Summer Tires and Winter Temperatures

[Cali 2 Balti G]

I bought my G coupe in May from Cali. I upgraded to 20" summer tires thinking that come winter I could put my stocks back on. Guess what the stock michelin pilots are summer tires also.

Tirerack states that summer tires are not to be used in tempatures near freezing. I have another vehicle to drive during the winter - so I had planned on parking the G anyway - but I would like to drive it occasionally.

Any thoughts on this topic.

[leeG35]

Don't drive you summer tires at near freezing temperatures. You want to stay above the rubber compound's glass transition temperature. This is where the rubber's structure changes from rubbery to a crystalline phase.

The tires rubber compound is engineered to give the best performance for the tires intended use. Summer tires, All Season tires and Snow tires each use different rubber compounds, and thus provide different levels of performance over different temperature ranges.

[Cali 2 Balti G]

How many people know this and take it into account?

[Q45tech]

Lots of people understand tires, mostly engineers involved in industry and engineers in general as Physics, Strength of Materials, Statics and Dynamics are required courses.

The use of the word SUMMER was selected to try to impart an idea to the public. Like Snow, ICE, Winter

The orginal concept was for ALL SEASON to be called FALL SEASON TIRES to reflect medium temperatures but Marketing and Sales dropped the F.

[adren77]

Tirerack states that summer tires are not to be used in tempatures near freezing. I have another vehicle to drive during the winter - so I had planned on parking the G anyway - but I would like to drive it occasionally.

Any thoughts on this topic.

So drive it occasionally on the nice winter days.

[jdanielsg]

thats why u should only get performance all seasons so your options arent limited.

[Cali 2 Balti G]

Maybe I need to rephrase the question.

Do all coupes come stock with Summer tires? Or maybe it is just the coupes that have the performance package that come with Summer tires?

If so - are most folks even aware that their tires are Summer tires?

If you have summer tires have you been driving them in Winter conditions?

[zozoka1212]

Yes,

I am positive all coupes come with summer tires. I am pretty sure majority of the owners are aware of it. But I am sure there are people out there and they just realize that once they hit the snow/ice.

But no matter what you drive FWD, AWD, RWD summer tire just not a good idea.

I am sure also if you buy a car and when you make a deal you can negotiate a set of winter tires with rims. I've seen couple of dealership offering these at winter time to gain more costumers.

zozo

[G_whizz]

I just checked (never knew this) a reference sheet. Apparently ONLY the Performance package comes with Summer Tires.

The Premium Package comes with 17'alloy (6 spoke)225/50 vr17 all seasons (front)and 235/50 vr17 all seasons (rear)

[Cali 2 Balti G]

I just checked (never knew this) a reference sheet. Apparently ONLY the Performance package comes with Summer Tires.

The Premium Package comes with 17'alloy (6 spoke)225/50 vr17 all seasons (front)and 235/50 vr17 all seasons (rear)

Thanks for the info.

I bought my car used as I'm sure many have on this forum and these folks, like my self may not realize that they are riding on Summer tires.

[Cali 2 Balti G]

Yes,

I am positive all coupes come with summer tires. I am pretty sure majority of the owners are aware of it. But I am sure there are people out there and they just realize that once they hit the snow/ice.

But no matter what you drive FWD, AWD, RWD summer tire just not a good idea.

I am sure also if you buy a car and when you make a deal you can negotiate a set of winter tires with rims. I've seen couple of dealership offering these at winter time to gain more costumers.

zozo

See GWhizz's response - based on that it seems that not all coupes have summer tires. Also the issue goes beyond snow and ice - freezing or near freezing temperatures is as big an issue as snow and ice.

So I would say to the folks experience winter for the first time in your G - check whether your tires are Summer or All-Season.

[G_whizz]

Well... they will know when the first centimeter of snow hits if they have summer tires.. It can be a VERY hairy experience

Drive safe out there boys and girls!

[Kendahl]

High performance summer tires are worthless on ice and snow. I remember reading a comment to that effect in Car and Driver or Automobile. They had an Audi Quattro with summer tires. It was terrifying to drive and nearly helpless. As soon as they switched to more appropriate tires, the Audi reverted to its usual safe, secure, go-anywhere self.

I have had no problems driving my G37 6MT, which has high performance summer Bridgestones, on dry pavement at temperatures down to 20 degrees. However, I don't expect maximum performance at such low temperatures. When the roads get messy, I leave the car at home.

If you really want to drive your Infiniti in ice and snow, you need real winter tires, not all seasons. It's best to mount them on an extra set of wheels (cheap ones). In the long run, that will be cheaper and safer for your good wheels than demounting and remounting tires twice a year.

[Q45tech]

To fully understand the friction capability of tires you must graph the friction vs temperature and friction vs moisture vs temperature on a test machine.

People don't realize that even in damp conditions that tires loose 25% and in warm rain 40%.

Worse it is not just the tires but road materials change also so that the combined friction between the two doubly degrades!

[Cali 2 Balti G]

So it sounds like traction is the biggest difference. Again I'm concerned about dry weather performance in freezing temperatures.

For example tonight it will go down to about 34-35 degrees - and I was thinking about driving my car (date with wifey).

Besides traction - is there any other risk with driving summer tires in dry freezing conditions?

[zozoka1212]

I stopped by the dealer near me lastnight from work to see. All the coupe in the house had summer high performance tires. It could be just co incident I guess.

zozo

[zozoka1212]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9Ol...lated

not bad.

zozo