OK, I have a quick question I need help with. I have to make a decision if I'll take my car or my wife's van tonight... needless to say I'd like to drive the RX-8. My tires are the stock Bridgestones. I read the many threads regarding these being useless in the snow and getting hard in cold weather.

Let's assume the low temperature is around 30 ºF, the roads are dry and reasonably clean - definitely no snow. During the day it goes up to about 45-47 degrees. Let's also assume I won't hit a patch of black ice
Are these tires safe under these circumstances?

Thanks folks.

 

if by safe you mean driving like you would drive a Camry, then i'd figure it should be ok

 

actually i'm kinda curious just *how bad* these bridgestones are cold DRY surface, i have the OEM Dunlops and have driven them in temperature into the teens (in the dry of course), not a single problem

 

I've taken my OEM Dunlops into very cold temps also. I just take it very easy and don't push the car in any way. Haven't had any issues, and have actually done some emergency handling and was fine.

But if there is even the slightest possibility of precipitation of any sort - it stays in the garage.

 

They're pretty awful, but it's not like you're gonna have trouble getting up hills or anything, lol.

The stock bridgestones on cold, dry roads kinda behave like using them on warm, wet roads. Only they're "skitterish," lol, or less predictable in the cold. And uncomfortably stiff, almost punishing.

 

IMO, the bridgestones suck, see me thread about it the bad tire wear i've gotten. Yes, my tires get a little flat-spotted when cold but seem to get better when they warm up.

 

If it's cold the odds of the back end breaking free when you're going up/down exit ramps and the like goes up astronomically. Personally I wouldn't drive on the stock tires below 40 degrees F.

 

I have had no problems on the Potenzas in the conditions you describe (dry, above 40 during the day, dip to 30s overnight). Quite common here in VA. Yes, if you push them they break loose (like a power takeoff going up an incline or taking a 25 mph exit ramp at 45 mph) where they wouldn't if it was 30 degrees warmer. However, normal, safe, non-aggressive street driving appears fine. This is the case even though my tires are near end-of-life (18K miles).