dntx5b9

Just got my new set of Ecsta SPTs to replace the stock Dunlops. So far, I really like the tires. Quiet and great handle.

I live in DC metro where it doesn't really snow much so winter tires is really an overkill. I just don't drive the car when it snows. However, sometimes, you do get stuck driving in snow once or twice a year. The Dunlops were terrible in snow. I know they are not supposed to be driven in snow, but they were just horrible even in a very light snow. Now, has anyone try driving on snow with Ecsta SPT's on? If so, how do they drive, especially compared to stock Dunlops? Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

CTrx8

iTrader: (2)

i think the biggest misconception is that summer tires only lose traction in snow. your summers are going to be hockey pucks when the temps are down around freezing. i had mine on just a few weeks ago and was feeling them start to slip from under me and we hadn't seen any of the white stuff. i have since put my blizzaks on.

dntx5b9

May be they do lose some traction in the winter, but I have never had trouble driving my car with the stock Dunlops in sub-freezing temp. On the snow is a completely different story.

Revvittupp

I echo this comment, even though I still drive on them in the winter here in MD. I made it through last winter in my demo with stockers on, but like the OP I really don't drive in the snow. Pulling out of my court in the winter, is a guaranteed drift, no matter how slow I take it... but usually within a couple of miles they warm up to the point where they are no longer dangerous, NTM that DSC does it's job well on cold dry roads. MY rpoblme with this car is and has been it's initial traction. I can stop the car and get it around corners, I just can't seem to get it going with virtually any snow. I'm sure narrower, better treaded snows would help, btu then again, if I need to go somewhere on those days, I catch a ride. I'm curious too, becuase when this set of stockers is no longer, I've been eyeing the SPT's as the bang for the buck tire of my future. I've always liked the value of the Kumho's.

dntx5b9

Well, first snow fall in the DC metro area today. A lot sooner than normal. Rather than trying to climb a pretty steep hill in front of my house, just staying home. Will see how things go tomorrow.

stormyblu8

Wuss! I took mine out this morning. I live down in Woodbridge. We got about 2 inches or so, but roads were clear. I still have orig Bridges on. I do notice a lack of grip on colder days when I gas it in a turn or on take off. Getting some snows soon I think.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Concur. The Summer Dunlops will lose some sidewall flexibility in freezing weather but I would not call them hockey pucks. I take my '8 out on snowless/iceless Winter weekends, backroads only, non-aggressive drivng, and no problems.
Would never take them in snow however.

Revvittupp

I've driven my car botht he last two days in the Baltimore area.... Yesterday I went home and dropped it off at like 1 however cause I thought I'd be stuck later. The stock dunlops are horrible in snow, I was all over the place. I still think gaining momentum is the hardest part. I grew up driving in Vermont Winters so stoppign and turning are second nature to me, but I've never had the difficulties getting moving that I do in this car.

dntx5b9

Yea, I have seen a few 8s around yesterday. May be they were you two. But unfortunately, where I live is hilly and very icy, so there was zero chance that my 8 was going to make it up the hill right in front of my house. There is no chance today either. Still very icy. The school bus just got stuck in my neighborhood this morning, so you see ...

Redpit10

I couldnt agree more. The summer tires get hard as a rock in winter. Two weeks ago I almost slipped off the road taking a routine turn up here in NY. Everybody who thinks its safe to drive on summer tires in winter is kidding themselves. It sounds like most of you will do what you want and keep on your summer tires in this thread (however most of you do have better conditions to drive in then I do up here), but one incident like I had will change your mind instantly. Ive got my Blizzaks on now and they are like night and day from summer tires.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

I don't think we're disagreeing with you Redpit10. Case in point, tomorrow (Saturday) is supposed to be 45 degF by noontime. I haven't driven my '8 since we got icing conditions a couple days before Thanksgiving. I'll take her out tomorrow on [now clear] back roads just to keep everything flowing. The Summer tires will be fine for that. Next year All-Seasons.

dntx5b9

I actually diagree with Redpit10. This winter is will be the 4th winter for me driving my 8 with summer tires on. With the Stock Dunlops, it did so bad on even dusting of snow, I did not drive the car when there was any trace of snow ont he road. However, I drove all winter long, and even when the temp is below freezing, I never had issues with traction. Granted, I don't routinely take aggressive turns. Now I will be extra careful driving my car in the winter, but I really haven't noticed much drop in traction during winter.

By the way, my new Ecsta SPT's do much better than the Dunlops on snow and icy road. I was able to take my car out of the neighborhood yesterday (up the icy hill), whereas, I know that I wasnt even going to be close with the Dunlops.

Redpit10

As I said do as you wish, but I can almost guarantee that eventually you will find yourself in a sticky situation. Huey, I think you are fine taking the 8 on drives during the winter when the weather breaks for sure, im more talking more about snow. Also Dntx as I said you are from a place that does not compare to NY or Mass, as far as winter conditions are concerned. I lived in MD for 6 years and in the time I think I only saw snowfall above 6 inches once, and 90% of the time the snow melts by the next day. Up here in NY we routinely get snowfall in excess of a foot and many times I wont see grass for months at a time because it takes much longer for the snow to melt up here. Summer tires will not even move in real winter situations. So I guess its all relative to your situation. I just dont want people to see this thread and get false hope in their summer tires in winter. And with that im out.

