cracks in summer tires - Page 2 - 6SpeedOnline - Porsche Forum and Luxury Car Resource

pal joey · 2016-04-22 13:27:50

thanks for the reply im not worried...ive been through too much in life to worry over tires or even a car. im actually rather relaxed and grateful just to be in a position where i can afford such a car. it took me quite a while to get here, but i got here. im looking for a local c.p.o. 2014, maybe even 15 if they soon start coming off lease . ive yet to find the car im looking for, because im not willing to compromise. so in the interim i have the time to ask some questions and gather some info rather then just jumping into something and not knowing what to expect. i did that when i was younger,and more impulsive. i dont do that now. im happily retired, and i have plenty of time to take my time, and thats what i do.

#17

04-30-2016 | 12:58 PM

Macster

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Joined: Jun 2009

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From: Livermore, CA

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Quote:

Originally Posted by pal joey

i live in the northeast.

ive been reading and talking to some people about summer tires in below freezing temps. ive been getting conflicting info. so im looking to hear from those who live in this area or any other area that has severe cold weather at times.what has your experience been?

is it a legitimate concern, and are some tire brands more prone to failure then others? and is the problem driving in the cold , keeping the car parked it in the cold, or both?

im aware of the winter tire and wheel swap, with the change in seasons, but im not looking to go that route. i also have an suv for winter weather. in spite of that i would like to start the car up and take short rides at low to moderate speed on local roads to charge up the electrical system as well as give the tires some exercise. i would only do so on dry road surfaces, but temps will be below freezing, and sometimes dropping down to single digits.

When I lived in the mid-west and drove my Boxster year 'round on its summer tires while the tire traction was lousy the tires didn't crack or appear to suffer any from the experience.

Since then I have driven both my Boxster and my Turbo in cold weather with no issues other than of course traction. I spent nearly 4 weeks back in the mid-west at the end of Dec. 2014 and early Jan 2015 in my Turbo and the temps got down to the single digits and remained under freezing for long stretches of time. The tires were fine. (However, all 3 radiators developed seepage and had to be replaced before I could return home.)

AKAIK other than a severe drop off in grip -- which should not be discounted -- summer tires in winter are ok.

I have to mention too when I went Boxster shopping -- this back in January of 2002 -- there was several inches on snow on the Porsche dealer new car lot. The car I was looking at and eventually bought was parked in an underground garage at the dealer. The salesman took me out for a test ride and while the roads weren't clear/dry they were plowed and gritted/salted but still slushy and slippery. The car was on summer (Pirelli) tires. Oh, I had a go behind the wheel and of course I didn't push the car but I did have in the back of my mind the tires were not optimum for the conditions.

If you leave summer tires on the car over the winter and drive the car you have to be aware of the reduced grip the tires will have. There is the issue about getting stuck but worse is you don't get stuck you get the car moving and then when you most need it during an evasive manuever or emergency braking action the lack of grip makes itself known in a most painful fashion. With the smashing of sheet metal or worse.

Be sure you keep the tire inflation pressures correct. In cold weather the tires will lose pressure due to the cold and then they will be underinflated. They will not get hot enough to reach proper inflation pressure -- not that they should be treated this way to begin with -- so you have to make sure they are properly inflated at the cold temperature.

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