3-season tires in the winter

[Ferzerp]

So, as October hits, I am pondering whether I can get by on these 3-season eagle f1 supercar tires. We typically have a mild winter here, and I can just stay home on the day or two we may have snow or ice, but should I be concerned with the performance in cold temperatures in general? I have yet to find any definitive data on this.

Does anyone have any real experience in similar situations? This is on a Challenger SRT (4200ish lbs, 470hp/470tq, for an idea of what type of forces they may be under)

 

[Viper GTS]

What's your commute like?

I've made it through a couple winters on Michelin PS2s (on a 2002 Mustang GT). Here in Portland we don't see much snow (couple days a year) and like you I can stay home if its really bad.

That said, I have driven with them in the snow (and with Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas before them) and its a challenge. Doable, but every time you stop you wonder if this is the time you get stuck. My commute is only 3 miles and no highway so I basically idle my way there and back. If I had a real commute with highway and higher speeds I would have to get a more appropriate tire.

The thing that scares me is panic braking, its undeniable that grip is substantially reduced with performance rubber in the cold. I have the option of commuting at very low speeds and truly cold weather is very rare here. PS2s are ok in the mid 40s and rain.

Viper GTS

 

[Ferzerp]

My commute is under 4 miles with stops every 1/3 of a mile or so. I never hit 40 mph on it. Grocery is under half a mile from my house, etc. I live in the city, pretty much.

 

[Savij]

It depends on the temps too. Summer tires lose traction pretty quickly as they get cold so you would want to be careful as the temps start to drop below the 40s.

You probably won't notice too much at say 35 on a normal commute, but it could be the difference between a close call and a bad day as things get colder.

 

[yottabit]

My commute is under 4 miles with stops every 1/3 of a mile or so. I never hit 40 mph on it. Grocery is under half a mile from my house, etc. I live in the city, pretty much.

That will be the worst scenario for summer tires, they'll never get warmed up in the winter

I've tried driving summer tires in the winter. If there is snow, forget about it. If there is not snow, temps really need to be above 40 degrees. I would drive my ~3 miles early in the morning to work when it was 0 to 20F out and braking traction was reduced from what would normally be phenomenal to literally just needing a jab of the brakes to lock up all wheels. Of course I live in New Hampshire so my weather is probably much more severe than yours.

If you are willing to baby it and take it easy for those 4 miles, acknowledging the fact that your sports car is going to have the braking ability of a Geo Metro, then I think you'll be okay

 

[Zivic]

My commute is under 4 miles with stops every 1/3 of a mile or so. I never hit 40 mph on it. Grocery is under half a mile from my house, etc. I live in the city, pretty much.

not quite sure what 3-seasons are really meant for...

Anyways, for price and performance I went for a set of conti DWS and they are great (my car is an evo IX). It seems you already know how dangerous summer tires can be in just cold temps, so I think you should have realistic expectations on what an all-season tire is capable off.

With RWD, you are going to have issue with snow unless you go full snow tires.

 

[RKS]

I have a RWD and run X-Ice2 tires from Thanksgiving to a few weeks after Easter. My commute used to be 50 miles/day but this winter it will be 10 miles/day. Even though I'm just north of 300hp when the temp dips under 40 the RE050 become to stiff and the rear gets really squirrely.

 

[herm0016]

not quite the caliber of tires you have, but, i drove an 85 TransAm with Falkin Zeix tires (a fairly well regarded tire) for most of one winter here in wyoming. We get a lot of freeze/thaw and a lot of ice for about 4 months.

It was Scary most of the time, I slid around every corner and at every stop sign and nearly stuck on flat roads more than once.

for a once or twice a year thing it would be fine, but if i was anywhere that it would be more often than that I would have a second set of wheels and tires for winter.

 

[Ferzerp]

not quite sure what 3-seasons are really meant for...

I'd probably have gone with a quality all-season tire, but these are the OEM tires that came on the car, so... Depending upon how this winter goes, the replacements may or may not be all-seasons. Or I may give in an buy a new set of wheels to put some tires for the winter on. I don't really want to sacrifice much grip in the summer.

 

[JCH13]

I'd probably have gone with a quality all-season tire, but these are the OEM tires that came on the car, so... Depending upon how this winter goes, the replacements may or may not be all-seasons. Or I may give in an buy a new set of wheels to put some tires for the winter on. I don't really want to sacrifice much grip in the summer.