DarkBrew

Yes, you CAN drive in cold weather with the summer tires but you have absolutely no traction margin to deal with emergencies. On a sunny dry day you have reasonable grip in cold weather.
I find my summer tires (RE050A PP) start to lose grip below 50F especially in rain at night when the pavement is cold. Below 40F on a wet road the tires have inadequate grip to be considered safe.
In snow they're an accident looking for a place to happen.

psonoda

I have the Kuhmos on right now. It sucks. In 1" of snow I have almost no traction. I had to get a run up my driveway. I also have a set of Kuhmo All Seasons on my van. Don't laugh I have 235/40 18 on my MPV (Keeping it in the family) Those tires grip decent. The SPT's don't. I am looking for a winter tire setup but the options are few at this date.

dntx5b9

Don't get me wrong. I do understand that the summer tires are called summer tires for a reason. I am not trying to drive my car with summer tires on in thick snow or any snow for that matter. Like Redpit10 said, the winters in DC area is very mild and doesn't snow all the often. But sometime you do get stuck driving. So, it's not realy worth getting winter tires here in the area. And, from what I've experienced, summer tires do well in cold weather. Plus, tires do get hot as drive on the road. So, it's not like the tires stay frigid cold the whole time. But, SPT's are better on snow and icy roads than the Dunlops.

Mendossa

+1

Any summer tire is considered unsafe to drive under 50F since the rubber will be too hard to stick properly to the road. It's not a question of feeling, nor a question of "I did it X times before and nothing bad happened", it's a fact.

Ignore it if you want, but don't try to rationalize it. It's not safe. Safety is about the exception, the moment when you'll need emergency stopping power or when you hit that rogue patch of black ice on a road that was clean and dry the first 10 miles. It's not about "being able to get to the store and back". You can get to the store and back on bald tires with the wires sticking out. It doesn't mean that decent tires aren't necessary.

I mean, everyone is spending a bunch of dough on their summer tires with whole threads about it, getting exhausts and wheels and stuff... but as soon as it's winter tires the whole discussion about traction goes out the window with "I'll be careful" comments and we all become greedy penny-pinchers... weird.

dntx5b9

When you hit the black ice, it doesn't matter what tires you have on your car. You are screwed. Unless you can back up your claim with test results, don't say stuff like "any summer tire is considred unsafe to dirve under 50F." Only warning lable for summer tires are that they "Not intended to be driven in snow or on ice." And that quote is from tirerack.com.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Yep, all bets are off on ice. My AWD winter-tired Jeep was not immune to it this morning, but fortunately I was prepared.

I never did run my '8 this weekend as the townies again over-reacted with copius sand and salt.

Mendossa

Right, you'll still slip on the black ice, but you won't regain traction with your summer tires on cold asphalt. All the "I'll be carefull" beforehand won't help you at that point.

Here's good quote: ADAC test results dramatically illustrate the shortcomings of summer tire grip on wintry roads. "At a speed as low as 30 km/h, the braking distance on a snow-packed road is three times as long for a vehicle fitted with summer tires as for one fitted with winter tires," says Ruprecht Müller from the ADAC Technical Center in Landsberg am Lech. from http://www.laneks.lv/eng/laneks/?doc=452. Would you drive around in summer with tires if I gave them to you for free but told you that they'll need 3 times as much road to stop your car?

As for source regarding the temp, here's one: http://www.betiresmart.ca/pdf/2005_1204.pdf from the guys actually producing the rubber that goes into your tires.

iridium

I remember last year after the first snow storm ( about 5 -7 inches), my car would not move out of the parking spot. TCS didnt matter, the SPT's were unable to produce any traction at all. On lighter snow, I was able to drive it around reasonably well as long as the snow was packed, but had not yet become ice. I did fishtail once on a straight road at a constant speed when I hit a patch of ice. Luckily the road was empty, but I ended up getting snow tires after that.
Driving with snow tires is almost comparable to driving on dry pavement.

Johnboy

iTrader: (2)

SPT's......major bad in any snow. Can't even get up the driveway without taking a run at it. All those summer tires are like skis in winter, especially wide ones like 245's. Car is stored now anyway!

James429

I just got on some new snow tires myself (Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D - the tire that surpasses the M3) and they couldn't be better! With many inches of snow and ice on the ground, the 8 was passing SUVs. Better yet, they say these tires will be good year 'round!!!

I highly recommend them. Expensive, but they do their job well.

Mendossa

I'm curious, how much did you get them for? I got the M3s for my beater and so far I'm pretty happy with them, will probably stick with Dunlops when the 8's pirelli snow sport need replacing.

dntx5b9

Mendossa, don't get me wrong, I will never drive my car if there is any snow at all on the roads. I know better. Driving with summer tires on the snowy major roads at high speed is little bit different from trying to get out of my neighborhood at slow speed. As stated a couple of time on this thread, winter around DC area is relatively mild and roads get cleared pretty well. So, unless you have to drive everyday no matter how much snow is out there, you don't really need winter tires around here. Be careful out there!