Need tires - specific question (not another "tire" thread)

[chrisbruck]

Time for new street tires on my relatively stock '87.

No DE's, no track days, only spirited driving on fair weather days (wet performance not a concern). I know which brands I'm likely to get but here's my specific question.

For those of you who drive year round in the southern climate (Atlanta for me)... How much difference will I notice having ALL SEASON tires vs a true SUMMER tire in the winter months? Is there a low temperature point where SUMMER tires really become a hazard? I have SUMMER tires now and they didn't seem too bad in the winter but did loose some bite. Are ALL SEASON's noticeably better?

TIA

[HarryD]

Supposedly Summer tires start falling off when it is under 40F. Here in Portland, I drove Continental ExtremeContact Sports year round. When the temps were under 40, there was a loss of traction but not significant and I never felt like I was in danger.

[berndtj]

Same as Harry above. I'm way up in the PNW with the same ExtremeContact Sport tires. I just avoid snow and ice, that's about it. Also, just drive slower in crappy weather.

[PeteKz]

I also live in the PNW. I have some Bridgestone ultra performance summer tires on another car. I have definitely noticed a reduction in traction when the temps get below 40. I currently run Michelin Pilot Sport as3+ on my 911, and they work pretty well in cold and wet, and even better in warm and dry.

[spuggy]

It may be age-related as well. Modern tires continue to cure, apparently..

I drove a set of Kumho Esctas in 2" of icy slush on country roads when they were new, and they were actually just fine with a little common-sense/respect...

By the 3rd winter, the same tires - which always felt just fine in warmer weather - were positively evil in 40F drizzle - pushing, sliding and tram-lining badly, embarrassing traction loss pulling away from traffic lights etc. Though worn, they still had what appeared to be adequate tread (more than legal minimum). Changed them out with extreme prejudice for a set of Conti WinterContacts - absolutely amazing contrast.

I now run 2 sets of wheels. Average temps of 35-40F is about where I swap over.

[icarp]

Summer tires , it is tough to beat Continential Extreme Contact Sport.
If you want to drive in the snow then get 4 new snow tires as narrow as you can.
Brand of snow tires really does not matter , just pure snow tires .

Ian

[fallingat120mph]

San Antonio, TX here. Was just looking at tires and noticed this thread, so...

I have the Pirelli P Zero Rossos on 7 and 9 x 16's. The last two winters (tires are 3 to 4 years old now) I have noticed a difference in performance from the spring/summer/fall season to the - "winter" - season we have here...some 30-40 degree mornings - and I wouldn't consider these that high performance per se, but they list them as that (Max Performance Summer). The hardening due to colder temps and morning humidity are my concerns, and slight at that. Also, these tires are getting old from my perspective.

Compared to the Toyos I used to run all year, these are definitely better year around - Autocross to Summer respectively.

I drive my 911 a lot (200,000 plus miles on it) and if 75-85% of the year wasn't above 70, and we actually got rain, I would probably go back to an all season like I did in Europe.

Agree with others...the Continental Extreme Contact Sports are hard to beat. Also, as others have noted, age plays a big role no matter what tire, which is what I am going through now. Crazy being back in America and the age of some of the tires I see here at the meet ups, etc... Coming from Germany, so whole different mind set on tires and age there.

From someone who is in the South, drives year around, I think you would be fine running summer all year...As stated I used to run "autocross and racetrack" tires per TireRack, year around and the only time I felt uneasy were very cold and rainy/misty mornings...hard rains too...but down here that can get bad no matter what tire- very greasy roads.

On cold morning coffee runs I just take it easy letting the car and tires warm up longer. It sounds like we are on the same page driving style wise...

This is going off my climate right now...70's during the day - 30-40's at night/morning. Summer tires all year but I do have to respect the cold and wet mornings and overall not sure all season tires would be worth it, especially this year being mild and I would have regretted not having proper summer tires.


I go through this every few years, as do others: Which tires this time?!?!

