What happens if you drive performance summer tires in near freezing temperatures?

Jag32 · 12-07-2006, 11:06 PM

I want to buy a set of RE01R's and might be moving to the coast of North Carolina where there is no snow or anything, but it does get cold sometimes down around 35 degrees or so.

On TireRack.com it says these tires are "not intended to be driven in near freezing temperatures." What will happen if I drive with these tires in near freezing temperatures? Will it damage the tire or something?

Thanks

06AspenWhiteSTi · 12-07-2006, 11:32 PM

you might damage the car and yourself when you slide off the road. no seriously though, if there anything like the stock tires, when the road freezes, there is a serious loss of traction, and on snow, forget about it.

LOLSTi · 12-07-2006, 11:35 PM

The compound will be rock hard, and will wear faster than normal, and will most likely retain less grip in the summertime.

That being said, I'm in the same boat. I don't do any snow driving (though it really snows 2-3 times a year here) in the STi and I'm keeping my MXs on, though i plan to replace them in the spring.

Sleeper in Seattle · 12-07-2006, 11:46 PM

Hopefully, you won't have the same results as I did.....
I turned onto the street on the hill I live on coming home and just started sliding on the ice covered by snow until I hit the curb. Then I rode the curb down the hill until I hit the neighbors car in front of me causing $700+ damage to their car, and I haven't taken my car in yet to see what the damage is.
I could be rolling on nice winter rated tires for less....

***Insane06STi*** · 12-08-2006, 12:16 AM

It will be like a slippery flat stone skidding down the road, drive safe.

YeloFva · 12-08-2006, 12:28 AM

Your deductable goes up, and you purchase GAP insurance on your next car.

**wdb** · 12-08-2006, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleeper in Seattle

Hopefully, you won't have the same results as I did.....
I turned onto the street on the hill I live on coming home and just started sliding on the ice covered by snow until I hit the curb. Then I rode the curb down the hill until I hit the neighbors car in front of me causing $700+ damage to their car, and I haven't taken my car in yet to see what the damage is.
I could be rolling on nice winter rated tires for less....

I'm sorry for what happened to you, but wow that is the perfect object lesson for all the folks thinking they can get away with driving those bowling balls in winter. It should be required reading!

Puckshaw · 12-08-2006, 06:08 AM

I'm in NC and it is 25 F right now. I'm on rt-615s and as long as you don't drive like an idiot you'll be fine. It's not as dramatic as people are making it out to be. On snow/ice it's a different story of course...

Mykl · 12-08-2006, 06:12 AM

Uh yeah... it was 22 degrees this morning and I didn't slide of the road and crash. I have RT615's on right now. Just approach each corner with a little more caution than you otherwise would, and if there's any chance of ice
GO VERY SLOW.

stretch · 12-08-2006, 06:30 AM

I drove on summer tires last winter since my commute to work is only 3 miles of straight, crowded road. So long as the road was dry, they worked well enough. Traction is definately poor (the rubber hardens and does not grip), but drive slow and you'll be ok. Dry traction will be on par with Goodyear Integrity's or any other horrible all-season. You'll feel like you're driving a rental car.

So, I certainly wouldn't recommend summer tires in the winter, but you can get by on them so long as you avoid snow and drive smart. Increase your following distances because you'll probably need it.

Jag32 · 12-08-2006, 07:34 AM

Thanks guys.

It's just going to be cold where I am, no snow and no ice so I don't need allseasons, but if i'm going to get horrible performance and serious lack of traction out of summer tires because it's just going to be cold, is there something else I can buy without having to get allseasons?

LOLSTi · 12-08-2006, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jag32

Thanks guys.

It's just going to be cold where I am, no snow and no ice so I don't need allseasons, but if i'm going to get horrible performance and serious lack of traction out of summer tires because it's just going to be cold, is there something else I can buy without having to get allseasons?

High performance all-seasons?

thrlskr · 12-10-2006, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOLSTi

High performance all-seasons?

Oxymoron?

I'm glad I live in San Diego!

JJ18Sniper · 12-10-2006, 09:05 AM

You'll need all-seasons at minimum. I waited a few days too long on my RE-70's last year, and it was like ice skating with dull skates. NOT fun. It's just not safe...

