MPSS in the cold

[smg1138]

I'm running a set of MPSS right now. When it gets below freezing, they feel like driving on hockey pucks. Once they get warmed up though, it's not too bad. You definitely don't want to drive on any amount of ice or snow on them though. During our last snowfall, I literally couldn't get out of my parking lot. I'm probably going to put a set of winter tires on my factory rims for next winter.

[ka-t_240]

Snag some cheap used winters and then get some good summer tires. The OEM tires are good at nothings besides highway/mpg.

[wparsons]

Most extreme performance summer tires (like the MPSS) actually get damaged by exposing them to freezing temperatures. If they get too cold it changes the rubber compound and they lose a ton of grip.

That's why my summer tires are in the basement, not in the garage.

[Pete156]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Most extreme performance summer tires (like the MPSS) actually get damaged by exposing them to freezing temperatures. If they get too cold it changes the rubber compound and they lose a ton of grip.

That's why my summer tires are in the basement, not in the garage.

Only a few extreme R compound tires can be damaged by storing them below freezing. PSS do NOT fall into that category, otherwise Michelin would attach a warning as other manufacturers do with the tires that can be affected. I have brought this specific issue up with Michelin, and they stand by their word. The PSS compound DOES NOT CHANGE! (Well maybe at -200C)

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by Pete156

The PSS compound DOES NOT CHANGE! (Well maybe at -200C)

Well, he DOES live in Canada...


General question: Treadwear ratings are a fluffy number with no fixed point that varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, which renders it useless for comparisons between manufacturers. What about comparisons from the same manufacturer though, such as the MPSS at 300tw vs. the A/S3 at 500tw? Would that be a valid comparison?

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by Pete156

Only a few extreme R compound tires can be damaged by storing them below freezing. PSS do NOT fall into that category, otherwise Michelin would attach a warning as other manufacturers do with the tires that can be affected. I have brought this specific issue up with Michelin, and they stand by their word. The PSS compound DOES NOT CHANGE! (Well maybe at -200C)

I've seen manufacturers suggestions to not store tires below ~5* C from a few manufacturers of high performance summer tires (not R compounds). Temperature will absolutely affect compound, whether they admit it or not.

The PSS might be fine around zero (C), but I wouldn't chance it, and definitely wouldn't store them well below freezing.

[alanhung85]

Considering the very short summer we get in Toronto if this car is just a daily driver and you do not plan to go to the track every other weekend I would consider getting the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S3. I just swapped the x-ice3 with these here in Toronto. It's been below 0 degrees Celsius this past week and I have tons and tons of grip. It's nearly impossible to trigger traction control / swing the back end out right now with these A/S3.

Plus the A/S3 is comparable to a lot of max performance summer tires out
there as most magazines / reviewers have raved about. Amazing wet traction too.

[CatDaddysBBQ]

In the cold they will slip a bit, but it's do-able.

Don't even think about going anywhere that has snow on the ground.

[Talus1]

Originally Posted by CatDaddysBBQ

In the cold they will slip a bit, but it's do-able.

Don't even think about going anywhere that has snow on the ground.

It snowed a bit here Thursday night, just enough to lightly cover my side street. It was -7C/19F when I left for work in the morning. It was an exciting drive down the block. The main roads were dry and the grip from the MPSS was fine for the drive across town. The low temperature grip seems to be pretty dependent on the roughness of the pavement. The shiny areas are pretty slippery. There is also lots of sand still around. We need one good April rain to can things up.