Driving Summer Tires in Cold Weather

opensesame · Dec 9, 2014

I am driving my Ecoboost with PP home when I pick it up. The weather is slated for -5°C (23°F). I've heard stories that P-Zeros that come with the Performance Package will crack in this cold weather. I won't be driving it during the winter but I'll be storing it in Garage.

Can anyone confirm if it is safe to drive home (even if it is snowing?)

berserker_sid · Dec 9, 2014

Nope.. its not.. summer tires wont give u much grip.. but since u r going to store it... i would recommend drive as slow as possible ... because summer tires

Charles147 · Dec 9, 2014

If you can afford a flatbed go for it or wait for a better day if time and weather permits. Otherwise, drive slow, be safe, and use your caution lights to keep other drivers aware of your excessively slow speed and lack of grip.

Barrel · Dec 9, 2014

Tow truck is cheaper than an accident or damaging the tires, just saying.

RisingForce · Dec 9, 2014

You will be fine to drive it home. I drove a SHO for an entire winter with summer tires on it. You wont have the same traction and yes cold weather does affect it if youre gonna drive it daily, but for a one time trip home, you shouldnt have anything to worry about.

opensesame · Dec 9, 2014

RisingForce said:
You will be fine to drive it home. I drove a SHO for an entire winter with summer tires on it. You wont have the same traction and yes cold weather does affect it if youre gonna drive it daily, but for a one time trip home, you shouldnt have anything to worry about.

This was the answer I was looking for. I will drive her him when the roads are clear of snow and very slowly straight to my garage. Then wait like a MOFO until Spring.

DivineStrike · Dec 9, 2014

You will be absolutely fine driving it home, just be smart. If your really worried put it in snow and wet mode. It's about impossible to lose control in that mode. Honestly this worry about cold and summer tires is extremely overrated if you are responsible. I am by no means a light footed driver, and it is very easy to keep these tires under control in sub 30 degree temps.

Is it preferred? no...however is it unsafe to drive them in the cold to the point it is dangerous? definitely not, it is the driver that makes summer tires in cold weather dangerous. Very few summer tires actually get damaged in the cold and these pirelli's are just fine. Think about it, why would the manufacturer allow these cars to just sit outside in lovely detroit winters just waiting to be shipped if these tires would just deteriorate? they wouldn't and don't. The sub 40 degree statement is simply a CYA for FORD and a warning for customers to be careful and not expect maximum grip out of the tire.

chaoscentral · Dec 9, 2014

RisingForce said:
You will be fine to drive it home. I drove a SHO for an entire winter with summer tires on it. You wont have the same traction and yes cold weather does affect it if youre gonna drive it daily, but for a one time trip home, you shouldnt have anything to worry about.

except youre not mentioning one key factor. the SHO is AWD not RWD. While it is possible for the most part he will need to drive ridiculously slow.

DivineStrike · Dec 9, 2014

chaoscentral said:
except youre not mentioning one key factor. the SHO is AWD not RWD. While it is possible for the most part he will need to drive ridiculously slow.

In just cold temperatures...no he will be fine. Now snow and ice would be more precarious but still doable dependent on how bad the conditions are and what kind of hills are involved.

the main concern with the cold and tires is grip when turning and breaking, not accelerating. again the only concern when accelerating is on ice and snow.

JimmyTwoTimes · Dec 9, 2014

DivineStrike said:
In just cold temperatures...no he will be fine. Now snow and ice would be more precarious but still doable dependent on how bad the conditions are and what kind of hills are involved.

Really have to disagree here.

If he's just driving a one-shot, from the dealer straight to the garage, he should be ok as long as he keeps it to about 20 kph and gives himself plenty of extra distance to stop. But summer tires turn HARD in cold temperatures, and harder the colder the temperature -- I once tried to drive an Audi A4, all-wheel drive, on summer tires in 5 degree fahrenheit temperatures with pure, dry pavement, no snow or ice... it was impossible. It felt like the wheels were billiard balls.

DivineStrike · Dec 9, 2014

Sorry but I've driven with summer tires in the temperatures he's mentioning and the temps your mentioning. It is not all doom and gloom. It is up to the driver to be responsible and careful. Yes they get hard, but it's not ice or snow.

And no disrespect jimmy, you seem like a fine individual, but you are one of the most conservative drivers i have ever seen online. At least the way you describe yourself.

fionic · Dec 9, 2014

Guys, seriously. You'll be perfectly fine to drive home.

Been driving on my summers for 3 weeks waiting for my tires to come in. (in IL, in the 0-30s F even in snow/rain). As long as you don't punch it at every light/ turn 'softly' you'll be fine. Use the engine to brake to help your brakes.

dabears2322 · Dec 9, 2014

With fionic. Unless there's more than like 4 inches you'll be fine

humster21 · Dec 9, 2014

Been driving on mine for two weeks now and have had zero problems even in the snow.

Youngmustang · Dec 9, 2014

yeah you should be fine I'm still riding on the 20's with summer tires that came with the car. Its been low 20s here in Chicago just be easy on the throttle. Im still waiting for my winter tires.

Driving Summer Tires in Cold Weather

opensesame

Well-Known Member

berserker_sid

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Charles147

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Barrel

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RisingForce

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opensesame

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DivineStrike

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chaoscentral

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DivineStrike

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JimmyTwoTimes

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DivineStrike

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fionic

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dabears2322

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humster21

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Youngmustang

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