You don't want to sacrifice grip in the summer, but you will sacrifice lots of grip during the winter? :hmm:

Get winter tires on extra wheels. Aim for some "sport winter" tires so your dry traction in the winter doesn't suffer too much.

 

[Ferzerp]

You don't want to sacrifice grip in the summer, but you will sacrifice lots of grip during the winter? :hmm:

Get winter tires on extra wheels. Aim for some "sport winter" tires so your dry traction in the winter doesn't suffer too much.

I get out less in the winter, what with it being kind of chilly and all. I don't typically say to myself, "Self, I think I'll go for a ride" in the cold weather. It's more of an A to B thing in the cold for me.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

In my experience summer tires turn into hockey pucks below about 40 def F.

 

[RearAdmiral]

You'll be fine if you don't have any panic reactions during the winter. If you need to swerve or stomp on the brakes you might get into trouble. Your ability to avoid a hairy situation will be reduced if it gets cold enough on summer rubber.

 

[ShawnD1]

So, as October hits, I am pondering whether I can get by on these 3-season eagle f1 supercar tires. We typically have a mild winter here, and I can just stay home on the day or two we may have snow or ice, but should I be concerned with the performance in cold temperatures in general? I have yet to find any definitive data on this.

3 season = summer tires?
My bro tried winter driving on summer tires for a couple days until he could do the change. They sucked. When the temperature gets near freezing, the tires are rock hard and the traction is horrible.

That doesn't mean you'll slide off the road, but your stopping distance will be affected. If some kid runs out in front of your car, adding a few feet might mean hitting him.

 

[Ferzerp]

This morning it was mid 40's.

I'm getting a different set for the winter.

Now I just need to find a place to get the OEM wheels that isn't a dealer.

 

[JCH13]

This morning it was mid 40's.

I'm getting a different set for the winter.

Now I just need to find a place to get the OEM wheels that isn't a dealer.

Dodge SRT Challenger... year?

 

[Ferzerp]

2011 with WPA wheels, not the WP9.

These:

http://www.challengertalk.com/forum...t-wheels-help-challenger-srt8-392-sema022.jpg

 

[JCH13]

Heart-set on OEM wheels? Tire rack has got some nice wheels much lower than OEM pricing.

 

[vshah]

save your summer tires for next summer. Summer tires wear insanely fast on cold winter roads.

 

[Ferzerp]

Heart-set on OEM wheels? Tire rack has got some nice wheels much lower than OEM pricing.

I really like them. I'd rather use them for both sets, I just can't seem to find them anywhere except the dealer.

 

[Ferzerp]

Wow. Dealer wants $1200 each for them...

Just wow.

 

[JCH13]

Wow. Dealer wants $1200 each for them...

Just wow.

Go to TireRack, a set of FOUR 20" wheels will set you back as little as $850, and a set of four 22" will be around 1200-1400. Sealership FTL.

 

[Ferzerp]

I found a set of take-off wheels with Goodyear Eagle RS-A 245/45ZR20 tires included for under $1900 with under 50 miles on them. I'd need to get TPM sensors for them, but that seems reasonable to me, and I could keep the same wheels year round.

 

[brblx]

on a heavy RWD car, if you encounter actual, real packed snow/ice on the road, i'd stay home without snow tires. even all seasons can end up feeling like basketballs.

we had a good bit of snow last year when i was working for infinity, so i drove a lot of those in the snow. even with the roads mostly clear, it was easy to lose traction at the rear. actually had to turn the TCS off because it triggered too easily and wouldn't let me blip the throttle to get the tires to 'catch' on takeoff. i'd imagine your car probably feels like those things on steroids, with both more weight and more power.

running without TPM sensors in the winter won't hurt anything. i can't remember how chryslers relearn...you might have to take a trip to the shop every time you swap wheels. GM's have a built-in relearn and ford/mazda/volvo generally will pick it up on its own. jap and euro cars usually need a reprogram with a TPMS tool.

also if you let the air out of the tires and break the top bead, you can usually get sensors in/out. but i wouldn't wanna do that every year.

 

[Ferzerp]

Oh, I'm not going to drive on ice. I'm just noticing a marked lack of traction even with fall morning temperatures. I want to be prepared before I see mid-high 20's mornings this winter.