switch to winter tires

blackscholes · 11-17-2015, 07:20 PM

Hello all, Sorry if this was already discussed before.

At what temperature should I switch from summer to winter tires? Right now it is 45F (7C) in New York and weather here is dry with no snow/rain. Is it safe to drive on summer performance tires under these conditions?

Thank you very much for your inputs

blackscholes · 11-17-2015, 07:23 PM

From my little research, I came across things like

"The transition temperature where summer performance tires or all-season tires lose traction and winter tires enter their peak operating window is around 7′ Celsius (44.6 degrees Fahrenheit)."

I am wondering if folks in North East have started switching to winter tires already? Thanks

floydarogers · 11-17-2015, 07:24 PM

I would switch now. Getting to that time of year. A storm comes through and you're toast.

Actually, I'm going to switch tomorrow.

BavarianFanatic · 11-17-2015, 07:29 PM

I usually do it when it's consistently in that range.

gongtowjai · 11-17-2015, 08:44 PM

I'm going to place my order in a week or so. I don't drive it on the weekdays..so no toast..Mid Nov is usually a good time unless bad weather comes early...

joz · 11-17-2015, 09:13 PM

I don't think there is any issue driving in under 7C but your performance will degrade as the rubber is harder.

My rule of thumb is when max temps start to hit 5-8C I switch. Rather drive a few days on my winters at 10C than get caught in snow on summers. Some people here drive the whole summer on winters

Bassthe1st · 11-17-2015, 09:23 PM

I've done it at around 0°C without problems but remember you can't drive on any kind of accumulated snow (as thin as it can be) or ice. What I used to do is watch the weather forcast and switch just before it snows.

lens · 11-17-2015, 09:55 PM

If theres no snow, you'll be fine. Once you start seeing snow, switch over.

Temperature shouldn't matter much unless its like -10 or something, you'll just have less grip but not enough to kill you unless you go super fast round a corner.

hollandog · 11-17-2015, 10:13 PM

Maybe we can get through November for us in NYC.

stvding · 11-17-2015, 10:41 PM

Switch to winter tire next Wednesday here in Toronto Ontario

RM7 · 11-17-2015, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackscholes

Hello all, Sorry if this was already discussed before.

At what temperature should I switch from summer to winter tires? Right now it is 45F (7C) in New York and weather here is dry with no snow/rain. Is it safe to drive on summer performance tires under these conditions?

Thank you very much for your inputs

When it gets icy, sure, summer tires are useless, but I've never had any problem driving on summer performance tires in the cold, and by cold I mean into the -Fs. If you can't drive on em, you simply don't know how to drive. Sure, you don't take a corner at 3x the speed limit, but it's not like the tires stop working when it gets a little chilly. This is massively overblown.

LDSM · 11-18-2015, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes

When it gets icy, sure, summer tires are useless, but I've never had any problem driving on summer performance tires in the cold, and by cold I mean into the -Fs. If you can't drive on em, you simply don't know how to drive. Sure, you don't take a corner at 3x the speed limit, but it's not like the tires stop working when it gets a little chilly. This is massively overblown.

Which tires do you usually run?

ft1330 · 11-18-2015, 06:55 AM

Did it last week (Michelin PA 4). It gets cold during my early morning commute (this morning it was below freezing at 6 AM). It gets warmer in the day but I don't want to chance getting stuck in a snow storm. Been there done that. Also buy your tires now before the stocks run out...

ft1330 · 11-18-2015, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaungo

unless you go super fast round a corner.

^^^ Don't we all do that ^^^

ft1330 · 11-18-2015, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes

When it gets icy, sure, summer tires are useless, but I've never had any problem driving on summer performance tires in the cold, and by cold I mean into the -Fs.

