Running Summer Tires on cold, dry days | FerrariChat

Running Summer Tires on cold, dry days

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by 2000 456M, Dec 30, 2012.

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  1. 2000 456M

    2000 456M F1 World Champ

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    I realize this is kind of basic, but I recently replaced the all-season performance tires that came with my car when I bought it with summer tires, Nitto 555s. In western Oregon, there are so few nice days between November and April, all season tires on a second set of wheels aren't really cost-effective. Well, the forecast this week is for a rare run of sunny days with the temperature ranging between 30 and 46.

    Any advice re taking the car out, warming up the tires, etc.? I just don't feel like plowing into an Armco barrier now that I've finally got everything sorted out,(even the wrinkled leather on the rear parcel shelf is done) but if I can't push the car a little bit, what's the point?
     
  2. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

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    Be gentle don't use maximum revs in lower gears & if temp remains low beware of bends that may still have ice in shadows & enjoy
     
  3. GTS Bruce

    GTS Bruce Formula Junior

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    Be very careful. Not much stickum below 40F.
     
  4. 2000 456M

    2000 456M F1 World Champ

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    This was kind of my thought and why I asked. It's 32 outside right now and I was planning to go for a drive, but it didn't seem like such a great idea.
     
  5. F355steve

    F355steve Formula 3

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    I drove my 355 with extreem summer tires in the winter, freezing or near freezing temps, and had no issues. Just be careful and don't push it in the corners.
     
  6. 2000 456M

    2000 456M F1 World Champ

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    Thanks. I'm about to go out with temp around 35.
     
  7. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Allan- Work fine, but stopping distances are increased and cornering limits are lower. Take it really easy until the tires are warm and then just take it easy. I drive in those conditions all the time because cold, sunny days are the norm here in the winter.
     
  8. 2000 456M

    2000 456M F1 World Champ

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    Thanks, Taz. By the time I actually left the house, it was 42, so not really a proper test of the issue. Didn't notice any problems, but then, I waited until the tires were warm before pushing it even a bit.
     
  9. Monza 456

    Monza 456 Karting

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    Hi Allan, took my scud out the old Columbia river highway today. Scared myself on a couple of ice patches, turned around, came home, covered the car probably till springtime. Besides, they had already graveled some of the roads.
     
  10. 2000 456M

    2000 456M F1 World Champ

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    Sorry to hear it; I-84 and I-205 south of I-84 were fine for me today. Old Columbia is nice and twisty, but pretty shady and several hundred feet higher; probably that made the difference. Wouldn't want that beautiful Scud to get a nick. You should post a pic of it in the 360/430 section if you haven't already; breathtaking. :D
     
  11. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Craig- Rock hard tires on black ice are no fun at all. Had some scary moments in the UK on black ice in a 308 with P7s. Traction is bad enough when it is just cold, any snow or ice is way worse.
     
  12. wbklink

    wbklink F1 Rookie

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    I'm always driving to or from Vegas, during the winter I've been thru some snow and very low temps when I get around 3000 to 4000 ft.

    The tires are fully warmed but I'm sure it does not take long for them to cool down.

    Wait that should be a question, how much and how fast will tires cool down when the temp drops to - 30 ?

    The best advice is like everybody said....Just take it easy !

    cheers,

    Bill
     
    Last edited: Dec 31, 2012
  13. masinari

    masinari Karting

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    Thanks for sharing experiences and advice with each other.... It was sunny here too, since we are all nearby....So here is mine...

    Took my 575 out today on I-90 from Bellevue towards the Cascades. There was so much dust and sand my car was covered and also found a paint chip on the hood, freshly made from the sand/gravel flying around. Beware on I-90. It looks clean but it is not!!

    I guess instead of driving up there these days, I will spend some more time detailing and maintaining the car warmly in the garage. I get too pissed off to see those paint chips. Luckily it was tiny, but bigger ones are lurking around, hitting paint and windshields.

    I will drive one of my other cars in the meantime...
     
  14. Elsi

    Elsi Formula 3 Silver Subscribed

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    Here are my thoughts regarding driving in the winter.

    There is a rule saying that below 7 degrees Celsius (44 F) winter tires are better than summer tires. So driving at 42 F with summer tires should be no problem. Of course the tires stick worse than at let’s say 80 F and as Terry mentioned stopping distances are increased and cornering limits are lower.

    I would not hesitate to drive with summer tires at 32 F but be careful because grip will be reduced even more. I would say on a dry road with summer tires at 32 F is still better than at warmer temperatures in the rain with the same tires. So if you are used to drive your car in the rain I would say it is no problem to drive in the cold with summer tires.

    However if you should encounter any ice on the road that’s bad for either winter or summer tires and that’s really dangerous.

    When it comes to snow, winter tires are definitively the better solution than summer tires. Summer tires on snow are really bad and I would avoid driving on snow without proper tires.

    Here in Switzerland we have some areas with quite a lot of snow during the winter. There is no law requiring you to drive with winter tires here. However if you are in an accident with summer tires during winter police may give you a ticket and your insurance may cut the money they had to pay you. Maybe this is another fact to consider.

    That’s the reason why I have winter tires on all my cars (it takes some time to bring all five cars of our family to the tire shop for changing tires). Winter tires are not more expensive than summer tires and so it does not matter if you wear out your summer or winter tires. But I definitively feel safer with winter tires when it is cold.

    BTW: Be sure to switch Sport mode OFF: With sport mode off the ASR helps you a lot more than driving in sport mode where ASR is more “relaxed”.

    And a last word to all season tires: In the summer they are usually inferior to summer tires and in the winter they are inferior to winter tires. So besides of the need of changing tires I do not see any advantage in all season tires.

    Markus

    PS: Here two pics of my cars in the winter (I sold the silver Maserati in between and have a blue 3200 now).
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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  15. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ Sponsor Owner

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  16. Elsi

    Elsi Formula 3 Silver Subscribed

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    But a cool attitude of this guy: Just smoking a cigarette next to his crashed Ferrari as if this would happen every single day…
     
  17. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Nice old PS from Road & Track.

    Probably needed the cigarette to keep his hands from shaking.
     
  18. 2000 456M

    2000 456M F1 World Champ

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    +1 (As a long ago smoker, that was my thought as to what I would've done).
     

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