for all the summer tires it says that it's not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures. if you were to drive such tires in near-freezing temperatures (not on snow or ice though), what would happen?? just wondering because I'm thinking about buying the OE S02s but i will have to drive in the cold winters (not snow or ice though).

 

Most summer tires have rubber compounds that get "rock hard" at cold temperatures, thus it is a terrible idea to use them in freezing temps, even without ice and snow present.

At anything below freezing you really should use winter tires designed for the cooler temps.

 

summer tires are crap under 50deg and get very dangerous in freezing temps. rubber gets hard that it vibrates the whole car. and easy to spin out on anything.
if you drive under 50deg either all season or second set of winter tires.

 

Would you wear roller skates on an ice rink?? Bad idea, so are summer tires in the winter.

 

If you don't want a "snow tire", at least get a set of hi-performance, all seasons like the P Zero Nero M+S or Yokohama AVS dB S2.

 

thanks guys--so the Yokohama AVS are good all seasons? can you guys recommend some other good all season tires that come in 205/50/16 and 245/45/16??

 

Keep in mind that All-Seasons do nothing particularly well and will limit the handling capabilities of this car. They are not good in the summer and are not good in the winter. Your best bet, if budget permits, is to have dedicated winter and summer tires.

 

All seasons are really kind of a waste of money for a car like this. And I find that my winter tires handle as well (if not better than) most all seasons.

 

I'm going to be up front with you.

it's suicide with S02s.

Straight up suicide.

 

hahaha thanks for the advice guys. since that's the case, koala, what winter tires are you using? I currently have Dunlop SP Winter Sport M2s which handle well in all weather conditions and keep the car remarkably stable even in the heaviest rain. but, they don't make the correct 245s for the rear. which should I get?