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      11-02-2023, 04:50 AM   #1
anilx783
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Should I worry about summer tire cracking?

Folks as some of you know I just took delivery after waiting for ~ 3 months new Z4 m40i, to my luck we are going through a cold wave here in North and South Carolina’s and the morning temperature is low 30s F (-1 Degree Celsius) and dry.. I read about summer tires best operating temperature is above 45 degrees F. Anyone else got experience in using it low temperature? Heard it will crack the tires.. normally we have a mild winter and very few days of snow.. so don’t want to swap out for winter set up… Driving my other car to work now, and keeping z4 in garage to be on the safe side.. it hurts and my itch to drive is getting worse day by day
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      11-02-2023, 06:53 AM   #2
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I drove mine in similar weather until i got my winters mounted and let me tell you the bigger worry is grip of which at that temperature they have none…..LOL
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      11-02-2023, 07:01 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by anilx783 View Post
Folks as some of you know I just took delivery after waiting for ~ 3 months new Z4 m40i, to my luck we are going through a cold wave here in North and South Carolina’s and the morning temperature is low 30s F (-1 Degree Celsius) and dry.. I read about summer tires best operating temperature is above 45 degrees F. Anyone else got experience in using it low temperature? Heard it will crack the tires.. normally we have a mild winter and very few days of snow.. so don’t want to swap out for winter set up… Driving my other car to work now, and keeping z4 in garage to be on the safe side.. it hurts and my itch to drive is getting worse day by day
I'm in the Atlanta area and we're going through a cold snap too.

It's generally not a good idea to drive them below 40F outside temps. I've done it before in previous cars when I was younger, and you can tell the difference in grip (or lack thereof) pretty quickly. They're not built for it.

All depends on your climate, but here in Atlanta the only time we see below 40F is usually overnight during the winter, and if it dips below 40F it quickly rises in the morning hours. It's never been an issue for me, and if temps are still down close to the 40F limit I just take it easy driving. For me, it's really only a few times all winter where I play it safe.

But sounds like you have another car to drive when it's cold - there's your solution! Don't worry - that's why we live down here. Just be glad you don't live up north.

Last edited by BlankProc; 11-02-2023 at 07:18 AM..
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      11-02-2023, 09:13 AM   #4
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Echo the comments from above, be careful with less grip in sub 50 degree temps but you will be fine. The tires will likely ride harsher then usual at cold temps below 40. With a garage and southern temperatures there shouldn’t be any prolonged exposure to sub freezing temps which would lead to tire cracking issues.
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      11-02-2023, 09:19 AM   #5
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I live in Texas.. mind you it doesn't get SUPER cold around here... Haven't had an issue in the past, but this is the first time in the new Continental tires. I"ll let ya'll know this afternoon when I have to drive my car home from the auto salon lol.
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      11-02-2023, 09:32 AM   #6
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Something I feel like I can weigh in on being in one of the coldest parts of the continent!

Only times I’ve had rubber crack is on the brutally cold days, like negative 20 Celsius, and this was Cup 2s.

On my new M4 the tires cracked from drop off when it was -30 Celsius and it was moved around the dealership for pdi, those were Pirellis.
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      11-02-2023, 10:01 AM   #7
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Good to know! Thanks for sharing, DDS2015
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      11-02-2023, 10:49 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DDS2015 View Post
Something I feel like I can weigh in on being in one of the coldest parts of the continent!

Only times I’ve had rubber crack is on the brutally cold days, like negative 20 Celsius, and this was Cup 2s.

On my new M4 the tires cracked from drop off when it was -30 Celsius and it was moved around the dealership for pdi, those were Pirellis.
Super helpful.. thanks for sharing!! she is getting out on tomorrow's office commute then .. it never gets that cold here.. only morning commute is cold in the afternoon it's easily upper 50s on these cold days.

I am aware about the traction loss, I am still in breaking in period so not pushing it anyway.. Plan is to get the 1200 miles with commute to work as soon as possible to have more fun on the weekends!!
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      11-02-2023, 02:05 PM   #9
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I should clarify that I store my cars in the winter months.

The incident where the Cup 2s cracked was due to the car being broken in to during storage so I had to move it out of the storage facility and to the body shop. Tires more or less instantly cracked when that happened.

Pilot super sports will have a little bit more give to them than Cup 2s, and I was really disappointed with the pirellis. I was shocked to see the rubber cracked. The dealer took care of me both times.

But summer tires in winter months don’t mix. I’d be careful anything under 10 degrees Celsius if it’s wet outside. If it’s dry you should be “ok” but I wouldn’t go too far below the freezing mark. You’ll run in to traction issues long before you’d crack the rubber.
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      11-02-2023, 03:11 PM   #10
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Live in Raleigh & will drive my BMW cars anytime 24/7 - 365 that there is no snow on the ground.

