[Sportstick]

With temperatures below 40, Michelin says the PSS have to come off to prevent cracking of the compound. So, here are the 215/50-17 Blizzak WS80 which fit over the MSport calipers (painted VO from the original blue). 215 tread width will give about the best possible winter performance available. Changing to 17" plus the softness of the WS80 certainly cushions impact harshness quite a bit! The wheels and tires are from Tire Rack, who had these low cost wheels to help just get through this awful time of year! They look acceptable, but for winter, I don't really care.

[ORIGIN M.]

Good info thanks for sharing.

Wheels are perfect for winter, and you're brakes look great !!!

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

Glad you like your Blizzak WS's...

I owned em for a year and sold em...Way too soft for me.

I much prefer the Blizzak LM's..

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Midwest X6

Glad you like your Blizzak WS's...

I owned em for a year and sold em...Way too soft for me.

I much prefer the Blizzak LM's..

Yes, LM are definitely less soft and better handling than WS. I really dislike everything about winter, cold, and snow (can't wait for my wife to agree to move southwest) and find it's just a season to get through and wait for the fun again in Spring. But, with also enjoying rear wheel drive the rest of the year, and being a bit worried about stopping/turning on snow and ice, I am ready to give up more handling/steering "feel" for the winter, put on my "Volvo" mindset, and get all the tire traction I can possibly find, and that is where the WS tire prevails over all others.

[overcoil]

Sportstick wrote "...With temperatures below 40, Michelin says the PSS have to come off to prevent cracking of the compound. "

Can you point me to where there is literature by Michelin mentioning the cracking in freezing temps?
I know a Conumer Reports article talks about cracking. I also thought that article somehow addressed Pirelli cracking specific and Goodyear and warned it could happen on hi-Perf summer tires.

Anyway, I'm in the mid-Atlantic, usually leave home around 5:30a.m.. Seen lots of sub-forty temps, today freezing-temps while driving. I'm weary of cracking but so far have no issues. Will not use car with any frozen precip on roads / but am going to attempt getting through the winter.

Would like a link to Michelin and there precaution on sub-freezing temps? Thanks

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

Sportstick wrote "...With temperatures below 40, Michelin says the PSS have to come off to prevent cracking of the compound. "

Can you point me to where there is literature by Michelin mentioning the cracking in freezing temps?
I know a Conumer Reports article talks about cracking. I also thought that article somehow addressed Pirelli cracking specific and Goodyear and warned it could happen on hi-Perf summer tires.

Anyway, I'm in the mid-Atlantic, usually leave home around 5:30a.m.. Seen lots of sub-forty temps, today freezing-temps while driving. I'm weary of cracking but so far have no issues. Will not use car with any frozen precip on roads / but am going to attempt getting through the winter.

Would like a link to Michelin and there precaution on sub-freezing temps? Thanks

I had read it on a post, although I can't recall exactly where. Googling the topic brings up lots of discussion among other car brand owners. So, I decided to get past the "conventional wisdom" and called Michelin directly and talked with their Customer Care department. They looked up some internal document and read it to me over the phone and confirmed this was the case. If you wish to try that yourself, and you get any other answer (I would think unlikely), please share that here as well!

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

Sportstick wrote "...With temperatures below 40, Michelin says the PSS have to come off to prevent cracking of the compound. "

Can you point me to where there is literature by Michelin mentioning the cracking in freezing temps?
I know a Conumer Reports article talks about cracking. I also thought that article somehow addressed Pirelli cracking specific and Goodyear and warned it could happen on hi-Perf summer tires.

Anyway, I'm in the mid-Atlantic, usually leave home around 5:30a.m.. Seen lots of sub-forty temps, today freezing-temps while driving. I'm weary of cracking but so far have no issues. Will not use car with any frozen precip on roads / but am going to attempt getting through the winter.

Would like a link to Michelin and there precaution on sub-freezing temps? Thanks

32 degrees or less and those summer tires are like driving on hockey pucks...Danger to you and fellow drivers..

[Sportstick]

Here is a quote from Tire Rack, although they don't address the potential consequences, but note simply temperature is a factor, even without snow or ice.

"While Pilot Super Sport tires are designed to allow sports cars, sporty coupes, performance sedans and supercars to achieve their full potential in dry and wet conditions, like all summer tires they are not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice."

But, as I said above, Michelin, on the phone, identified cracking as the potential risk. 40 degrees F is the lower end of their confidence.

[Amessforone]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

With temperatures below 40, Michelin says the PSS have to come off to prevent cracking of the compound. So, here are the 215/50-17 Blizzak WS80 which fit over the MSport calipers (painted VO from the original blue). 215 tread width will give about the best possible winter performance available. Changing to 17" plus the softness of the WS80 certainly cushions impact harshness quite a bit! The wheels and tires are from Tire Rack, who had these low cost wheels to help just get through this awful time of year! They look acceptable, but for winter, I don't really care.

Did you also install the tpms? I'm debating buying them.

[overcoil]

Sportstick, I trust your correspondence w/Michelin - was curious if the cracking was in established Michelin text or if maybe Michelin phone techs have the cracking statement in reaction to the Consumer Reports article.

