Switching to snow tires early...how bad is that?

dedfish · 10-14-2004, 10:47 AM

I just had a flat on my summer tires and I was thinking about just putting my snow tires on the car now and just replacing the summer tires after the winter. I live in Boston and we probably won't see snow for at least another month or two. How bad is it to run snow tires this early in the season?

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linsavy · 10-14-2004, 11:46 AM

The snow tire compound will not hold up to heat well at all. If you had a nice sunny day and drove many miles it could significantly wear the tread. If you don't drive much, it will likely not be a problem. Depends on the snow tire compound too. There is no safety issue, although the snows are not optimal for dry weather driving.

obyone · 10-14-2004, 12:10 PM

Snow tires don't like the warm weather. They get real squirmy and wear faster than normal, under warm temperatures.

dedfish · 10-14-2004, 02:10 PM

Well it's a done deal. This is the first time I've prayed for early cold weather!

mbiker97 · 10-14-2004, 02:30 PM

If you have a more all season snow tire like the Nokian WR or Bridgestone LM-22 you will be fine.

gtguy · 10-14-2004, 05:26 PM

No problems. Think of snow tires as temperature tires. As it gets colder, the softer tread compound works better than that of a performance tire, which gets rock-hard in temperatures below 40 degrees F.

Just don't drive all crazy and stuff, and you'll be fine. The other question is what kind of snow tires do you have? This makes a big difference.

Kevin

SOOBY · 10-14-2004, 05:52 PM

We'd a fall of snow about 2 weeks ago. I put my (New last winter) snows / studded tires on.
Snow lasted about 2 days then it was gone. We're due big snow soon, so I was going to leave them on. However, soon as they're warm, you can actually feel the car slip, under heavy cornering, so, I took them off again and put my summer tires back on.
Here you're allowed to use studded tires from mid September I think, but, I could almost 'hear' the tires wearing on the dry roads....

nate49509 · 10-14-2004, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbiker97

If you have a more all season snow tire like the Nokian WR or Bridgestone LM-22 you will be fine.

What he said. The more performance oriented winter tires will do just fine in the semi-warm weather.

dedfish · 10-14-2004, 10:22 PM

I have the Kumho I'ZEN Stud Snow tires. They are not studded, but studable.

nate49509 · 10-15-2004, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dedfish

I have the Kumho I'ZEN Stud Snow tires. They are not studded, but studable.

Ok.

Luke@tirerack · 10-15-2004, 01:21 PM

you'll be fine .... I have a set of winter tires on 1 of my cars already

10-14-2004, 10:47 AM	#1
dedfish Scooby Newbie Member#: 6482 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Boston Area, MA Vehicle: 2011 Transit Connect Metalic Silver	Switching to snow tires early...how bad is that? I just had a flat on my summer tires and I was thinking about just putting my snow tires on the car now and just replacing the summer tires after the winter. I live in Boston and we probably won't see snow for at least another month or two. How bad is it to run snow tires this early in the season? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

10-14-2004, 05:52 PM	#7
SOOBY Scooby Newbie Member#: 51946 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Priest River, Idaho Vehicle: 2000 RS 2.5 Blue Ridge Pearl	Snows We'd a fall of snow about 2 weeks ago. I put my (New last winter) snows / studded tires on. Snow lasted about 2 days then it was gone. We're due big snow soon, so I was going to leave them on. However, soon as they're warm, you can actually feel the car slip, under heavy cornering, so, I took them off again and put my summer tires back on. Here you're allowed to use studded tires from mid September I think, but, I could almost 'hear' the tires wearing on the dry roads....

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10-14-2004, 11:46 AM	#2
linsavy Scooby Specialist Member#: 11620 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lexus IS300 Vehicle: 1997 GF4 -STiV3 Saab 93 TX sportcombi	The snow tire compound will not hold up to heat well at all. If you had a nice sunny day and drove many miles it could significantly wear the tread. If you don't drive much, it will likely not be a problem. Depends on the snow tire compound too. There is no safety issue, although the snows are not optimal for dry weather driving.

10-14-2004, 12:10 PM	#3
obyone Scooby Specialist Member#: 16523 Join Date: Mar 2002 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Inbetween Hesco's and T-walls Vehicle: JDM Maxxpro	Snow tires don't like the warm weather. They get real squirmy and wear faster than normal, under warm temperatures.

10-14-2004, 02:10 PM	#4
dedfish Scooby Newbie Member#: 6482 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Boston Area, MA Vehicle: 2011 Transit Connect Metalic Silver	Well it's a done deal. This is the first time I've prayed for early cold weather!

10-14-2004, 02:30 PM	#5
mbiker97 Scooby Guru Member#: 7922 Join Date: Jun 2001 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Tucson Vehicle: 04 CTS-V b/b/b 99 GMC Highrider	If you have a more all season snow tire like the Nokian WR or Bridgestone LM-22 you will be fine.

10-14-2004, 05:26 PM	#6
gtguy Scooby Guru Member#: 2184 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Highland Park, Ill., USA Vehicle: 2005 Legacy GT wagon Platinum Silver Metallic	No problems. Think of snow tires as temperature tires. As it gets colder, the softer tread compound works better than that of a performance tire, which gets rock-hard in temperatures below 40 degrees F. Just don't drive all crazy and stuff, and you'll be fine. The other question is what kind of snow tires do you have? This makes a big difference. Kevin

10-14-2004, 10:22 PM	#9
dedfish Scooby Newbie Member#: 6482 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Boston Area, MA Vehicle: 2011 Transit Connect Metalic Silver	I have the Kumho I'ZEN Stud Snow tires. They are not studded, but studable.

10-15-2004, 01:21 PM	#11
Luke@tirerack Tire Rack Moderator Member#: 1215 Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: The Tire Rack Vehicle: 800 -428-8355 ext. 4362	you'll be fine .... I have a set of winter tires on 1 of my cars already