Proppilot
Member
Don’t drive on them. It is dangerous for two reasons. The tread pattern on snows is deeper to push the snow/slush away BUT the rubber compounds in tires are temperature optimized.Guys I need your opinion on my tires issue. Just to recap I took delivery of a car whose owner could not pick up for some reason however it has 21 wheels and summer tires which in Chicago is a big deal. Anyways due to the craziness in the edd issue and not knowing when will I be able to get my original ordered car I agreed knowing that there is a 19 wheel winter package I can order. After my rear drive unit replacement ordeal fifty miles after taking delivery the SC promised I will get the winter wheels for free. However they have been on back order for more than two weeks. Now with the snow and below freezing weather it is a problem. I initially thought I will drive my wife’s x5 while there is snow and my tesla on clean roads. However after doing some online research I read the problem with summer tires is not only the snow and traction with snow. Actually under 45 degrees temps even in dry conditions summer tires just because of their rubber they are not safe to drive.
Which means till I get the back ordered wheels which good only knows how long that will be I will be paying for a leased car parked in the garage. I started looking into replacing the 21 summers with 21 ASs to get me by till the winter 19s come in.
I spoke to a friend of mine who has a car shop he said that is BS and that I can drive the summer tires in the cold as long as there is no snow. Another friend of mine who has a pre refresh model s with 21 wheels said that he had no problem with them on dry roads.
So what should I do. Keep driving in the cold on clean roads till I get the 19s or swap the 21 summers with 21 AS?
The summer tires have a harder compound rubber that becomes even harder at low temperatures. This affects road adhesion and they have less traction. Same with running winter tires over 40 F. The compound is already soft and the warmer it is, the faster tire wear goes up and sidewall rigidity is reduced.
You live in Chicago and will end up on the snow and ice at some point and could have catastrophic effects. Even AS are not optimized for either season but good enough for both in most climates. In Quebec snow tires are mandated by law and they should be here in Ontario as well however most people put them on.
Be safe !!!!!