I get it now - traction in cold weather

[Westphal]

In the days before stores were open 24-7, I would take my children to snow-filled parking lots and teach them how to control skidding cars. I had one rule! Don't hit the light poles. Glenn

A friend and I used the local elementary school parking lot.

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[glenng6]

A friend and I used the local elementary school parking lot.

Great minds think alike! Glenn

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Based on what you are saying, I assume your P-Zero tires are the summer variety. I drive my car all winter in PA, on dry roads, and I've never had a traction problem. Although, I do make sure the tires are warmed up before stretching her legs. My Conti's are all-season. Glenn

Yes, P-Zeros are summer tires. You can't compare them to the all season Contis. Apples and Oranges.

 

[glenng6]

Yes, P-Zeros are summer tires. You can't compare them to the all season Contis. Apples and Oranges.

I wasn't! Glenn

 

[glenng6]

A friend and I used the local elementary school parking lot.

Lots of choices back in the day and cops didn't hassle you once you explained what you were up to. Glenn

 

[Neggytive]

I was surprised at the comments on here about traction in cold weather because I never noticed it in our normal winter temps.
But we've just had a cold snap with morning temps down around 1C and a low of -3c, there is no grip at all on P Zeros. Spinning up and sliding just gently pulling out of an intersection, is a laugh, until a cop sees you.

Try riding a "sport bike" on cold tires or cold pavement.

under 50 degrees F, or 10 degrees C down under, it can be dangerous.

We lost a member of our club one morning when he leaned the bike over in a curve and the pavement was still cold as it was in shade.

There are some tire options on our cars that Ford will only make and ship the car in warm weather because they don't want the headache of warranty claims on tires that were damaged from being exposed to cold air in shipping or on the dealer lot

 

[LouG]

Try riding a "sport bike" on cold tires or cold pavement.

under 50 degrees F, or 10 degrees C down under, it can be dangerous.

We lost a member of our club one morning when he leaned the bike over in a curve and the pavement was still cold as it was in shade.

There are some tire options on our cars that Ford will only make and ship the car in warm weather because they don't want the headache of warranty claims on tires that were damaged from being exposed to cold air in shipping or on the dealer lot

I rode for nearly 4 decades in total. Luckily we never get that cold, and I used sport/touring tyres.
Road gritting was fun though. Not!
What else is fun is getting tyre dressing on the edge of the tyre. Never used it after that.
Not to mention, the idiots who get new tyres fitted, then nail it leaving the shop.

 

[glenng6]

Try riding a "sport bike" on cold tires or cold pavement.

under 50 degrees F, or 10 degrees C down under, it can be dangerous.

We lost a member of our club one morning when he leaned the bike over in a curve and the pavement was still cold as it was in shade.

There are some tire options on our cars that Ford will only make and ship the car in warm weather because they don't want the headache of warranty claims on tires that were damaged from being exposed to cold air in shipping or on the dealer lot

Summer tires, in the cold/winter temps, are a disaster waiting to happen. When the temps are in the 40-30’s, can you warm them up enough? I don't want to be the test dummy. I use all-weather tires, all year, and still make sure to warm them up. Glenn

 

[Junkyard Dog]

When the temps are in the 40-30’s, can you warm them up enough?

I don't live in PA. However, my answer from personal experience, which I have posted here with anecdotes, is, yes, you can. Easily.

Others have posted about tracking PS4S tires in 19 degree ambient, and they did just fine after a warm up.

If you want to have a little scary fun, though, head out cold onto the pavement and stab the gas while turning on ice cold summer tires when it is 30 degrees outside! LOL

After less than 10 minutes you can stab the gas while turning just like you would in the summer.

But, no, if I lived in PA I would not be driving on summer tires in the winter. Temperature is temperature, but you have a whole different set of conditions there, including snow. It can be in the 70s here in November or even December, or in the 20s or even teens, but usually it is toward the warmer end, and we almost never get snow, and, when we do, it is never on the ground for more than a day, or, once every ten years, two days.

