Michelin PS4S Cracked and Ruined!

[AZ_Ryan]

I as asking for personal experiences, not just being a skeptic. Keep in mind that I have my own experience with PS4S in the winter. (on an AWD car that did not have 500 hp). This thread will be a useful reference for every visitor in the future considering tires.

Thank you for responding. Your information about low traction at a certain temperature point is worthwhile as additional information, but you have no personal experience regarding low temperatures and cracking, one way or the other.

Honestly, it seems like you are just fishing for anecdotal stories to justify driving on summer tires year round. Like @wesg79 said, there is plenty of info about cracking tires in low temps online. My lack of personal experience doesnt change physics. Good luck.

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[Westphal]

When I bought my GTO in Richmond, VA, it has Continental ExtremeContact DW summer tires on it. They were great until winter came, and then I had no traction below freezing and not enough traction below 40 degrees. I actually got caught in a little bit of snow and it was quite difficult to drive it home. They only lasted 15k miles and I seem to remember little cracks like that on them. Next few sets of tires have been the ExtremeContact DWS/DWS06 tires and they've been great year-round and last about 40k miles.

 

[Centurion-AF]

I’ve never run PS4S, but I’ve run Sport Cup 2s on both a PP2 and Shelby in Midwest winters. When temps got below 40F, those tires were like hockey pucks as others have said. Literally like driving a Fred Flintstone car until the tires warmed up.

I know this doesn’t answer your question, just another data point for your consideration, but I believe Michelin says to not run PS4s until temp returns above 40F for 24 hours if exposed to sub-20F temps.

 

[robvas]

There are a couple people at the gym with BMWs that run the Michelins even when it's single digits...

Their OEM tire might be rated for different temps than what you buy from TireRack for a Mustang, though.

 

[DarkkMatter]

Left the tires it came with, Pirelli PZero's, on it and have had no issues. Seen temps get down to the 20's and driven in 30's and 40 degree weather without issue.
No noticeable cracking.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

I know this doesn’t answer your question, just another data point for your consideration, but I believe Michelin says to not run PS4s until temp returns above 40F for 24 hours if exposed to sub-20F temps.

Michelin does say that, or at least Tire Rack does, yes. I assume that Tire Rack got that from Michelin, but I do not know that. It appears to be far too specific to be a general warning from Tire Rack, like their "not intended to be driven in" winter that they slap on every summer tire.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Honestly, it seems like you are just fishing for anecdotal stories to justify driving on summer tires year round. Like @wesg79 said, there is plenty of info about cracking tires in low temps online. My lack of personal experience doesnt change physics. Good luck.

Sorry you see this thread as some sort of personal affront.

I am, however, actually interested in a thread in which folks post their personal experience with winter cold weather cracking in this particular tire (whether it happens or not). This is a popular tire choice with forum users here, and therefore, I thought this thread might be relevant to others, and not just me. As a result, I am guessing that others are interested in having such a thread, too, even if you are not.

I was not insulting you by observing that you have no personal experience relevant to the cracking issue. You don't. It is just a factual observation. Claiming it is "physics" does not mean that others are experiencing this cracking issue. Indeed, so far, nobody has put these on a Mustang and experienced this issue. One poster was told by a dealership that a Cadillac's cracked tires were due to freezing weather, and maybe they were. That is as close as we have gotten to anybody experiencing what you assure us is "physics."

But I got it. You have now expressed your displeasure multiple times. I got it, I promise you. No need to continue reminding me of your displeasure that such a thread even exists. Please just avoid the thread if it is causing you heartburn. I did not post this thread with the intention to cause you mental torment.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Haven't had it happen, it seems like more of a problem with Sport Cups or Trofeo R tires

robvas, sorry, I should have asked right after you posted, but would you please share the conditions in which you drove the PS4S (temperature and such)? Thank you in advance.

 

[robvas]

robvas, sorry, I should have asked right after you posted, but would you please share the conditions in which you drove the PS4S (temperature and such)? Thank you in advance.

Once you get below 55 degrees the performance falls right off a cliff. Even at 60 you can notice it.

If it's sunny etc it might be okay-ish...but if it's dark, 50 degrees, you're basically going to be riding the traction control any time you give it power. Boosted you will be able to spin them at 80 on the highway. 45 degrees is a complete joke, and I don't really take the car out any colder than that.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Once you get below 55 degrees the performance falls right off a cliff. Even at 60 you can notice it.

If it's sunny etc it might be okay-ish...but if it's dark, 50 degrees, you're basically going to be riding the traction control any time you give it power. Boosted you will be able to spin them at 80 on the highway. 45 degrees is a complete joke, and I don't really take the car out any colder than that.

Ok, so just to be clear for the purpose of the thread, when you said on page 1 that you haven't had the cracking happen, you do not drive your PS4S in colder than 45 degree weather?

 

[robvas]

Ok, so just to be clear for the purpose of the thread, when you said on page 1 that you haven't had the cracking happen, you do not drive your PS4S in colder than 45 degree weather?

I have a handful of times. But generally I do not. Never taken it out in the 30s or below (other than maybe moving it out to the driveway when I need the space). And the car sits in the garage all winter where it gets down to 0 plenty of times.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Thank you. Sorry to be so persistent, but the detailed answers are more useful. I appreciate your patience in answering.

 

[robvas]

Thank you. Sorry to be so persistent, but the detailed answers are more useful. I appreciate your patience in answering.

Felt like a deposition!

 

[NegativeMultiplier]

Thank you. Sorry to be so persistent, but the detailed answers are more useful. I appreciate your patience in answering.

If you are specifically looking for people who have driven summer-rated tires in colder temperatures, I did for a week. Primarily because I wanted to make sure they didn't sit - which can leave them more prone to cracking in inconsistent temperatures - and also because I couldn't keep my hands off the car.

You are playing with ice at temperatures below 60-55ish. Below 45, they're solid and provide little grip. I advocate a lot for keeping TC on in general in these cars, but it's actually a requirement if you're still on summer tires at these temperatures.

They probably won't crack; mine didn't - granted, I still have the stock P Zeros, but that's also a summer compound. It's not something I personally would risk. The longer you keep them on and the colder it gets, the more likely you will see the tires crack. There will eventually come a point where it's so cold the tires will refuse to flex, and that's where cracking will start whether they're sitting or rolling. Even if you don't experience any cracking, I don't think I'd be wont to drive a 500hp sports car on summer tires in these temperatures.

I'm just tossing this out there, but if I were an insurance agent and someone made a claim on a crashed high-power car, and I found out they were on summer tires at the time of the accident, I'd probably question if they were trying to commit fraud...

Please, for your own safety and pocket, don't keep these on through the winter.

 

[Ken H.]

Felt like a deposition!

You have the right to remain silent. If you forego this right, anything you say can & will be used against you (in this forum)

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