...so, with "summer tires", as I get older I don't mind enjoying a slower pace in the fall and winter, windows down, sunroof open...for me it makes the spring and summer "very spirited" driving that much better. My days of 365 hair on fire driving have tapered off to be honest. With 245/45's on the 9x16's smaller selection but in the end, as stated, the years I spent good money on all seasons/normal summer tires I kinda regretted it on the 90 degree sunny days in the Hill Country down here. Feel like the GA climate is comparable...




Erik

[Larmo63]

I have Michelin Pilot Exalto tires.

I love them, not sure if they are still available?.

[SCadaddle]

Central Mississippi.

We had several days of below freezing temps and overnights into the lower teens I guess back in December. I had just fitted my SC with new summer tires and was concerned about them getting really cold just supporting my car in my garage. Supposedly if the tires are exposed to less than 20F, they need to warm back up above 40F for 24 hours before they are used to roll or support the car.

So what I did was tighten up the clearance on the roll up metal garage doors to their frames, leave the 2 flood lights in the light fixture turned on, and place thermometers throughout the garage. The garage never cooled to less than about 38F even in the coldest mornings when the outside temp was single digits to lower teens. I had no plans to drive the car during that cold snap but glad I opted for the summer tires for the balance of the year.

[chrisbruck]

Sounds like I'll be good with either choice. The other comparison is all season tires carry a higher treadwear rating... which for me means they are more likely to "age out" before they would wear out, haha.

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by chrisbruck

The other comparison is all season tires carry a higher treadwear rating... which for me means they are more likely to "age out" before they would wear out, haha.

Agreed!

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Larmo63

I have Michelin Pilot Exalto tires.

I love them, not sure if they are still available?.

No longer made. The closest replacement is the Pilot AS4.

[Otter74]

I've used summer tires a handful of times in the winter and my experience was that if the roads were dry, the tires were fine. In my case they were new and I was just driving around normally so it's not like ultimate grip mattered. Then I drove the car (it was Euro-spec car with summer tires on a manufacturer plate) home one day when it was 20s with light snow and it was a disaster. No more of that, thanks. Given typical winters in Atlanta (I grew up there), I think you'll be fine.

[GH85Carrera]

I live in Oklahoma. I do drive on cold days that are dry and salt free roads. I also drive on long road trips and do get into rain on those trips. Every November I go to an event in Eureka Springs, AR and drive the best roads in eh country.



Last year it snowed one evening. The roads were clear, but the temps low. It has been as cold as 16 degrees in the mornings.

I did have the Michelin Sports, not the sport plus, and they did just fine in cold temps, but I did not push at all in cold weather. Now I have the Continental Extreme Contact Sport tires as the Michelin's were not available anymore. I have not driven them a lot as I only put them on last fall.

I do notice they get flat spots from sitting for a few weeks, but that smooths out in a few miles. I will be driving out to Palm Springs this summer and they will get a good hot workout in the heat.

I have used all season tires in the past. They really suck for traction, and I hated them.

[tschall]

I LOVE my Yokohama A008P's, lighter tire, more responsive. Extremely well handling. Front 2 x 205 /55 R16, Rear 2 x 245 /45 R16. Just sayin', perfect on M491 '86 cab...

[darrin]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

No longer made. The closest replacement is the Pilot AS4.

Matt: I show the Porsche N0 spec Pilot Exalto PE2's as still available and in stock at Tire Rack (as well as the AS4s) in 205/55-16 and 225/50-16 sizes -- see, https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?zip-code=80209&frontWidth=225/&frontRatio=50&frontDiameter=16&rearWidth=205/&rearRatio=55&rearDiameter=16&performance=ALL

[Darkly-Noon]

Just bought my second set of Pilot Exalto's last year, and they're still available. Like them a lot

[Matt Monson]

They must have just re-released them in the last year or so, as the PE2. The Michelin site even calls them vintage Porsche specific. That’s fantastic news.