This evening will be the first time that the temps are forecast to drop below 40 degrees and I'll be out during that time. What should I expect from my Continental summer tires?

 

 

When it is that chilly with Michelins I have to drive like the road is wet when cornering and accelerating to avoid drama.

 

This from our friends at Tire Rack..."As ambient temperatures get colder, typically in the 40-45° Fahrenheit range, summer performance tires lose a noticeable percentage of traction as their tread compound rubber properties change from a pliable elastic to inflexible plastic. The tire industry uses the term "glass transition" to describe the temperature where a summer performance tire's grip/slip performance changes dramatically. This means the summer performance tires that provide predictable traction in warm to hot conditions will be found to be very challenging to drive in cold to freezing temperatures. This is especially true when the tires first begin to be driven or if the driver aggressively applies gas pedal pressure with today's turbocharged fours or high-torque sixes and eights. Fortunately, glass transition is a reversible condition that allows the tires' normal traction to return as the ambient temperatures climb.If ambient temperatures drop to near- or below-freezing, driving or rolling a vehicle equipped with summer performance tires risks the possibility of tread compound cracking. Tread compound cracking is a permanent condition that requires the tires to be replaced. The other condition that can be caused by running summer performance tires in cold temperatures is the possibility of chipping away the edges of the tread blocks.Since both of these conditions only occur as the result of what's considered improper use or storage, they are not typically covered by the manufacturer's warranty."

 

I've used summer tyres year-round on my Jaguars for the past 11 years and not had any problems with traction (with careful use of throttle, of course!) or tread cracking. Here in southern UK the temps don't get really low but they do get down to zero degrees C or a little lower during the cold spells.

 

Hiya Fuji...yep 27 predicted for Charleston. which tires you have - Continental Sport contacts? Mine did very good in Virginia mountains last week - in the 20s. No drama going up squirrelly parts of I-81. But I noticed it rode harder..stiffer.

 

In regards to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S and cold weather...

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...Pilot+Sport+4S

 

It only got down to 40 by the time I drove it home from the car having sat in an outdoor lot for 3 hours, so maybe not a good test, but I noticed no difference whatsoever in traction, handling or ride. As soon as I started it and entered the highway I gave it a good amount of peddle and felt no slippage--I was rather disappointed

 

Since you are asking, you already know that summer tires are unsuitable for cold weather.

Drive on dry roads as if it was during downpour. So no spirited cornering, no hard and sudden stepping on the accelerator at any speed, and leave extra room for stopping.

 

drove the pzero summer tires for 3 winters with temps in the teens and 20s and never had a problem, no "compound cracking." You just have to not take corners too sharp and fast. Tire rack is of course going to fear monger you because they make a living selling tires so they likely want you to buy as many types of tires for different weather as possible....in my opinion

 

According to Tire Rack's testing, the Michelin PS 4's are the best at handling cooler temps of the summer sport tires. That's just one reason I just bought a set for my R. My old PZero's wouldn't grip at 80 degrees.

 

I had a tire problem last night. Must've been too cold for the P4S :-(

 

No...it was that 1/2" piece of rebar you drove over.

 

That's pretty much what it would have taken. I could see through the hole. Dinner might have been inexpensive but the evening as a whole was not.

 

Corrected for accuracy.

 

Yep - and I am glad my cheap *** finally got the Michelins. Where the Pirellis in the cold were like an ink rink, the Michelins are unfazed. Speaking 34f or so.

 

If other words your date was expensive. Next time baby the car instead; better investment.

 

I'd agree if it was the middle of the summer and you have track time scheduled... but when not, it's a fantastic investment (the dinner) in the night to come (no pun intended)