I was wondering because this is the 1st time I need to switch from summer to winter. I am in MD area and it is going to be cold @ night for the next few. It is supposed to drop down to the 30-40. Do you think that summer tires can handle that temp and still drive on them? Thanks.

 

no...it was like 85 today

 

Not here either. But it only snows every few years . . .

 

I used to live in FL, do you even have winter tires?

 

I usually make my switch to winter tires around Thanksgiving. Although I watch the weather & put them on earlier if a storms a brewin. I have no experience with the summer tires you have, but as a rule they will not work as well in cold temps. I about lost my Miata last November on a 20 degree morning. The Yoko ES100's turned to hockey pucks at that temp. Take it easy with the summer tires & you should be OK until it snows.

 

what are those??

 

They are the tires that only run in 45-65 degrees.

 

Jay, I drove with my summer tires last year. On cold mornings, the tires were as hard as rocks, the smallest bumps jarred me silly. I am planning to get a Winter set this year. Have you looked into any yet?

 

summer tires can handle the 20-30F temps as far as durability, but
the grip is not that great and you should not drive in any snow conditions
on summer tires.

i run summer tires on my weekend cars all year long (i like to take them
out on a dry winter day) but i don't drive them in the wet nor in the snow.
grip is considerably less, but i keep a good margin so no issues of me
falling off the street or anything. i recommend you run at least a/s tires
in cold temps if you are going to drive in the wet.

 

My F1GSD3's seemed fine yesterday when the temp was about 32, although they do sit in a garage that's not so cold. I hope to hold out until sometime in November before giving my new Dunlop Wintersport M3's a try. Glad I'm not in Buffalo!

 

I went with the Perelli Snowsport on my S-Lites. I still need to get them mounted.

 

i was blessed with the all season radials
no need to run snow tires

 

Summer tires 'till thanksgiving in NJ - can't imagine you'd need winters much before that in DC.

mb

 

Anyone switching to Winter tires yet?

Yeah, I switched over to the R81 7-hole wheels with 185/60R15 Toyo winter rubber yesterday, temps are about 5 degrees C (41 degrees F) and forecast is for near freezing the next 3 - 4 days.
With summer tires (or all-season) losing their flexibility/grip at around 7 degrees C (45 degrees F) or lower I figured there was not much point in running the Toyo T1R's any longer, and besides they were due for a rotation.
So off came the R84 X-lites (weighed in at 35 lbs. w/ 195/50R16 tires on bathroom scales) and on went the R81's which checked in at 28 lbs. w/ rubber.
This is a classic "minus 1" downsize - the O.D. difference between the two is only 1.6mm, they're a little shorter than stock size giving a bit more acceleration from standing starts at the expense of higher revs.
The lighter 7-holes feel better in : ride comfort; quickness of steering response; chuckability. Of course the lateral acceleration is way down, the winter rubber squirms, and the higher sidewall rolls more giving the car a more nervy feel in the corners, less speed is the order of the day.
If only I could have the best of both worlds in the summer - the lighter, more responsive feel combined with higher grip and greater cornering ability. I suspect to get this I may have to change wheels for a lighter model - say the Weds Sport TC-005 in 15" which are a featherlight 10.7 lbs., combined with a 195/55R15 Toyo T1R - this should be a killer combo.
Oh to dream...

 

I know everyone is talking about tires but has anyone had a rough start like in the morning when it's really cold? Temps have dropped down some nights here but no snow yet waiting for Halloween for that always seems to snow on the trick-or-treaters. My mini has had a couple of mornings of rough starts...after going a few minutes seems to be fine. Just curious. Thanks.

 

I plan to swap over to my new Dunlop M3 Sports on S-Lites before Halloween.

Cold start stumble - Just try switching petrol brands. I switched from Mobil to Shell and noticed a difference, the morning stumble was gone.

 

Thanks I'll have to try that.

 

I don't switch until right before a forcasted snow fall. The cold weather won't bother the summer tires. Just give them some time to warm up on cold mornings.

 

Here in Germany it is law to have winter tires on or a snow rated all season by the end of October. I have already put my shoes on as it has been dropping in the mornings to about 6 celcius. The last article I read stated that summers start to lose traction when the temp drops below 7 celcius. being from Texas you can bet that I was hard for me to want to pony up the cash for 4 new tires and rims.....

 

I am buying new winter tires today. Glacier Grip II.
I like to run snow tires usually fro Nov. 1 to April 1
I live on the edge of a snow belt and we have already had our first snow fall
only an inch but I want to be ready for the first big one. Like Buffalo got last week.

 

Who makes Glacier Grip II's? The way I look at it is a set of winter tires is cheaper than my deductible for an accident.

 

I always put on the snows after the first of November. Summer tires are no fun in the cold, regardless of whether or not there is snow on the ground. The cold weather compounds found in snow tires allow them hold their grip longer and lose grip in a more predictable manner than dedicated summer tires. There have been some sub 45 degree mornings here already, and my summer treads have a greasy, numb feeling to them at those temps.

 

I use the 45 degree rule. When the temperature reaches 45 degrees for an extended period of time I will do my switch. I also have to switch my BMW, and ahem.....*wispers* hummer *Cough*

I would suggest you get a second set of wheels for your winter tires as there is more of a chance for dammage to your wheels every time you mound and dismount along with the fact that it is costly to keep mounting and dismounting. I have 17" r90's (runflat goodyear soon to be prada spec 2) and 15" holies (contienetal conisport soon to be blizzak).

JoeCool....Westlake? Are you neer Crocker Park?

 

Glacier Grips are made by Cooper Tire. Cost 100.00 each installed.

 

I'm putting mine on this week... If I was staying in the city (Toronto) I think I'd wait another 3 weeks. But I plan on driving to Ohio this weekend or next, & that route takes me through Buffalo... and we all know what happened in Buffalo very recently!