Hey y’all! Helping out my uncle who owns a 2014 XKR. Of course the car is an absolute beast so it’s reasonable that traction through only the rear wheels may be insufficient. The issue is even starting from a stop at half throttle your spinning tires. It currently has some 2017 Pilot Sport AS3+ which aren’t cracked and have plenty of tread as it’s driven rarely, and garage kept.

What I’m wondering is what kind of improvement am I going to see with some new Pilot Sport A/S 4? Would it be better to go for some Pilot Sport 4S or will they be dangerous if driven in a Tennessee winter? Will they be damaged being stored during 32 degree weather if it’s stored in a reasonably insulated garage?

I appreciate your input!

 

2017 is kind of old for tires, but if they aren't cracked, I would probably still use them. Or maybe this is an excuse for a last send-off burnout and get new ones?

If it's your daily, then you probably should go for the all season tires. If not, then you can probably get away with summers if you only drive in dry weather during the winter, but don't push it too hard in the cold.

I personally like Michelin, and have driven on various kinds of Pilots, but there are plenty of threads on this forum that will offer opinions on other brands.

 

I like the way you think!

The car is not a daily, actually the third vehicle and the AWD Panamera is used when the weather isn’t ideal. My main concern with the summer tires is that they would be damaged by the cold weather, it seems you’re saying that isn’t the case so PS4S sounds ideal!

 

Not so much damaged, as changed.

From Tire Rack:
"Can you? Or, should you? The simple answer is — no you shouldn't. Summer performance tires are simply not designed for near- or below-freezing temperatures. Here's a quick explanation of why.Summer performance tires feature tread rubber compounds engineered to provide traction in warm to hot temperatures only. As temperatures drop into the 40s, a summer performance tire's tread compound changes from a pliable elastic to an inflexible plastic, drastically reducing traction capabilities. The tire industry calls this process the "glass transition." And, without traction, your vehicle will have a hard time staying on the road!

In fact, should summer performance tires even be exposed to near- or below-freezing temperatures, tread compound cracking or tread block chipping can occur. Once a tire has been damaged in this way, it will need to be replaced. And, as both types of damage only occur as the result of improper use or storage, they will not typically be covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

So, to recap — don't drive summer tires in the cold! Save yourself the headache of an accident or damaged tires, and transition to All-Season or dedicated Winter tires in the Fall - before cold weather hits."
Now add to that they are 5 years old and you're only asking for trouble.

 

I have 4S and Pilot Sport AS 3+.
As ​​​@Sean W puts it… Do not run the 4S in anything but summer. They are like dull skates when getting close to freezing temperatures. I have experience with this in the Adirondack Park, mid October, at night.
Spring and fall seasons, with lots of precipitation and dirty roads, I then put on the Pilot Sport AS 3+.
In winter (if you’re man enough ;-). Winter tires only.

To answer your question, in the proper temperature window, the 4S are king And the AS3 do not compare.
The summers are upsized for the reasons you suggest; I want more rubber down on the ground.
Not so with the AS3 as I try to avoid hydroplaning ;-)

 

I have 4S's on my > 600bhp XKR and don't generally have traction issues unless I try and provoke a wheel spin and switching my Aston from P Zeros to 4S's has made a huge difference to traction as well.

I have driven on 4S's in sub-zero temperatures without issue but I wouldn't store a car outside in those temperatures though as I have seen pictures of tyres that have been damaged under such conditions.

The temperature dropped to around -5 deg C at one point on this trip but the tyres were quite warm

 

The only thing wrong with old tires is that they have a high chance for a blow out.other than that, they'll still work like the tires were created yesterday.How I know,I got old enough to drive my older brothers 85 mustang he gave me when I 1st got a job in 2010 to drive back and forth to work that haven't been driven since 1999 and the tires still worked like they supposed to in the rain and everything.So that to me means as long as the tires have proper tread for traction,they will work just fine.

 

“Blowout”…. haven’t had a blowout in decades. And back then I couldn’t afford good tires.
All the flats I’ve had are punctures or failed valves.

 

ah! the change of the seasons. isn't it lovely? kids back to school, pumpkin spice everything, obnoxiously early decorations in front yards, and the tire thread

 

You had a chance to turn this into a Pumpkin Spice tire thread and you blew it @jons :-)

If you buy pumpkin spice tires, you need a "spice alignment" for your car too.

heard they're making limited-edition pumpkin spice tires with a built-in cinnamon air freshener. Your car will smell like a bakery on wheels.

You have to appreciate the subtleties of pumpkin spice tires. They offer a delicate balance of performance and seasonal charm.

Pumpkin spice tires pair well with a Cabernet.

I'm sorry. I text Dad Jokes to my family daily. Please don't ban me. I'll show myself out.

 

I purchased the 4S's a few months ago, replacing the original Dunlops. I love them. Quiet and very grippy. Expensive but worth it.