Summer rubber in the winter, and no brakes? I wouldn't take advice from this guy

RoundelM3 · 11-18-2015, 08:04 AM

When it gets icy, ALL tires are "useless". No matter what type of tires you have, unless they're studded (which is not legal in many US states), you have no grip at all on ice. Snow is another matter - winter tires work best for that. I'd say until the first snowfall, you're probably ok on summer tires. Fortunately for me, I've not lived anywhere in the past 48 years that required switching tires - even the 3 winters I spent in NY/NJ area in the early 70s.

ft1330 · 11-18-2015, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roundel335

When it gets icy, ALL tires are "useless". No matter what type of tires you have, unless they're studded (which is not legal in many US states), you have no grip at all on ice. Snow is another matter - winter tires work best for that. I'd say until the first snowfall, you're probably ok on summer tires. Fortunately for me, I've not lived anywhere in the past 48 years that required switching tires - even the 3 winters I spent in NY/NJ area in the early 70s.

You should check out the tire rack videos testing winter tires on an ice rink. I would say some of them are not useless at all even on ice.

BavarianFanatic · 11-18-2015, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roundel335

When it gets icy, ALL tires are "useless". No matter what type of tires you have, unless they're studded (which is not legal in many US states), you have no grip at all on ice. Snow is another matter - winter tires work best for that. I'd say until the first snowfall, you're probably ok on summer tires. Fortunately for me, I've not lived anywhere in the past 48 years that required switching tires - even the 3 winters I spent in NY/NJ area in the early 70s.

This isn't really true any more. The advances in snow/ice tires has been dramatic over the last decade. The only qualifier I would offer is when temps are hovering right at freezing and there is standing water on the untreated ice (or it's raining) you will have challenges. Though the biggest challenge will be actually walking to your car.

casualDIYer · 11-18-2015, 08:37 AM

I've driven my pilot super sports when below 7 and haven't had an issue for normal driving. A bit of snow, even a little? Totally useless. Snows on.

Polo08816 · 11-18-2015, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollandog

Maybe we can get through November for us in NYC.

Once the lows get into the 30F range, it's definitely time for winters. If I had summers on in the 40Fs, I would drive conservatively.

Figuring out the exact time to switch is always a compromise. The Weather.com 15 day forecast is usually what I go by. An oddball cold day won't make me change.

fecurtis · 11-18-2015, 08:47 AM

I swapped mine out last weekend. I probably could easily go at least through November with the summer tires on since it's been unseasonably mild here but whatever.

RM7 · 11-18-2015, 09:14 AM

And while you can drive performance tires just fine in the cold (not like they are going to explode or anything), having a winter set of tires makes a lot of sense, as you can then go for an even more 'high performance" summer tire and not worry about totally killing it in a year, since you'll be spreading out your tire wear more.

