Below zero temps on summer tyres - huge improvement once weather is warmer?

[strykeruk]

I live in the North East of England where the temperature has been between -2c and 8c since i have had the car. Its running standard summer tyres and its nearly impossible to get the power down!

Moved from an M135i to an M4 CP. 700 miles in and i'm really not enjoying it. The thing is trying to KILL ME. The back end keeps skipping out and it is generally very sketchy. (much more so than the 135) I know come spring / summer time things will improve, i just hope that the improvement is massive. Can anyone reassure me,,,,PLEASE.....

[nicknaz]

You're trying to kill yourself. Switch to winters

[Rbc44]

It is dangerous and foolish to drive your new M4 at those winter temperatures on your summer tires. Either get a set of good WINTER tires or park your M4 for the winter. You are risking your car and your life (as well as the lives of others) driving on your summer tires in the winter.

[wdskukm3]

^^^^^ But yea you need winter tires. Cannot drive around on those summer tires.

[strykeruk]

None of these answers actually get to the question. I was initially joking knowing of course running summer tyres was going to make life driving difficult in winter. The jist was.. How is driving the M4 in summer when things are nice and warm, when you can use the power and enjoy it? BTW i can't find a winter tyre in the UK that fits the wheels!!

[strykeruk]

You might have winter tyres that fit a 20" wheel where you are but in the UK it is simply impossible.

[Zeroblade]

Winter tires don't just work best in snow/ice but temps around and below 35 fahrenheit (2 C). Material its made of won't harden like a summer tire would, therefore less traction even in the dry. So not surprising it feels like it "wants you dead". Get yourself decent 18" (up to you if you want some beaters or good looking ones) and get yourself winter tires. That includes the front too because you'll want to be able to stop also.

All the safety features made in the world for any car mean shit if you run cheap/wrong tires.

[strykeruk]

Originally Posted by Zeroblade

Winter tires don't just work best in snow/ice but temps around and below 35 fahrenheit (2 C). Material its made of won't harden like a summer tire would, therefore less traction even in the dry. So not surprising it feels like it "wants you dead". Get yourself decent 18" (up to you if you want some beaters or good looking ones) and get yourself winter tires. That includes the front too because you'll want to be able to stop also.

All the safety features made in the world for any car mean shit if you run cheap/wrong tires.

Thanks for your advice, i appreciate it. Can i run 18" wheels instead of 20s that are on the car? Also it won't take too much for a potential insurance claim for them to say "you are on wrong size wheels?"

[Ian1973]

most 18s won't fit over the calipers, but some do. BBS makes a set that does.

While you won't immediately die when it's cold, you have so much less grip under freezing temps. I have done it many times with Pilot's and other extreme performance tires, but I don't ask much from them when I did.

One time however, traction control off, 29 degree F temps, had no grip. It can and will get away from you without much warning.

[SO17]

Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S are available from numerous suppliers in the UK for both 19" and 20" wheels. They are what I use.

[EvilMiyagi]

I'm on summers at the moment waiting for my winters to be fitted tomorrow.. Its like walking on sheet ice, let alone driving.

Get yourself some winters on. I've actually bought a new set (new brand) from Germany for £480 delivered. They may be shocking when I have them fitted but for the price it was worth the risk. The grip is going to be no worse than driving on summers.

EM

[strykeruk]

Originally Posted by EvilMiyagi

I'm on summers at the moment waiting for my winters to be fitted tomorrow.. Its like walking on sheet ice, let alone driving.

Get yourself some winters on. I've actually bought a new set (new brand) from Germany for 480 euros delivered. They may be shocking when I have them fitted but for the price it was worth the risk. The grip is going to be no worse than driving on summers.

EM

Do you have a link for where you got your tyres?

[riano]

I live in Northern Ireland and have found my M4 with summer tyres usurpingly good in the cold temperatures, very rarely get so much as a flicker of the TC. On PSS fronts and PS4S on the rears.

[aerostar]

Summer tires can crack. There are posts on the forums with pictures of the cracked summer tires when you use them in ~15°F weather.

[Ilikemike]

In Canada, a general rule of thumb is, change tires at 7 degrees C. I've spent a lot of money on 'high performance' winter tyres and don't find they're worth it compared to a less expensive 'high performance' tyre. However, the climate around here is mostly wet, around 0 to 7 degrees C in winter with about 1 or 2 weeks of snow.

Just some thoughts about winter driving: Bottom line for me is that the car is not going to perform anywhere near the levels you can get in summer weather, sure, with high performance winter tyres it'll out perform other cars but really, if you're trying to enjoy high performance driving in the winter you'll only hurt yourself..... The performance levels are so high that when something goes wrong, especially in winter, it'll be disastrous... I'm thinking next winter I'll just park it, something I never considered in my 2013 M3. Sad really but the car handles and drives so well it's really hard to resist going too fast, considering the WINTER WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS.
Cheers,

[EvilMiyagi]

Originally Posted by strykeruk

Do you have a link for where you got your tyres?

I do, but at this stage I can't recommend them as they aren't in use.

But at the price it was worth the purchase risk.

255/35/19 - Gripmax-Status-PRO-Winter-255-35R19-96V-XL

275/35/19 - Gripmax-Status-PRO-Winter-275-35R19-100V-XL

EM

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by strykeruk

None of these answers actually get to the question. I was initially joking knowing of course running summer tyres was going to make life driving difficult in winter. The jist was.. How is driving the M4 in summer when things are nice and warm, when you can use the power and enjoy it? BTW i can't find a winter tyre in the UK that fits the wheels!!

No worries with CP and summer tires when it warms up.