11-06-2019, 05:54 AM | #1 |
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When to install the winter tires
Since the difference may be softer rubber as well as different tread it makes some sense to switch well before deep snow. Here today deep snow is probably weeks away but colder temps arrived weeks ago.
Warm pavement 70 to 140 degrees F Cold pavement 0 to 70 yep, I'm late |
11-06-2019, 06:43 AM | #2 |
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hm, that interesting, I've never considered the temperature of the pavement in of itself. I switch over when the air temp stays around 40°-ish F.
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11-06-2019, 01:08 PM | #3 |
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I'm currently waiting on new tires, so it delayed putting them on until tomorrow; usually I swap out at end of October here (upstate NY). I had the chance to run winter snows thru the summer a few years back (preparing to trade in a DD, so I burned down the snows rather than buy a new set of summers). The result was a LOT less wear than I'd expected, so now I err on the side of swapping sooner rather than trying to time it to the first snowstorm.
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11-16-2019, 05:14 PM | #4 |
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I switch to winters when the forecast is for temperatures to routinely be below freezing overnight. I'll risk a random frost night if the temps go back above freezing during the day.
Same for switching back to summers. The forecast needs to be routinely above freezing on the overnight temps. Sadly, here in Minnesota, that usually means winters on the end of October, and not off until the end of April. Worse this year. Even without snow, driving summers in the cold is not wise. |
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11-19-2019, 12:08 PM | #5 |
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depends if you have all seasons or summers.
With summer tires - you should make the switch as soon as temps drop consistently below 70 degrees. They continue to lose their grip as temperatures drop further to the point of being dangerous below 45 degrees. This is according to the tire manufacturers anyway. Snow has nothing to do with it, the rubber turns to plastic. Your summers should be stored somewhere heated, because the extreme cold (below about 20) will damage the tire to the point that it can't be run anymore even when warmed back up. With all seasons its less critical, and your municipality allows it, you can switch once it becomes truly cold. They don't lose their grip as quickly as temps drop but don't have a snow tread pattern. If you get heavy snow, just change them out when snow season begins whether it actually started snowing or not. Seth |
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11-30-2019, 10:07 AM | #6 |
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I live in San Francisco where it's very rare for the temperature to go below 50. We got down to like 45 the other day and apparently it broke a record from 1896. I've never seen a single flake of now. Rain seems to be what trips up people here. I got the PILOT SPORT 4S for it - which I've seen rated pretty good for wet conditions.
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12-09-2019, 09:18 AM | #7 |
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There's a lot of anecdotal information IMO when it comes to tire discussion... And has a lot to do with manufactures CYA and creative marketing to sell more product. Are winter tires better? Yes, of course, especially with respect to snow/ice. But there's a lot of things to consider. Daily driver? How far? How is road clearing by you? Etc., etc., etc.
Last year I was late, and didn't even put my snows on because every single time, the shop was way too busy. And even getting caught in bad ice/snow storm, with my AS Pirelli's, the 330Xi had no trouble getting grip! This year, first frost, ice, an I got my Blizzaks on, lol. Driver error IMO is responsible for 99% of issues in regard to weather. Speed, follow distance, what road traveled, etc., all contribute. In 40+ years of driving, I'd say there was maybe 2x that despite my efforts, the vehicle was in control, not me, lol. Just my thoughts |
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12-11-2019, 11:06 PM | #8 |
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Experience tells me differently. I've driven Michelin, Goodyear and Koumo summer performance tires at 32F and below and never have I found the rubber dangerously low on grip on pavement lacking snow or ice. Reduced grip? Sure, but no where near dangerous.
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12-12-2019, 08:43 AM | #9 |
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I hear you - My experience in Quebec was different, across all makes and models too. It became moot because they mandated everyone change tires regardless of temp.
Seth |
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12-12-2019, 08:49 AM | #10 |
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Not all summer tyres loose grip to the same degree. Michelin PSS tyres and others in the Max Performance tyre group drop off more slowly compared with tyres in the Extreme Performance Group such as RE-71R and Direzza Star Specs. Slicks are definitely dangerous at 7C and below with braking distances more than double compared with normal use until aggressively warmed up, the Extreme Performance summer tyres aren’t as bad but their grip is dropping off rapidly, too.
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01-02-2020, 08:18 PM | #11 |
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Fair enough, I've never owned a set of tires from the Extreme group.
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