3.3TT Summer tire storage in cold climates; Purchasing Stinger during winter

[Clearly Canadian]

Hi there, according to tirerack.com and micheline's website, the performance summer tires are not to be driven on, stored, or even just used to support the weight of the vehicle in winter temperatures.

"Note: Tires exposed to temperatures of 20 degrees F (-7 degrees C) or lower must be permitted to gradually return to temperatures of at least 40 degrees F (5 degrees C) for at least 24 hours before they are flexed in any manner, such as by adjusting inflation pressures, mounting them on wheels or using them to support, roll or drive a vehicle."

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...toYear=2018&autoModel=Stinger+GT&autoModClar=

My concern is that if I purchase the vehicle now, I would expect the car to have been transported in cold-to-very cold weather which could potentially damage the tire compound. Has anyone had any experience with this in regards to high performance tires? Am I overthinking it?

 

[Euljiro1ga]

Hey, welcome to the forum!

I also want to know the same thing. Hope someone can answer soon.

 

[CoconutRob]

I thought the same thing if they show up at dealer this winter for a test drive. Then again I Grove thru the Buick dealer 2 weekends ago and the ajoining Chevy dealer had a few corvette's and camaros on the lot temp was about 20 degrees. So I would asume this is not a new problem or question.

 

[jwhollan]

I have driven my Stinger in the cold a few times, once in a couple inches of snow, and have not had any damage. But I too am concerned with this and have been avoiding driving it in the cold when I can. My stinger has been sitting in my garage untouched for about a week now and it looks like I wont be able to take it back out on the road again until Saturday. The problem is that while my garage certainly doesn't get into the single digits or below like it has been outside, it does dip down into the 20's or so in there during those times (it's not heated or insulated). So I hope I'm not damaging the tires by having my car just sit there either... But I don't really have any other options at this point unless I want to go replace the tires which I'm hoping to avoid doing until the start of next winter.

I'm wondering if this 40 degree rule-of-thumb for summer tires is a "definitely avoid doing this at all costs" type of thing, or a "It will probably still be fine, but there is a slightly higher risk of damage" thing?

 

[Chris]

There are a ton of people that drive them in sub 40 degree weather. Every stinger dropped off in the north that had summer tires have been driven (they have to get it off the truck and do the little test drive). The one I drove in MN had summer tires on it. We drove it for 20 minutes. The tires were pretty horrible on the packed snow/ice though..

 

[Clearly Canadian]

In my case I will have dedicated summer & winter tires but I have to decide if I'm going to lug my summers into the basement of my house rather than leaving them in the garage. Winters can be colder than Mars where I live...

 

[Kia Stinger]

Winters can be colder than Mars where I live...

Damn. That's like - chilly...

 

[Kazz]

Hey, if you can drive the car on summer rubber in temps under 40 (Fahrenheit) and feel good with it, more power to you. It's around 3 degrees Fahrenheit here right now (before windchill). My car came with 18" all-seasons and I'd prefer winter (snow) tires for a bit more bite and traction. My plan is to get 18 or 19" wheels for the "summer" with dedicated, high performance, summer tires and then use the all-seasons until they're worn enough I can replace them with winter/summer tires.

I've driven pretty much all of it. And if your temps get under 40 (50?) I want a winter tire. And when it's not going to get that low of a temp for months, I want a high performance summer tire. I tend to use every inch a curve will give me and it takes a tire appropriate for the temp and conditions for me to really enjoy it.