Midwest X6, thanks for the warning.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Amessforone

Did you also install the tpms? I'm debating buying them.

Yes, I did, and bit the bullet for the extra $$$. Even if the warning in the cluster didn't bother you, it would be a major PITA to find the end result of a slow leak in the bitter cold weather!

[Amessforone]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Yes, I did, and bit the bullet for the extra $$$. Even if the warning in the cluster didn't bother you, it would be a major PITA to find the end result of a slow leak in the bitter cold weather!

Good point.

[golf4501]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

With temperatures below 40, Michelin says the PSS have to come off to prevent cracking of the compound. So, here are the 215/50-17 Blizzak WS80 which fit over the MSport calipers (painted VO from the original blue). 215 tread width will give about the best possible winter performance available. Changing to 17" plus the softness of the WS80 certainly cushions impact harshness quite a bit! The wheels and tires are from Tire Rack, who had these low cost wheels to help just get through this awful time of year! They look acceptable, but for winter, I don't really care.

I went with those same rims, also from Tire Rack. Went with Michelin Primacy Alpina PA3 for tires though in 225/45-17, I also got ordered the TPM in my set-up.

[hoppy6698]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Here is a quote from Tire Rack, although they don't address the potential consequences, but note simply temperature is a factor, even without snow or ice.

"While Pilot Super Sport tires are designed to allow sports cars, sporty coupes, performance sedans and supercars to achieve their full potential in dry and wet conditions, like all summer tires they are not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice."

But, as I said above, Michelin, on the phone, identified cracking as the potential risk. 40 degrees F is the lower end of their confidence.

I have read all this as well. Given my location (PNW), I'm considering swapping the PSS for Michelin Pilot A/S3 from the recent Roundel article. They seem the best of both worlds, near PSS traction and still viable in winters (w/o much snow).

Anyone think I might be able to sell the PSS set for a nice penny to offset the new tires? They will probably only have 7 miles on them :P

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

Originally Posted by hoppy6698

I have read all this as well. Given my location (PNW), I'm considering swapping the PSS for Michelin Pilot A/S3 from the recent Roundel article. They seem the best of both worlds, near PSS traction and still viable in winters (w/o much snow).

Anyone think I might be able to sell the PSS set for a nice penny to offset the new tires? They will probably only have 7 miles on them :P

Absolutely you will!!

[vladberca]

It's correct to have 2 sets of tires, one dedicated to winter season and one for summer!

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by vladberca

It's correct to have 2 sets of tires, one dedicated to winter season and one for summer!

Yes, but it's the Spring and Fall which make the decisions a bit more challenging around here. I will also go from PSS-->AS3 as a result to be able to keep the Blizzaks for when the snow actually is here. I have only 1,600 miles on my PSS so I may be looking for a buyer as well.

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Yes, but it's the Spring and Fall which make the decisions a bit more challenging around here. I will also go from PSS-->AS3 as a result to be able to keep the Blizzaks for when the snow actually is here. I have only 1,600 miles on my PSS so I may be looking for a buyer as well.

I have hard and fast rule with snow tires that's served me well for 20 years:

Snows on by Halloween, Snows off by Tax time...

At least that worked for MN climate..

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Midwest X6

I have hard and fast rule with snow tires that's served me well for 20 years:

Snows on by Halloween, Snows off by Tax time...

At least that worked for MN climate..

My wife and I just "binge-watched" the entire season of Fargo on Netflix. You northern region guys do seem to have a tougher time than "down south" here in the Michigan Lower Peninsula!

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

My wife and I just "binge-watched" the entire season of Fargo on Netflix. You northern region guys do seem to have a tougher time than "down south" here in the Michigan Lower Peninsula!

I have it saved on the DVR for these long winter nights here in the Midwest!

Looking forward to it...

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Yes, but it's the Spring and Fall which make the decisions a bit more challenging around here. I will also go from PSS-->AS3 as a result to be able to keep the Blizzaks for when the snow actually is here. I have only 1,600 miles on my PSS so I may be looking for a buyer as well.

Never really understood going from summers to A/s. Winters stop faster on cold pavement than A/s. To each his own.

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

Sportstick wrote "...With temperatures below 40, Michelin says the PSS have to come off to prevent cracking of the compound. "

Can you point me to where there is literature by Michelin mentioning the cracking in freezing temps?
I know a Conumer Reports article talks about cracking. I also thought that article somehow addressed Pirelli cracking specific and Goodyear and warned it could happen on hi-Perf summer tires.

Anyway, I'm in the mid-Atlantic, usually leave home around 5:30a.m.. Seen lots of sub-forty temps, today freezing-temps while driving. I'm weary of cracking but so far have no issues. Will not use car with any frozen precip on roads / but am going to attempt getting through the winter.

Would like a link to Michelin and there precaution on sub-freezing temps? Thanks

they probably wont crack but are USELESS on cold roads. You stand zero chance of getting through a winter on summer tires. i got caught doing early changeover a couple of years ago. Car is undrivable on any snow or ice and you are a liability on cold pavement.