NyC DrifteR · 12-13-2006, 01:38 PM

buy a winter rat
i picked up a 90 civic for 500 bucks
keeps the subie safe and clean

12-07-2006, 11:06 PM	#1
Jag32 Professional STI Racer Car: 2006 Impreza WRX STI Fav Mod: Flux Capacitor Location: Camp Lejeune, NC Posts: 758 IWSTI Addict since: May 2003 Trader Rating: (5)	What happens if you drive performance summer tires in near freezing temperatures? I want to buy a set of RE01R's and might be moving to the coast of North Carolina where there is no snow or anything, but it does get cold sometimes down around 35 degrees or so. On TireRack.com it says these tires are "not intended to be driven in near freezing temperatures." What will happen if I drive with these tires in near freezing temperatures? Will it damage the tire or something? Thanks This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

12-13-2006, 01:38 PM	#15
NyC DrifteR Junior STI Driver Posts: 169 IWSTI Addict since: Jul 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	buy a winter rat i picked up a 90 civic for 500 bucks keeps the subie safe and clean This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

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12-07-2006, 11:32 PM	#2
06AspenWhiteSTi Junior STI Driver Car: 06 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: seatbelt beep delete Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 159 IWSTI Addict since: Feb 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	you might damage the car and yourself when you slide off the road. no seriously though, if there anything like the stock tires, when the road freezes, there is a serious loss of traction, and on snow, forget about it.

12-07-2006, 11:35 PM	#3
LOLSTi S204 Racer Car: RIP 02 WRX Fav Mod: 2004 Aspen White WRX STi Location: Cincinnati Posts: 3,614 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	The compound will be rock hard, and will wear faster than normal, and will most likely retain less grip in the summertime. That being said, I'm in the same boat. I don't do any snow driving (though it really snows 2-3 times a year here) in the STi and I'm keeping my MXs on, though i plan to replace them in the spring.

12-07-2006, 11:46 PM	#4
Sleeper in Seattle Senior STI Driver Car: Aspen White 06 STI Location: Seattle Posts: 316 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	Hopefully, you won't have the same results as I did..... I turned onto the street on the hill I live on coming home and just started sliding on the ice covered by snow until I hit the curb. Then I rode the curb down the hill until I hit the neighbors car in front of me causing $700+ damage to their car, and I haven't taken my car in yet to see what the damage is. I could be rolling on nice winter rated tires for less....

12-08-2006, 12:16 AM	#5
*Insane06STi* Nanned ® Location: Where the left lane is th Posts: 17,335 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (9)	It will be like a slippery flat stone skidding down the road, drive safe.

12-08-2006, 12:28 AM	#6
YeloFva Spec C Club Car: 06 WRB/Gold STI Fav Mod: Clutch Judder Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 1,347 IWSTI Addict since: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Your deductable goes up, and you purchase GAP insurance on your next car.

12-08-2006, 06:08 AM	#8
Puckshaw Professional STI Driver Car: CGM 05 STi Fav Mod: High tensile moon noodles Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 427 IWSTI Addict since: May 2005 Trader Rating: (4)	I'm in NC and it is 25 F right now. I'm on rt-615s and as long as you don't drive like an idiot you'll be fine. It's not as dramatic as people are making it out to be. On snow/ice it's a different story of course...

12-08-2006, 06:12 AM	#9
Mykl S204 Racer Car: '04.5 STi Fav Mod: Whiteline steering rack bushings Location: Montgomery, Al Posts: 3,074 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Uh yeah... it was 22 degrees this morning and I didn't slide of the road and crash. I have RT615's on right now. Just approach each corner with a little more caution than you otherwise would, and if there's any chance of ice GO VERY SLOW.

12-08-2006, 06:30 AM	#10
stretch Silver Member Car: Aspen 2005 STi Fav Mod: TurnInConcepts Coilovers Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 1,866 IWSTI Addict since: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (2)	I drove on summer tires last winter since my commute to work is only 3 miles of straight, crowded road. So long as the road was dry, they worked well enough. Traction is definately poor (the rubber hardens and does not grip), but drive slow and you'll be ok. Dry traction will be on par with Goodyear Integrity's or any other horrible all-season. You'll feel like you're driving a rental car. So, I certainly wouldn't recommend summer tires in the winter, but you can get by on them so long as you avoid snow and drive smart. Increase your following distances because you'll probably need it.

12-08-2006, 07:34 AM	#11
Jag32 Professional STI Racer Car: 2006 Impreza WRX STI Fav Mod: Flux Capacitor Location: Camp Lejeune, NC Posts: 758 IWSTI Addict since: May 2003 Trader Rating: (5)	Thanks guys. It's just going to be cold where I am, no snow and no ice so I don't need allseasons, but if i'm going to get horrible performance and serious lack of traction out of summer tires because it's just going to be cold, is there something else I can buy without having to get allseasons?

12-10-2006, 09:05 AM	#14
JJ18Sniper Silver Member Car: 05 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: DB 20G, Diamond Black BBS RE's, S2K retrofit Location: NY Posts: 4,638 IWSTI Addict since: Jul 2004 Trader Rating: (7)	You'll need all-seasons at minimum. I waited a few days too long on my RE-70's last year, and it was like ice skating with dull skates. NOT fun. It's just not safe...