Performance Tires+extreme Cold=fred Flintstone Tires!!!!

[nuQ]

just a quick warning to all other owners of summer performance tires that drive in dry, COLD, weather.........it's like having 4 stone wheels at each corner of the car!!!!!! I went out tonight around 10pm, temp around 10 degrees, and after the dead spot in the tires worked themselves out, drove pretty good to the club (Bar with no Name in Bethlehem PA). Around 5 miles from home. Driving home the handling was horrible, from a start kicked the *** end around a bunch of times, and spun the tires like they were slicks at every stop sign and light.

Just a reminder,,,,,,,,,,,,,,if you drive performance tires in the cold, they just don't grip like in warm weather. DRIVE ACCORDINGLY!!!!! jeff BTW------the tires are yoko es100's

[HeavyDuty]

The tires are one thing, but the temperature (increased performance) combined with a trip home from the bar was more of a contributing factor than the tires, imho.

[nuQ]

not denying that a couple gin and tonics could have made things "seem" a little worse (or that blonde i met that was dancing around in my head!!!!) LOL i do remember dennis writing about the reduced grip of performance tires in very cold weather. a couple times almost seemed like i hit ice, with the back swinging out, but didn't see any on the ground. at a couple stop signs i hit the gas hard and the spinning seemed to be on rock hard rubber. not the usual sound or feel of a warm weather burnout. and believe it or not, was doing this to figure out why the Q was handling like it was, not a gin and tonic fueled joy ride!!!!!LOL LOL

maybe someone else has experianced this.jeff

[Rex]

I have, but add snow and ice, SCARY stuff. I never really understood how a summer performance tire couold be sooooo bad in the winter/cold, until I tried to drive larger RWD performance car under those conditions.

If it wasn't for the ocassional mild winter day here in Cincy (30 at the moment), but it can happen, I'd have true snow/winter tires on my car.

[nuQ]

just to make it clear, i would NEVER drive the Q in snow or icy conditions. i have a sentra and my work van for those conditions.

last night was just butt-freezing cold and clear!!!!!! tires just seemed to be drastically different. i'm thinking it has something to do with the "grippier" tread compound reacting to the cold conditions. can't find the thread, but, i think dennis has mentioned the physics behind this..................

[Rex]

just to make it clear, i would NEVER drive the Q in snow or icy conditions...

Let's just say, I learned that the hard way.

Here's a couple pieces of Dennis' wisdom:Last postMore info

[nuQ]

thanks for the info rex. i think i better pay closer attention to the thermometer and drive accordingly. when it gets this cold, even though there isn't anything frozen on the road, maybe she should stay put considering the tires and their cold temp. liabilities.jeff

[Q45tech]

I just don't know how MORE SPECIFIC companies can be that the use of the words ' SUMMER PERFORMANCE TIRES '.They could disclaim "friction coefficient varies with tread temperature"

But then again few understand "coefficient' much less friction.

The great US education system where Physics is not required.

Even A/S tires get funky below DRY 32F even the Michelin Pilot H4.

[Mayhem_J30]

Yes summer tires suck in cold temps. The tires CoF is designed to perform at warmer temps like summer temps. Just as winter tires (snow tires) are for colder temps.When the roads are clear I take the Evo and the J30 out for a drive since they are put up for the winter. How quickly do I realize the lack of tire performance in the colder weather. Especially the Evo's whos stock tires are one step down from an R compound.Right now my truck with Dunlop Graspics has more traction then either of the other two in these 10F temps.

[Jeff Williams]

Maybe AZhitman's BRM exhaust should exit right in front of the rear tires. This might help the tire temps.

Growing up in North Dakota, I experienced the thumpity, thumpity sound of cold tires. We used to have to rock the cars back and forth, to break the tires from the ice holes.

Ahh, the good ole days...

[VimyJ]

Try changing a tire that just pops a bead in -35C because the rubber is petrified! Talk about pain. Everything reacts differently at those temps. Plastics and metal break and getting the engine going is almost impossible. Oh, those Winnipeg winter cold snaps... don't miss them much at all.

[Q451990]

Yeah... my friends look at me like I'm nuts when I mentioned that tires don't stick as well, and brakes don't work as well when it's cold. After Fred's incident a year or so ago, I always keep that in mind.

Heath

[Q45tech]

Why do you think the oem tires are so fast wearing and gummy, the factory wants safely away from the litigation fast.

I'm really surprised that Nissan didn't make buyers sign a release on the Pilot Sports.

Luckily the LAW makes a provision- driving too fast for conditions......cold conditions, hot conditions, wet conditions.

[victim_of_a_down]

What tires are recommended for a '99 G20? After reading through most of the other posts, the general consensus is that two sets of tires are recommended. Can anyone point me out to a good set of winter tires? I'm brainstorming on whether or not I should get another set of wheels, my apartments crowded as it is.

[Jesda]

Isnt winter like, almost over?

[driverdriver]

Isnt winter like, almost over?-Jesda

Doesn't feel like it. Its been -26F during the daytime most of this week (and last) up here with no end in sight for the time being. The authorities are reminding us to drive slow, since the tire grip is compromised by the extreme temperature.