Slippery Tires

[Chrissss]

Took my Viper out yesterday (Thanksgiving) to family's house for dinner. It was about 50, beautiful day so I thought I would get it out, maybe last day for the season. Later that evening I drove it a bit but it was cooler. It was like driving on ice. The tires would not hardly grip at all. I have the Mich Pilot Sports. I've heard they do not stick well when it's cold but wow. I mean they really didn't hold well at all and there is plenty of tread on them. Common? Should I upgrade?

 

[Frankster]

First question is "how old are the tires"?

It's well known that performance tires get hard as they age.

There's a "date" tag on your tires somewhere. Tire Rack has info on how to decode the date code.

If your tires are old it explains why they feel slippery. When I bought my RT/10 last year it still had the original tires on it
(1996 vintage).

They were dangerously hard due to age.

Cold will reduce grip. Cold and age could be the worst possible combination.

 

[Mopar Boy]

Yes, I was amazed at how much the cold affected traction too the first time I took mine out on cold roads!! Be VERY careful this time of year!!

Frankster - Love the search comment in your signature. So true!!

Robert

 

[Hiss]

I have the 19" Sport cups on the rear of my SC Viper. A sticky tire in warm weather but in cold weather the tires will spin unless I warm them up pretty good. But all the tires I have used, with the exception of the Hoosier A6, has given me this problem during the colder months.

 

[dragon rider]

Cold tires ****. Even PS2's need to warm up before they grip in sub 50 degree weather. In warm weather, I can hardly break traction shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, but in 40 degree weather and cold tires, I broke loose shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear. PS2's are much better that runflats especially old ones.

 

[Hamrhead]

~50 degrees here today. PS2's on my '06 Coupe.

Sliding all over the place until they warm up a bit.

Even then, still not great.

 

[adg44]

Summer tires are to be used in... you guessed it - Summer!

The tread compound just doesn't grip in cold weather, as the tire can never really warm up.

So, just take it carefully if you plan on driving your car in the winter, regardless of what tires you have on.

- Anthony

 

[bluestreak]

There are sevral sets of Pilot Sports. Which ones are you reffering too?

MPSC
PS2
PS
PS AS

??????

MPSC are no good when they are cold if you have an 08 or the R-comp tires. It's really like driving in the wet.

 

[JonB]

There are sevral sets of Pilot Sports. Which ones are you reffering too?
MPSC
PS2
PS
PS AS

EXACTLY ! And you left out ZP, which is what he PROBABLY has by his Avtar....

Chrisss, this is an emminently-serchable topic. Or if you want to tire-talk ad-nauseum, call me!

Short answer: "DITCH THE OLD RUNFLATS, BEFORE THEY DITCH YOU"

 

[Slypopsracing]

Chriss, No easy answers. After a year of putting up with run craps, I upgraded to 08 suspension and tires and found 2 things. Run flats driven reg and warmed up are not that bad a tire at all.PS2 s are nice but a handful when cold. This car is wonderfully dangerous. Let the driver be aware!

 

[RavenFan_94]

JonB is dead on as always here. I'm calling him next week, I'm done with my runflats. They tried to ditch me last week.