My first summer tired BMW was a 2004 330 Ci ZHP convertible. Since then have had/have 2011,2013,2014,2018,2020,2022.

All have had summer tires & some have lived outdoors. I drive safely but with a sporting edge. Some cars have run occasional trackdays & AutoX.

Have had no weather related issues due to temperature with any tire over the entire time span. If snow or ice is present or predicted I use a 4X4 truck or SUV with the appropriate tires.

Only tire I will not take out under 40*F is the Nitto NT01's on the Cobra. At 40*F you need to drive like a normal tire on puddled rain or light snow.

They are 100 treadware compared to the 4S at 300 or for those on Conte's 340
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Last edited by BEAR-AvHistory; 11-02-2023 at 03:18 PM..
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      11-02-2023, 03:52 PM   #11
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I think the car has to sit for a long period of time in freezing temperatures, before you will damage some summer tires.
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      11-03-2023, 06:08 AM   #12
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My car is garaged. It's currently (*checks thermometer*) 38 degrees. It's going to be sunny. About 60 this afternoon.

I'm driving it.

Top Down.

(yes, the tires have limited grip - accelerating hard out of a 55 zone will have the traction control light flicker, which it rarely does).
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      11-03-2023, 07:24 AM   #13
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At right around freezing I'd take it easy but wouldn't be super worried about driving the car normally damaging the tires.

Even here in California we get a handful of nights close to freezing each winter, and a lot of cars use summer tires year round.
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      11-03-2023, 09:24 AM   #14
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As far as driving in the cold, I pay attention to tire temps, which I save as a preset. Went for a drive the other day, it was in the 30s and 40s but once I got to the mountains the tires were 70-80 degrees. It depends if it’s a sunny day also and what kind of road surface you’re on. Grip is reduced. As far as damaging tires, if the car isn’t garaged it might be an issue with cold weather over time and switching to a snow set makes sense to me. Atlanta is pretty warm relatively and we only get a few days of snow or ice, so I don’t bother. Plus I garage mine.
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      11-03-2023, 09:41 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82 View Post
As far as driving in the cold, I pay attention to tire temps, which I save as a preset. Went for a drive the other day, it was in the 30s and 40s but once I got to the mountains the tires were 70-80 degrees. It depends if it’s a sunny day also and what kind of road surface you’re on. Grip is reduced. As far as damaging tires, if the car isn’t garaged it might be an issue with cold weather over time and switching to a snow set makes sense to me. Atlanta is pretty warm relatively and we only get a few days of snow or ice, so I don’t bother. Plus I garage mine.
You can save tire temps as a preset?! Is this like adding an app window on home page of Idrive? This sounds like a GREAT preset to have for anyone driving in cold/cool weather areas.
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      11-03-2023, 09:42 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MisanoblueZ4 View Post
You can save tire temps as a preset?! Is this like adding an app window on home page of Idrive? This sounds like a GREAT preset to have for anyone driving in cold/cool weather areas.
You can add it to the 1-8 buttons. I also have mine saved as a preset.
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      11-04-2023, 05:33 AM   #17
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I love in PA, drive the car year round. I rotate to winters in October and back to summers in March. As others have said it’s primarily for cold weather traction/driving. I generally have the reverse issue. When we have warm spells in October and November like we have recently, the winters get like jello in the high temps. When it drops back to 45 and below they are perfect. Summers below 45 are hockey pucks.
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      11-04-2023, 11:43 AM   #18
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61*F & Sunny right now - good to go roofless today.
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      11-04-2023, 11:10 PM   #19
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I used to take my Porsche out in the winter when the roads were clean and dry and it was sunny, on summer tires. As long as it was above 15 degrees, it was OK, although steering was a little loose. I never tried it in lower temperatures.

61 and sunny sounds wonderful! I'm seeing mostly 40s during the day, which sucks. Hell, I'm still trying to grow lettuce!
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      11-05-2023, 02:33 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Horseman View Post
I live in Texas.. mind you it doesn't get SUPER cold around here... Haven't had an issue in the past, but this is the first time in the new Continental tires. I"ll let ya'll know this afternoon when I have to drive my car home from the auto salon lol.
Also in Texas. I've had summer tires (Usually MPSSs) on the previous M240, M335, and several miatas and never had a problem. Yes, the grip sucks, but in mid-30 degree weather I just take it easy until the tires have a chance to warm up.

I don't think there's much difference in winter lows between Dallas and San Antonio most years, with a few notable exceptions. When we had the several days continuous near 0F a couple of years ago, I just didn't go outside :-)
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