DrDiaboloco

I'm heading to NY from IN for a few days next week, and according to the weather it won't be snowing anywhere along my route in the time that I'd be gone. I have already made the switch to my Blizzaks, but for a variety of reasons I'd rather have the non-snows on the car for a 1500mi round trip.

Any thoughts on how summer rubber wears on clear but cold roads? I know the traction is reduced from warmer conditions, but do summer tires wear faster when they're frozen up in 30deg ambient temps?

Of course, knowing how things go, it would end up snowing after all and I'd be stranded... I'll probably just keep the snows on for the trip, but I'm seriously considering switching back for the duration of this excursion. Can't trust the weather people to be right, now can we?

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

the rubber on your winter tires probably grip better in 30 degree temperature than your summer tires

i'd just keep the winters on.

92tsiawd

I would actually switch them back if you are sure there is no snow, mainly because I drive about 25 miles from work, park the car in the garage and I can smell the snows (burning rubber smell), probably from the heat I put on the them from driving on the highway. I would imagine your blizzaks wouldn't like to sustain higher speeds for long.

shaunv74

Going from Indy to NY is going to take you through the snow belt off the great lakes. If you get any snow along the way you're going to get stuck. My advice is better safe than sorry keep the snows on. Snow tires are cheap and bumpers are expensive.

KimiFelipe

I would say let the expected temps decide for you. If it is going to be above 40 degrees the whole time you are driving (i.e, not at night) then you should switch back to summers.

If its' going to be below about 35 the whole time you are driving you should leave your winters on because you will have better grip. You can get some chunking if you run a tire too cold and drive it hard - but if you are just straight line cruising and take on ramps like you're driving a van then the summer rubber wont suffer in the cold. But I'd run the winters if its going to be pretty cold.

willhave8

Winter tires for cold temperatures and RISK avoidance. No brainer.

KimiFelipe

Winter tires at 50 plus degrees are just as dangerous as summer tires below 30 degrees.

Got to be sensible.

DrDiaboloco

That was kinda my point... If it was a "no brainer" I wouldn't be devoting brain power to considering the switch.

Like I said, I'll probably just leave them on, looking at temps at or below 40deg the entire time, and getting stuck in eastern PA doesn't sound like fun. It's just the 1500mi on Blizzaks I'm not looking forward to.

invasion08

iTrader: (7)

keep the winter tires on you never know you might hit some snow... i have driven over 1000 miles on winter tires with no snow and warmer than 50.... its not a big deal

KimiFelipe

Under 40 degrees and you should be fine for wear. Ride quality, well, that's a different question =\

Hey if you're on the PA tpk, definately watch your speed. PA troopers are pretty much by the book.

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

its not very often you see them on the PA turnpike...

DrDiaboloco

I've done my time on the highways and interstates in PA and OH, I know exactly what not to do to keep them off my back.

I'd rather spend an extra hour enroute not worrying about the fuzz than push it to make better time and be stressed out the whole time. 6-7 over is my personal speed limit on major motorways.

willhave8

Do what you want. Just tell me when you will be travelling through PA.

willhave8

Bullshit

It's not just about temperature. The point is the risk of snow is there and the predictable temperature is going to be COLD. If we have more global warming and golfing temperatures, you will be safe with the winter tires. Just don't try to set land speed records.

If it snows and you have the summer tires on, you won't have any speed since the car will be unsafe at any speed, if you can gain speed.

MadRonin

I'd sooner run the risk of wearing down my snows than run the risk of getting caught in snow with summer tires. Besides, the cold temps will wreak havoc on your summer tires without the added fun of snow. Think eraser rubbed on the sidewalk.

Looking at the forecast for eastern PA, for the next week, we're expecting temps in the high 40's / low 50's during the day and low 30's at night.

KimiFelipe

BS yourself *******. Read the first post. The guy is awake and knows summers can be dangerous in the cold - that WASNT his question. He was asking about tire wear you dork.

