PSS and Cold Weather

[JeffRichter]

With a change in career I no longer have a company truck to drive daily and now drove the 135 year round. We had a cold snap here overnight and with the temps in the low 40's and I noticed the following. While taking off from a light I notice what seems to be the rear end spinning when hitting the paint stripes. I am not taking off any harder than usual and it is dry out. The car is a 6spd with only performance exhaust and no other mods.
So after all that, at what temperature do the PSS seem to harden or could it be the car just runs much better in the cold rather than warmer temps?

Thanks

[Kgolf31]

High performance tires don't like temperatures below ~50F

The compound hardens in these temperatures and effective grip drops of the cliff.

[IEDEI]

it was 45 degrees and rainy today in NYC.

i felt the same stuff on my PSS....they felt hard and easy to break loose. Summer tires really suck in temperatures under 50 as mentioned above me.....but in the wet under 50 they are even worse!

will change over to winter tires in the next 2 weeks when it is regularly under 50.....

[JeffRichter]

Thanks -- That is what I was thinking

[Diver]

The tires do warm up after a while.

[Zombie1]

Yeah PSS suck in sub 50 degree weather. I dont want to put my old RFTs back on but i dont want to spend money on tires ugh.

[dm1628]

I run Hankook Ventus V12s on my 135i year round in Philadelphia. Yes, the grip is less, but not to such an extreme where daily driving is a problem. When the temps drop into the 40s and below, I take it easy and drive like anyone else. I've even made it through little bit of snow before. Just had to be slow and brake softly, early. It's not my favorite time to drive, but it's definitely doable.

Also, my dad drove his E93 M3 on PSS's in the winter without a problem. His approach was the same as mine: less fun, but more safe driving in the colder months.

[DS/B MCS]

Had Star Specs on my S2000 and it only took a couple weeks of cold weather before I decided another trip to Discount Tire for some All-Seasons was in order.

[Stvee]

Originally Posted by dm1628

I run Hankook Ventus V12s on my 135i year round in Philadelphia. Yes, the grip is less, but not to such an extreme where daily driving is a problem. When the temps drop into the 40s and below, I take it easy and drive like anyone else. I've even made it through little bit of snow before. Just had to be slow and brake softly, early. It's not my favorite time to drive, but it's definitely doable.

Also, my dad drove his E93 M3 on PSS's in the winter without a problem. His approach was the same as mine: less fun, but more safe driving in the colder months.

I think the Hankook V12's do a little better in the cold than most summer tires. I had them on my Evo when we got an early snow one year and they had no problem at all gripping in the snow.

[fcman]

Just stay inside, you remember last year. If it drops below 50 just work from home LOL.

[Qunadry]

Try Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3's. I replaced the OEM Dunlop's on my car last spring and they have been great as it gets colder here. No problems even below freezing. Usually by now I would have already put on my winter wheels/snow tires. May be able to go until mid-December this year.

[chris82]

Originally Posted by dm1628

I run Hankook Ventus V12s on my 135i year round in Philadelphia. Yes, the grip is less, but not to such an extreme where daily driving is a problem. When the temps drop into the 40s and below, I take it easy and drive like anyone else. I've even made it through little bit of snow before. Just had to be slow and brake softly, early. It's not my favorite time to drive, but it's definitely doable.

Also, my dad drove his E93 M3 on PSS's in the winter without a problem. His approach was the same as mine: less fun, but more safe driving in the colder months.

If you're careful, you can do it. Last year I had to take a 3hr trip on the highway at night, in ~30 degree temps, freezing rain, and high winds (even 18 wheelers were pulling over lol). I had the Max Summer RE050A RFTs on and was quite impressed with how they did despite all that. spun out instantly going up my driveway though :/

[andrey_gta]

PSS work okay in cold as long as its Not below freezing, not wet, and you drive gently as if the ground has snow. Duhh

[Lucky1]

You guys are crazy, soon as the temps drop I take the summer performance tires off and the winters go on. If you can slip in your DRIVEWAY without much effort you can sure as heck slip on roads with other drivers and cars to worry about, especially around turns.

