. You can call Tire Rack and ask for him.
http://blog.tirerack.com/blog/motors...-and-negatives
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...sp?techid=220&
good comparision on the differences between summer, all seaseon, and snow tires---
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=116
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From: California
Originally Posted by PureFunction' timestamp='1381728032' post='22826093
Summer tires are still going to grip better than all seasons when it is dry out, even when it is cold.
No!!
summer tires get rock hard and lose most of their grip at tempuratures under 40F. Their rubber compound is designed to work at higher ambient temperatures.
This is what Bridgestone says about the AP2 OEM Potenza RE050s in their own description of the tire-----"It is not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice." and what they say about the AP1 OEM Potenza S-02 ----- "Bridgestone S-02 and Potenza S-02 tires are tuned for dry and wet conditions, but like all summer tires are not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice."
May want to give Jim at Tire Rack a call to discuss pros and cons of each option---he's the one that covers this tire forum for Tire Rack. He lives over in South Bend so he'll be familar with Indy weather and he drives an S2000 himself. You can call Tire Rack and ask for him.
http://blog.tirerack.com/blog/motors...-and-negatives
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...sp?techid=220&
good comparision on the differences between summer, all seaseon, and snow tires---
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=116
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Originally Posted by jetboater' timestamp='1381773065' post='22826961
[quote name='PureFunction' timestamp='1381728032' post='22826093']Summer tires are still going to grip better than all seasons when it is dry out, even when it is cold.
[/quote]
Glad you shared your personal experience with us.....
but I'm taking every manufacturer's summer tire's recommendations not to use them under 40 degrees rather than one person who is making an all encompassing statement on an internet forum based on his own experience (post #6---"Summer tires are still going to grip better than all seasons when it is dry out, even when it is cold") rather than the back to back testing the manufacturers and Tire Rack have done.
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From: California
Originally Posted by PureFunction' timestamp='1381850023' post='22828465
[quote name='jetboater' timestamp='1381773065' post='22826961'][quote name='PureFunction' timestamp='1381728032' post='22826093']Summer tires are still going to grip better than all seasons when it is dry out, even when it is cold.
[/quote]
Glad you shared your personal experience with us.....but I'm taking the manufacturers of the tire's recommendations (who has nothing to gain by making the recommendation---folks could just as easily buy that manufacturer's all seasons which carry no warning) and not using my summer tires below 40 degrees
[/quote]
I dont have anything to gain from this either. Im just tired of people talking about summer tires like they are dangerous when its dry out. They are perfectly safe in dry conditions.