Learn Me... Summer Tires?

Embarrassing to admit, but I'm a tire novice. While I always knew that summers would not grip well in low temps, or of course on snow or ice, I never knew that storing them in low temps could potentially damage them.

If someone could explain what type of damage is caused, that would be great. From what I've read, it can result in them wearing out more quickly. But, is that where the negative consequences end?

At the moment, I currently have a set of terrible tires on my GTI (thank you previous owner). They're a generic brand that I've never heard of and I would like to see what the car can do with a proper set. The problem is, I live in Pittsburgh and temps are still going to be dropping to around 30 degrees at night. So, I could wait a couple months for the weather to warm and buy the RE71R's, but that's no fun. We all know how important tires are, so I'm sure you understand my desire to get these off asap.

But again, I don't know enough about summer tires sitting in freezing temps to make a decision yet. During the day it'll be around 45-60, it's just the night I have to worry about. My car is garaged, but it's not heated and not insulated very well either. I'm assuming extreme summer's would be out of the question? When saying that they can't be stored in freezing temps, is that implying an entire season where they're consistently exposed to the cold, or would surviving cold nights for a couple months be the same... Certain max summers, but not all, also come with the same warning. So, what can I get away with right now?

My main goal is getting a tire that provides the most feedback/feel. It will also be tracked occasionally. If I have to get a max category now and an extreme in the summer I'd be fine with that.

Sorry, there's a lot of different questions here, any knowledge and recommendations appreciated.

Summer tires around 30 degrees == low grip

They just get hard, and if it's wet, it might be a handful.

Are you REALLY going to track/AutoX the car? I ask because many use that as justification for the stickiest tires on the street, when really it's a waste.

The 200TW tires low grip in cold, ride rough, howl on the highway.

I'm glad the Star Specs on my BRZ about ready to be replaced.

While people hunting the last tenth of a second on an autocross course treat their tires like delicate flowers, for a DD and casually tracked car, UHP (200 TW) tires aren't "damaged" by cold weather like R-comps can be. They do lose grip when very cold however so if you can swing two sets of tires you'll be better off.

Just like you don't wear sneakers every day, your car will benefit from having the right sort of "shoe" for the season.

I really liked the Continental ExtremeContact DW tires I had on my old BMW and my dad has used them for years during summer on his SVT Focus. They seemed be sticky and sporty as you could want on a street car but didn't have as many of the downsides on the street (noise, fast wear, sucking in colder weather) that would come with the "extreme" summer tires like RE71Rs or Star Specs. The Conti DWs are awesome in wet weather too but I still wouldn't want to use them in snow or ice.

I just got a set of Falken Azenis (the tires the Chumpcar team I crew for is using this year) for my Civic because they were on sale and came in a 14" size. But I'd have gone with something else if that car was my commuter.

KyAllroad wrote: While people hunting the last tenth of a second on an autocross course treat their tires like delicate flowers, for a DD and casually tracked car, UHP (200 TW) tires aren't "damaged" by cold weather like R-comps can be. They do lose grip when very cold however so if you can swing two sets of tires you'll be better off. Just like you don't wear sneakers every day, your car will benefit from having the right sort of "shoe" for the season.

Some manufacturers state that their 200 UTQG are not to be used near or below freezing temperatures.

Toyo R1R

From the OP request, 200 UTQG tires may not the the best choice. There are a lot of tire options in the 'High Performance All Season' category to fit that need.

200TW and similar tires generally won't be damaged much from being stored in the cold (although they may lose some grip), but using them in the cold is a different issue. They'll have pretty poor grip in the cold and if it's cold enough, causing them to flex can end up cracking the rubber.

It's definitely better to store them indoors if you can though. Generally my rule of thumb is this: if it's on summers and it's below freezing, don't move it. And try to avoid driving on them below 40* or so.

Even my 300tw dunlops turn to glass below 50 degrees on the miata. No cracks, but absolutely no grip. Truly, I'd say wait till April to get new rubber when the snow threat is gone if it's your only car.

Summer tires simply cannot grip well in colder temperatures because they don't remain soft as temperatures drop. And of course, they won't have any sipes. Sipes are the tiny grooves in tires that grip on ice, and that can happen at night here when temps get cold. Running a summer only tire in the winter is a death wish.

