Quote:
Originally Posted by ashtray
^^^Theres been threads here of people just cruising straight down the highway with the flow of traffic and the car decides to spin. Why? Summer tires used in below freezing temps. The rubber gets hard and you lose all traction, so even a straight line can throw you. Just something to be aware of - it's not just the snow you need to worry about in the winter if you have summer tires.
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That's a bit of an exaggeration - I've driven on summer performance tires in temps down to about 5F, and you still have plenty of grip to be safe IF AND ONLY IF the road is absolutely, bone dry. There's noticeably less traction than you would have if it were warmer (I would guess half, or even less), but as long as you're not driving like a moron, you should be fine. If there's any hint of moisture or snow on the road though (or in the forecast), leave the summer tires at home. They become absolutely hopeless in even just a quarter inch of snow.