11-17-2015, 07:20 PM	#1
blackscholes Private 6 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 2016 340i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	switch to winter tires Hello all, Sorry if this was already discussed before. At what temperature should I switch from summer to winter tires? Right now it is 45F (7C) in New York and weather here is dry with no snow/rain. Is it safe to drive on summer performance tires under these conditions? Thank you very much for your inputs
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11-17-2015, 07:23 PM	#2
blackscholes Private 6 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 2016 340i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	From my little research, I came across things like "The transition temperature where summer performance tires or all-season tires lose traction and winter tires enter their peak operating window is around 7′ Celsius (44.6 degrees Fahrenheit)." I am wondering if folks in North East have started switching to winter tires already? Thanks
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11-17-2015, 07:24 PM	#3
floydarogers Curmudgeon and Pedant 690 Rep 3,489 Posts Drives: 2010 335d, 2014 328d Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bellevue, WA iTrader: (0)	I would switch now. Getting to that time of year. A storm comes through and you're toast. Actually, I'm going to switch tomorrow.
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11-17-2015, 07:29 PM	#4
BavarianFanatic Too much is never enough 655 Rep 3,079 Posts Drives: Too Many Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SE PA iTrader: (0)	I usually do it when it's consistently in that range.
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11-17-2015, 08:44 PM	#5
gongtowjai I'll Kung Fu Panda your ass 106 Rep 2,100 Posts Drives: '16 F30 XDrive Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Queens iTrader: (0)	I'm going to place my order in a week or so. I don't drive it on the weekdays..so no toast..Mid Nov is usually a good time unless bad weather comes early... __________________ '16 F30 340 XDrive - AW-Lighting & Track Packages. The FIRST drive was awesome....
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11-17-2015, 09:13 PM	#6
joz First Lieutenant 85 Rep 306 Posts Drives: 2014 335xi Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: t.o iTrader: (0)	I don't think there is any issue driving in under 7C but your performance will degrade as the rubber is harder. My rule of thumb is when max temps start to hit 5-8C I switch. Rather drive a few days on my winters at 10C than get caught in snow on summers. Some people here drive the whole summer on winters
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11-17-2015, 09:23 PM	#7
Bassthe1st Private First Class 22 Rep 160 Posts Drives: 2017 330i xDrive M Sport Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Montreal, Qc iTrader: (0)	I've done it at around 0°C without problems but remember you can't drive on any kind of accumulated snow (as thin as it can be) or ice. What I used to do is watch the weather forcast and switch just before it snows. __________________ Current: 2017 330i xDrive M Sport Past: 2013 328i xDrive, 2008 335XI 6MT, Legacy SPEC.B, MazdaSpeed6(best of all)
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11-17-2015, 09:55 PM	#8
lens Colonel 2070 Rep 2,639 Posts Drives: 2018 340i xDrive Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Halifax NS, Canada iTrader: (5)	If theres no snow, you'll be fine. Once you start seeing snow, switch over. Temperature shouldn't matter much unless its like -10 or something, you'll just have less grip but not enough to kill you unless you go super fast round a corner.
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11-17-2015, 10:13 PM	#9
hollandog Major 448 Rep 1,056 Posts Drives: F30 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: nyc iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW 340i [9.00]	Maybe we can get through November for us in NYC. Attached Images __________________ 2016 340i \| Estoril Blue \| Coral Red \| M Sport
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11-17-2015, 10:41 PM	#10
stvding Major 662 Rep 1,447 Posts Drives: G20 M340ix Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Markham iTrader: (0)	Switch to winter tire next Wednesday here in Toronto Ontario
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11-18-2015, 06:55 AM	#13
ft1330 Major 231 Rep 1,267 Posts Drives: 2014 335i Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: SE PA iTrader: (0)	Did it last week (Michelin PA 4). It gets cold during my early morning commute (this morning it was below freezing at 6 AM). It gets warmer in the day but I don't want to chance getting stuck in a snow storm. Been there done that. Also buy your tires now before the stocks run out...
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11-18-2015, 08:04 AM	#16
RoundelM3 Major General 1837 Rep 6,990 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	When it gets icy, ALL tires are "useless". No matter what type of tires you have, unless they're studded (which is not legal in many US states), you have no grip at all on ice. Snow is another matter - winter tires work best for that. I'd say until the first snowfall, you're probably ok on summer tires. Fortunately for me, I've not lived anywhere in the past 48 years that required switching tires - even the 3 winters I spent in NY/NJ area in the early 70s. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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11-18-2015, 08:37 AM	#19
casualDIYer Major 446 Rep 1,370 Posts Drives: 340i xDrive M Sport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	I've driven my pilot super sports when below 7 and haven't had an issue for normal driving. A bit of snow, even a little? Totally useless. Snows on.
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11-18-2015, 08:47 AM	#21
fecurtis Banned 3262 Rep 6,299 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW 335i M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Arlington, VA iTrader: (0)	I swapped mine out last weekend. I probably could easily go at least through November with the summer tires on since it's been unseasonably mild here but whatever.
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11-18-2015, 09:14 AM	#22
RM7 Brigadier General 2893 Rep 3,470 Posts Drives: Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alaska iTrader: (0)	And while you can drive performance tires just fine in the cold (not like they are going to explode or anything), having a winter set of tires makes a lot of sense, as you can then go for an even more 'high performance" summer tire and not worry about totally killing it in a year, since you'll be spreading out your tire wear more.
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