[Jockey]

I drove with my PSSs up in RI all through the very cold winter last year. If the roads were dry, all good. Any moisture and I drove the Jeep.

Just don't drive like a jackass when it's cold out and the PSS do just fine in cold weather.

[darkrom]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

You guys are crazy, soon as the temps drop I take the summer performance tires off and the winters go on. If you can slip in your DRIVEWAY without much effort you can sure as heck slip on roads with other drivers and cars to worry about, especially around turns.

Shitty all seasons handle better in the winter than the best performance tires. Do it right and put on summers when its warm and winter tires in the winter. Simple and you have proper grip all year

[ptack]

PSSs have been fine so far. Winter wheels will probably go on before Thanksgiving depending on the weather. Been warmer than usual for a few weeks.

[lowbudgethero]

I just drive cautiously until December when I put my winters on. Can I light up the PSS tires on a whim, yes, but I don't have to. As long as it's not below freezing the summer tires do warm up and lateral grip for "spirited" street driving is just fine, it just take a little bit longer for the heat to get into the tires. I also have a saab 9-3 for the less than ideal weather like the occasional early freak snow storm.

[128Convertibleguy]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

High performance tires don't like temperatures below ~50F

The compound hardens in these temperatures and effective grip drops of the cliff.

+1. It's why I got ultra high performance all seasons as my "summer" tire. Give up a bit of ultimate grip I rarely would use, get far more consistent performance in different temperatures. The alternatives of driving differently or running winter tires when spring and fall nights are cold make no sense for me.

[JimD]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

High performance tires don't like temperatures below ~50F

The compound hardens in these temperatures and effective grip drops of the cliff.

Sorry but I got to say BS on that. The compound difference is tiny as is any difference in grip with temperature. I drive all winter on my PSS tires. Winter here rarely goes below freezing, however, and almost never involves snow. If snow is threatened I drive my SUV. I do not want to play with the bimmer with the PSS on snow or ice but cold weather is just not an issue.

That said, I think anybody who ignores conditions will wreck their car sooner or later. Cold temperatures are not a big deal until they get around freezing and then it makes ice possible. PSS tires are very good in the wet but wet and cold is even more ice likely.

I am not claiming PSS are good winter tires. I think they're OK if you are like me and live pretty far south and have another plan if there is frozen precipitation around. If you are in the North without a backup plan, I would get all seasons. Winter tires are also OK, of course, but I think all seasons give up little in the summer or winter so that is what I've done.

[CAVU]

I work with a complete jackass who drives his Mustang GT all winter, even in ice and snow, wearing the stock summer tires. He has the means to get some winter tires but thinks he can handle his car in the snow.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by JimD

Sorry but I got to say BS on that. The compound difference is tiny as is any difference in grip with temperature. I drive all winter on my PSS tires. Winter here rarely goes below freezing, however, and almost never involves snow. If snow is threatened I drive my SUV. I do not want to play with the bimmer with the PSS on snow or ice but cold weather is just not an issue.

That said, I think anybody who ignores conditions will wreck their car sooner or later. Cold temperatures are not a big deal until they get around freezing and then it makes ice possible. PSS tires are very good in the wet but wet and cold is even more ice likely.

I am not claiming PSS are good winter tires. I think they're OK if you are like me and live pretty far south and have another plan if there is frozen precipitation around. If you are in the North without a backup plan, I would get all seasons. Winter tires are also OK, of course, but I think all seasons give up little in the summer or winter so that is what I've done.

please tell me this is a joke.

you seriously think temperature doesn't effect rubber compounds?

why do winter tires burn up in the summer, but still stay soft in the winter?

driving on any high performance tire, 30 degrees difference will change grip levels and it will be easy to notice.

whatever though, you think rubber isn't effected by temperature so I'll let you keep on thinking that