Personally, I would not run a 200-series tire as a daily driver anyway. They will wear out faster and the added grip over a 340 tread wear tire isn't worth it unless you are chasing tenths on the track. The FiST came with Bridgestone RE050A, and I m now running the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2s. Both are summer-only tires, 340 -400 tread wear. I ran them at the autocross and the track and they both performed very well. If you want something that will do it all, go with a Max Performance Summer tire like these.

That's from a Track Night at Pitt Race, plenty of grip to pick up small stones.

They both saw some cold temperatures on occasion, including an autocross that was below 30 degrees, and they still did just fine. These occasional low-temps didn't wear out the tire any faster IMHO. I do swap them for a set of dedicated snow tires for winter, which I highly recommend for the white stuff. Browse Craigslist and get a second set of wheels and tires. You'll be glad you did.

How good are the performance A/W tires ?

z31maniac wrote: Are you REALLY going to track/AutoX the car? I ask because many use that as justification for the stickiest tires on the street, when really it's a waste. The 200TW tires low grip in cold, ride rough, howl on the highway. I'm glad the Star Specs on my BRZ about ready to be replaced.

Yes, I'm already signed up for some events. But, to that same point I have to ask myself whether or not I really need top of the line tires as a rookie. In truth, I'd probably be wasting my money as I can't push the car hard enough to really utilize the tire's full potential.

pinchvalve wrote: Summer tires simply cannot grip well in colder temperatures because they don't remain soft as temperatures drop. And of course, they won't have any sipes. Sipes are the tiny grooves in tires that grip on ice, and that can happen at night here when temps get cold. Running a summer only tire in the winter is a death wish. Personally, I would not run a 200-series tire as a daily driver anyway. They will wear out faster and the added grip over a 340 tread wear tire isn't worth it unless you are chasing tenths on the track. The FiST came with Bridgestone RE050A, and I m now running the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2s. Both are summer-only tires, 340 -400 tread wear. I ran them at the autocross and the track and they both performed very well. If you want something that will do it all, go with a Max Performance Summer tire like these. That's from a Track Night at Pitt Race, plenty of grip to pick up small stones. They both saw some cold temperatures on occasion, including an autocross that was below 30 degrees, and they still did just fine. These occasional low-temps didn't wear out the tire any faster IMHO. I do swap them for a set of dedicated snow tires for winter, which I highly recommend for the white stuff. Browse Craigslist and get a second set of wheels and tires. You'll be glad you did.

Thanks! I think this is a great recommendation and most likely the tires I'll end up buying. In regards to sizing is it true that I should go with a tread width that's half an inch narrower than the wheel? My wheels are 7.5, lowest 225/40 width I see for the BFG's is 9". Would that be less responsive compared to being fitted on a wider wheel?

225's will fit great on a 7.5" wide wheel. Are you sure 9" isn't the max wheel width?

Tac1 wrote: Yes, I'm already signed up for some events. But, to that same point I have to ask myself whether or not I really need top of the line tires as a rookie. In truth, I'd probably be wasting my money as I can't push the car hard enough to really utilize the tire's full potential.

On the other hand, it's REALLY frustrating to utilize the tire's full potential and it's not enough to catch someone with 200TW tires.

Ask me how I know.

(Get the Comp 2 A/S for daily driving and another set of wheels for track tires)

drdisque wrote: 225's will fit great on a 7.5" wide wheel. Are you sure 9" isn't the max wheel width?

I have a 2015 gti and after searching tirerack and BFG's official site, the sport comp-2's don't show up as compatible.

Wheel width range states 7.5" - 9" though. Load rating issue maybe?

red_stapler wrote: On the other hand, it's REALLY frustrating to utilize the tire's full potential and it's not enough to catch someone with 200TW tires.

Imagine how the guys on 200TW feel not being able to catch me on 340TW.

I have nothing to add to this other than a customer brought their car to us because it "whipped around" on them and they thought it was because the suspension was broke. On inspection we found the tires were 5 year old Yokohamas with 3 to 5/32 of tread and they had dry-cracking grooves so deep that Bootsy Collins couldn't play them. I say they were "summer tires" sort of like "summer teeth"... summer there, summer gone.