When do you switch to winter tires?

[racer24crm]

Hey guys,

I'm still a little confused about when I should be switching from summer to winter tires. I live about a half hour outside of Philly and our temps are still fairly mild right now (70 to 80 during the day, 40 to 50 at night) and should be decently warm until end of October beginning of November unless we have freak weather like last year where we were still in the 60's until the week before Christmas.

Anyway, when do you guys decide to switch to winter tires? do you wait for the overall temp, both day and night, to be 40s and below or do you guys switch over before that when its starting to get really cold at night but still decent during the day? Our past few winters and springs have been crazy in south east PA with random warm days in the winter and unbearably cold days into the late spring.

I haven't bought winter tires yet but I plan turning my stock 18s into my winter set with some 235/50r18 Continental WinterContact si tires.

When I first bought the car I planned on using summer tires and sticking with all seasons in the winter but I had a scare last winter coming home from work late and it was around 5 degrees outside and the car completely broke loose taking a right turn. I wasn't driving aggressively and almost ended up in ditch with a pretty burly wood fence and lots of brush. I think it was a combination of the cold weather and the layer of salt/brine that seems to linger on our roads all winter.

Let me know what you guys think, thanks.

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[zxd9]

I'm switching now but that's because my PZero's have had it. Otherwise I was planning on waiting until the mornings were in the 50's. I'm putting on Yokohama ADVAN Sport A/S. I've had the fronts on for a week and I'm pretty pleased with them. Rears should be coming in today/tomorrow.

 

[wildcatgoal]

When I lived up north, I switched November 1st or sooner, if the forecast called for sustained days with temperatures at or below 40 degrees at any point of the day, especially with precipitation.

 

[Need4SpeedMotors]

When I lived back east it was around end of October start of November to be prepared before the snow hit the floor.

 

[awmustang]

I'll be waiting till the 10 day forecast shows no (or very few) highs above 60. Our weather goes back and forth a bit here before it stays cold. But it also doesn't have huge swings. 60's during the day is still going to be 50's at night. Plus my garage stays pretty warm so my tires aren't rock hard for the morning commute.

I look at this way, if I wait too long the worst case scenario is ending up in a ditch. If I switch too soon the worst case is a bit of extra wear on the winter tires. Far cheaper than a trip to the ditch.

 

[VinnAY]

I drive my summers in the cold, it's fine if you're sensible driving it. I never do that when it's wet though. Otherwise I generally plan to run my snow/ice set from Dec - Feb. Otherwise I (I'm about to) run all-seasons as I'm now replacing the summers. But Philly is diff than Kansas City...I gotta worry about <32 temps much more than snow/ice.

 

[racer24crm]

I look at this way, if I wait too long the worst case scenario is ending up in a ditch. If I switch too soon the worst case is a bit of extra wear on the winter tires. Far cheaper than a trip to the ditch.

That's a good way to look at it. If we do get random warm days it's not going to destroy my tires. I remember reading an R&T article where they took a Focus ST with winter tires around a track in the middle of summer and the tires were pretty shredded but it was in no way dangerous which would be my biggest concern. Plus, that was professional drivers pushing the car and tires hard, so a normal commute taken easy probably wouldn't harm the tires too much.

I just want to get a better idea of when it is time to swap over so that I don't get hurt by leaving the summer tires on too long and that I don't put added wear on winter tires by putting them on too early. I guess there really isn't a great specific time, just gotta take an educated guess.

 

[racer24crm]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/videos/a5604/winter-tires-track-tested/

I found the article. Its short but informative.

 

[BmacIL]

I wait as long as I can, but if I see the 10 day forecast heading particularly cold (< 35 deg F high) or snowy I change over. Last year it was Nov. 11th. In past years it's been closer to the start of November.

 

[racer24crm]

I figured November would be the time to change over. Some the mornings have been in the low 50s by the time on the road and the 40s overnight and it feels like my summer tires aren't gripping like they would in warm weather but I could just be getting paranoid.

 

[awmustang]

That's a good way to look at it. If we do get random warm days it's not going to destroy my tires. I remember reading an R&T article where they took a Focus ST with winter tires around a track in the middle of summer and the tires were pretty shredded but it was in no way dangerous which would be my biggest concern. Plus, that was professional drivers pushing the car and tires hard, so a normal commute taken easy probably wouldn't harm the tires too much.

I just want to get a better idea of when it is time to swap over so that I don't get hurt by leaving the summer tires on too long and that I don't put added wear on winter tires by putting them on too early. I guess there really isn't a great specific time, just gotta take an educated guess.

If it makes you feel any better, I moved from South Florida back to Wisconsin (where I'm originally from) in December. Since I had no desire to swap tires halfway through the trip, I installed the winter tires in Florida and drove 1400 miles on them. The first day hit 85 degrees and never dropped below 70 while we were driving. The next day was warm for most of the day except maybe the last 200 miles. The tires showed absolutely no ill effects from running 80-85 mph in 80-85 degree heat. So I really don't stress the switch over too much anymore. If you don't drive it hard the winters are just fine for occasional warm temps... just as the summers are fine if driven gently for occasional cold temps. Pick a date that's convenient for you in the next couple of weeks, switch them over and don't sweat it. I have plans the first weekend in Oct and the third weekend in Oct so I'll be doing mine the 2nd weekend.

 

[Need4SpeedMotors]

If it gets too cold however it can cause damage to your tires, so stay informed on that.

 

[racer24crm]

If it makes you feel any better, I moved from South Florida back to Wisconsin (where I'm originally from) in December. Since I had no desire to swap tires halfway through the trip, I installed the winter tires in Florida and drove 1400 miles on them. The first day hit 85 degrees and never dropped below 70 while we were driving. The next day was warm for most of the day except maybe the last 200 miles. The tires showed absolutely no ill effects from running 80-85 mph in 80-85 degree heat. So I really don't stress the switch over too much anymore. If you don't drive it hard the winters are just fine for occasional warm temps... just as the summers are fine if driven gently for occasional cold temps. Pick a date that's convenient for you in the next couple of weeks, switch them over and don't sweat it. I have plans the first weekend in Oct and the third weekend in Oct so I'll be doing mine the 2nd weekend.

That's good to hear. How did the tires feel driving in warm weather like that? Did they handle poorly or did the sidewalls feel soft and flexible when turning?

Just want to hear how a winter tire feels in summer temperatures, I don;t ever plan on running them in that type of weather.

 

[awmustang]

I was worried about how awful they would be in that heat, but I didn't really notice much difference at all between the tires in the warm weather vs cold weather. There was no wandering on the highway at speed which was my biggest fear. Like I said though I was driving it pretty easy till the temps dropped.

 

[WindyCityStang]

That's good to hear. How did the tires feel driving in warm weather like that? Did they handle poorly or did the sidewalls feel soft and flexible when turning?

Just want to hear how a winter tire feels in summer temperatures, I don;t ever plan on running them in that type of weather.

I live in Chicago so I will be switching over to winter tires from my P Zeros (GT PP) and on my 2013 V6 Mustang and 2014 Focus ST I had Blizzaks in the winter and when it got warm out I definitely felt a difference with the Blizzaks being soft and flexible. Once the forecast shows nothing lower than 40 I'll be switching back to my summer tires.

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