Why do performance tires suck in the snow ?

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Kinesthesia
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I understand that they do, so I don't really need anyone to tell me that they actually do. I'm curious to know why.

Is it the tread pattern ? the tire compound ? both ?

It seems like only yesterday that I put Yokohama AVS100's on my car and now I have to switch back to my old wheels and tires before it snows on Friday. It would make me feel better about to understand why.

Thanks


Q45tech
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All tire compounds have flexibility and optimum temperature ranges..........for performance tires it is 100F to 180F with the peak point occuring at 150-160F.

All season tires have peaks at 70-80-100F.

Snow ice tires need peaks at 32F.

When temperature gets more than 20-30F above the friction peak point wear is accelerated rapidily.

On the cold end each compound has a plasicization point below which there is a rapid loss of friction.......tires turn slick and hard.

Performance tires have this plasicization point at 45-55F! where A/S tires may get down to 35F and winter ice tires may be good down to 10F.

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Exar-Kun
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peformance tires suck in snow beacuse they werent made for it.

duh.

just like all-season tires suck at the race track :)

not the answer your looking for, but true. essentialy(like dennis says) the compunds and such are designed with certain parameters(heat, wear, etc)..typically, the more heat the compund will tolleratE(like a Pzero) the less flexibility and grip it has in cold temperatures(like Pzeros...I slide around a lot under 30 degrees...bleh.)

-chet

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D1SR240
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so performance tires not only suck in snow, but also in cold temperature?

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PalmerWMD
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D1SR240 wrote:so performance tires not only suck in snow, but also in cold temperature?


Absolutely.

Fred..:)

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SmithSR
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http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/C...x.php

"Using silica instead of carbon black has opened up a new world of performance for tyre makers, as it not only gives improved fuel economy but also remains flexible at temperatures that would defeat standard compounds."

^^interesting reading...


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