 

[robvas]

Try riding a "sport bike" on cold tires or cold pavement.

under 50 degrees F, or 10 degrees C down under, it can be dangerous.

Rolling burnouts!

I couldn't ride fast enough to actually need super bike tires like the Pilot 2CT, but i didn't do much riding below 55 degrees or so anyway

 

[AZ_Ryan]

I don't live in PA. However, my answer from personal experience, which I have posted here with anecdotes, is, yes, you can. Easily.

Others have posted about tracking PS4S tires in 19 degree ambient, and they did just fine after a warm up.

If you want to have a little scary fun, though, head out cold onto the pavement and stab the gas while turning on ice cold summer tires when it is 30 degrees outside! LOL

After less than 10 minutes you can stab the gas while turning just like you would in the summer.

But, no, if I lived in PA I would not be driving on summer tires in the winter. Temperature is temperature, but you have a whole different set of conditions there, including snow. It can be in the 70s here in November or even December, or in the 20s or even teens, but usually it is toward the warmer end, and we almost never get snow, and, when we do, it is never on the ground for more than a day, or, once every ten years, two days.

Advise based on anecdotal experience isnt real data. Summer tires are not engineered to grip and will not grip the same in low temperatures, even after they are warmed up. Just because you and some others didnt have a problem, doesnt change physics and mean its OK to run them like normal.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Advise based on anecdotal experience isnt real data. Summer tires are not engineered to grip and will not grip the same in low temperatures, even after they are warmed up. Just because you and some others didnt have a problem, doesnt change physics and mean its OK to run them like normal.

Anecdotal data is all that I have and all that the other who tracked their car had, and so we shared it.

Criticize away, or better yet, go do some track comparison in the winter on all seasons and a summer tire. I'd read it. Maybe it would be the start of a great Youtube channel side hustle for you.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Anecdotal data is all that I have and all that the other who tracked their car had, and so we shared it.

Criticize away, or better yet, go do some track comparison in the winter on all seasons and a summer tire. I'd read it. Maybe it would be the start of a great Youtube channel side hustle for you.

I dont need to do a track comparison. The real data about temperature and tire compounds is all over the internet if you care to look. Its a well known fact Summer tires are not engineered for cold temperatures and performance will suffer the colder ambient temps get due to compound degradation. Your anecdotal stories to the contrary are not data that disproves that. I'm fine if your comfortable running summer tires in the cold. But giving advice on the forum to do the same irresponsible.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

I dont need to do a track comparison. The real data about temperature and tire compounds is all over the internet if you care to look. Its a well known fact Summer tires are not engineered for cold temperatures and performance will suffer the colder ambient temps get due to compound degradation. Your anecdotal stories to the contrary are not data that disproves that. I'm fine if your comfortable running summer tires in the cold. But giving advice on the forum to do the same irresponsible.

The only "advice" I gave him was that if I was in PA I would not run the tires I am running.

WTF? Give it a rest.

I will post my personal experiences where they are relevant.

You can keep whining about it. They grip well once warmed up regardless of the ambient temperature. That's just a fact based on personal experience. Thanks, though, for sharing your Google knowledge about how that isn't true.

The other guy who actually tracked his Michelin PS4s in cold ambient temperatures and found the same thing is full of shit, too, and "irresponsible," because you saw something on Google.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

The only advice I gave him was that if I was in PA I would not run the tires I am running.

WTF? Give it a rest.

I will post my personal experiences where they are relevant.

You can keep whining about it. They grip well once warmed up regardless of the ambient temperature. That's just a fact based on personal experience. Thanks, though, for sharing your Google knowledge about how that isn't true.

Im not whining about anything. Im saying that just because YOU did, doesnt mean anyone else should. Your personal experience doesnt change physics and known data. Not to mention that your one day of track experience does not make you an expert on tires. You can chose to ignore facts and data all you want, just dont tell other people to do the same.

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