I have Goodyear GS-D3 . . . well, some combination of letters and numbers like that. They are definitely fine, fine . . . superfine summer tires. However I've noticed a little morning stiffness as the weather cools. I was shocked the other morning to have my traction control light flash on while accelerating from a stop sign onto a ramp on one of my commute routes. That hadn't happened before. . . but the temperature wasn't in the mid-thrities during the summer.

I'm thinking of putting on my smaller, thinner all-season tires. Still, with them, the traction control light does come on when accelerating onto this same ramp. So will I really be better off (I mean, before it snows . . . just talking about cool temperatures here)?

Since I probably won't be better off with traction, is there any reason to put on the all seasons before the real winter weather hits? Reasons like, the summer performance tires will wear poorly . . . or will be damaged by running them in cold weather. Any opinions?

 

all-season tires aren't just about snow, they're about cold. summer compounds are soft and the durometer changes with colder temps, making them hard and less grippy. Some, like my RE-01R's, warn not to run them in temps below 40F or so.

 

You also have to consider that the road surface itself is less grippy. Asphault and concrete are more slippery / difficult for rubber to adhere to in cooler temps.

 

GS-D3's grip much better than S03's in the cold. just need to
warm them up a little. i use to run GS-D3's on my cooper-s and
it worked pretty well even in sub freezing temps... dry, that is.

i run sumitomo HTR+'s (a/s tires) now. i like them. not grippy
like GS-D3's in summer temps but works fine for street.

 

So far my conclusion is it won't hurt to use the summer tires as the temperature drops as long as I'm aware they are less grippy. No tire damage from such use.

 

until you're aware they don't have grip as you lose it on a cloverleaf

 

if you see temperatures below 0 degrees offten through out the day in the winters, then dedicated winter tires would be best. They provide the best traction on slick cold surfaces.

 

I have all seasons I use for winter tires. I'm just wondering about this interim period. I also have another set of Cooper rims, 15x5.5 I believe . . . and may buy winter performance tires for them for the depths of winter. But for the temperatures now it doesn't seem like my main summer tires have taction any worse than my all seasons (which are 175/65 15 opposed to 205/55 16). Their traction is definitely not up to their summer standards, which far exceed the standard set by the small all seasons under any conditions.

I don't want to risk chunking the tread or weakening the construction of my summer tires if it is bad for them to be driven in the cold. So far no one has specifically said it is bad for them although I've read of one tire which isn't even supposed to be stored in the cold. So I still don't know. I guess I don't know how to ask my question.

Oh, when you say 0 do you mean freezing? I see you're from Canada.

 

You won't do any tire damage from the minor amount of tire slip that you'll get with cold performance tires, unless you slide off into a curb.

I'm in the same situation, as my "winter tires" are a set of 175/65/15 stockers. I'll run my summer tires (Nitto Neo Gen 205/50/16) up until December 1, or whenever the first snowstorm in Chicago is predicted. I expect my car will turn into a drift machine on the skinnies, even in the dry...

 

with nitto's very possible. with GS-D3's, no it will not slide around in the dry. i know from experience.

 

Thanks guys. So I'll stick with the GS-D3s until some cold AND wet stuff is forecast. Its usually good in Santa Fe to be prepared for winter conditions any time after Thanksgiving. One holds off a bit if they are planning a trip to the south, but tires up sooner if a trip is planned to the North.