TomAssBender

? I'm surprised you haven't been ticketed yet.

At least between Philly and Harrisburg they are quite prevelant. Luckily, traffic moves so fast on the turnpike that you can do 80 and just be keeping pace.

DrDiaboloco

Thanks for the tip... I had no idea that the summers aren't safe in the snow.

C'mon, man, I already have the snows on the bloody car, so you don't need to "teach" me anything about the dangers of stock tires in the white stuff. Save your anger for someone who claims that they don't need snow tires at all.

woodysjh

Alright this guy needs some advice, looks like nobody has the answer for him.

Leave your winter tires on for the trip.

If it is warm and they do wear more than the summers, look at it this way you are saving some life on your more expensive summers. If the weather turns bad, your all set. 1500 miles on winter tires isn't that bad. If they are the LM22's, they are speed rated.

DrDiaboloco

They're WS-50's, not LM22's. The speed rating is not a concern as I won't go anywhere within 25mph of the design limit of even WS-50's on this trip, almost the entire route of my trip might as well be designated a "target enforcement zone" and therefore sticking VERY close to the posted speed limit is prudent. Thanks for the advice, though, I hadn't really considered the "snow tires are cheaper than summer tires" angle.

KimiFelipe

Wow, WS-50's. Yeah, I'd suggest IF you think it will be above like 35-40 THE WHOLE time you're driving, put back your summers.

I know you'll be careful.

shaunv74

If it snows at all you will be a danger on the road to yourself and others with summer tires. Leave on the winter tires. I think you are overestimating the effect of warmer temps on your winter tires. It will be so much safer to run your winter tires at 35-55 degrees than the risk running your summer tires in any kind of snow and cold temperatures. If you're still not sure ask conner@tirerack. He is on this forum alot and can probably give you a straight answer on what the impact on your winter tires are.

willhave8

Two pages of threads to reinforce what people have been saying on this forum for almost 3 years. Summer high performance tires are unsafe in the cold and snow. You admit you know that. The risk of cold is pretty high in the states you are talking about and you have winter tires. I just don't get what the question is. Your winter tires are the safest bet and no, they will not wear out in a trip in 60+ degree temps.

If you switch back to the summers, be sure to take KimFelipe with you.

KimiFelipe

yourself.

Why is it that internet forums bring out the ugly preacher in everybody? The OP knows damn well what the danger is. His question is, IF I'm convinced that there's no danger, but want to be certain to be safe and keep on the snows, am I going to get a lot of wear on my winter tires, WS-50s, not something that can take it like the LM-25 for example.

And he's right to ask, too, you jerk. IF, and we all emphasize IF, the temps are warm then he SHOULD switch back to summers. No different than say, october, when you are trying to decide when to put your winters on. Do you take a chance that the first 3 day cold snap is the end of fall or not? NO difference. This year I put my winters on in late october when it first got cold - big mistake, but who knew.

More than half the posts in this thread are dorks like you trying to humiliate the people who are giving their opinions to the OP, trying to help him with his decision. He's a big boy, he knows the risks. If not he wouldn't even post.

Internet preachers like you are jerks worth ignoring. Give the guy a break and try to help him out. Help him to decide, don't try to bash him into submission to accept what your decision would be. That makes you an *******.

Help the guy out. Formulate an argument. Give him information. If you have a better suggestion that is as clear as my post above where I tell him exactly how I would make my decision, then post it. Otherwise you are just trying to be everyone's dad.

I'll take my spanking now, please.

DrDiaboloco

If you can't figure it out, then you're not as bright as you obviously fancy yourself to be.

I'm curious, are you the smartest person in the room ALL the time, or just when you're getting whipped into a froth on THIS topic?

If it's the former, I'll be sure in the future to PM you before I wish to ask any questions or solicit any advice on anything... Thank you SO much for your interest. The indignation, nastiness and holier-than-thou stuff really helped.

*kiss kiss*