tires

[Ace]

i read a article that stated that cars with max summer tires should not driven if the temp is below 40 temp. can any one see/hear anything similar.

[Tom]

Welcome aboard Ace. We just had a thread about this, perhaps prompted by the same article. See that discussion here:

viewtopic.php?t=4599&start=10

[blueline]

There are a few Carpokean discussions and thoughts on the subject. Here's a recent thread with input that might help.

viewtopic.php?t=4599

[blueline]

Woops! My reply got caught in betweenland!

[P_Coastal]

i read a article that stated that cars with max summer tires should not driven if the temp is below 40 temp. can any one see/hear anything similar.

Michelin as an example:

"Summer tires are designed to be used during warmer months or throughout the year in places without winter weather. With a shallower tread pattern and a stiff, sticky tread compound that offers excellent grip on dry and wet surfaces, summer tires are specifically designed to deliver optimal performances in temperatures above 44.6°F (7°C)."

[WillyDaP]

One small item that is of some help is when the temperatures start warming and they hover around the high 30s and low 40s if you do go out consider pumping up your tire pressures 3-4 lbs all the way around. One of the concerns with Max Performance tires is that the aspect ratio is often 25 to 35% of the tire's width. In other words this is a very short sidewall and this means there is not alot of flex in turning and on a cold day that is hard on your air filled rubber donuts. Pumping the tires up gives them a small bit of sidewall strength and less of the tire's width is completely on the ground ( though a small amount ). Just a thought for those days you may need to push the envelope a little but the best thing to do with low profile , sticky rubber, is to just wait till it is warmer to run. Porsche is one of the companies that actively sells folks a set of winter wheels and tires as an option when a car is ordered , and this is a smart option for those who run alot during the cold months, imho.