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      02-21-2014, 09:07 AM   #1
retiredguy
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Winter or All Season Tires for Florida trip

Hi all, have been getting a lot of conflicting info on if I should change my winter tires to my all season for my trip to Florida, going from Cambridge Ontario to Tampa Bay area. I am leaving March 15 and depending on the weather will be down in Florida for 2 to 3 weeks, maybe more if winter doesn't stop lol. Some suggest change to all seasons while others suggest no problem leave your winters on. Appreciate your thoughts on this. Thanks in advance.
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      02-21-2014, 12:51 PM   #2
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Which concerns you more, 2-3 weeks of higher than normal wear on your winter tires, or potentially having inadequate tires to drive in/out of the snow belt?

Given the winter that the eastern/southern US has had to date, if I were driving to Tampa from here I would just leave my winter tires on.
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      02-21-2014, 12:54 PM   #3
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Driving for a day or two in FL on winter tires would eat them up, let alone 2-3 weeks. If you drove around for that long in 70-80 degree weather the would be completely worn out by the time you got back. Winter tires lose grip above 45 degrees, it would be dangerous to drive on them constantly above those temps. You would smell burnt rubber after every drive.

Absolutely dont drive to FL on winters, switch to all seasons, or if temps are above 45 degrees you could drive on summers but be careful.
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      02-21-2014, 03:01 PM   #4
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bagekko,

Sorry, I disagree. Unless winter tires have changed a lot in recent years (it's been a while since I used them), a few weeks running in warmer temps will not cause significant wear. We see wildly fluctuating temps here in Colorado and our winter tires deal with that just fine. I'd leave them on for the trip.
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      02-21-2014, 03:11 PM   #5
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A day or two would not wear that much, but weeks and they would be gone in the FL temps

Winter tires in FL 60-80 degree weather will have little to no grip. The will release chemicals at those temps and become so greasy, that it could feel like your driving on ice. If it was one day maybe, but for weeks, you would be risking your life driving on them.

Also running winter tires in FL temps, they would run so hot that you easily risk one of them blowing out from the heat generated by the tire.

Any time you are driving on winter tires above 45-50 degrees, you should be cautious and switch tires once the daily expected temp is above that.

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Originally Posted by Pitiful Old Man View Post
bagekko,

Sorry, I disagree. Unless winter tires have changed a lot in recent years (it's been a while since I used them), a few weeks running in warmer temps will not cause significant wear. We see wildly fluctuating temps here in Colorado and our winter tires deal with that just fine. I'd leave them on for the trip.
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      02-21-2014, 09:24 PM   #6
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I don't know what kind of all season tires you have but I just put a set of Michelin Primacy's on and drove in 10 - 12" of snow and mine did great. I would switch. Just my opinion. That is what you are asking.
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      02-22-2014, 05:23 AM   #7
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I faced the same dilemma last month when I drove to Florida and back from NJ. I elected to switch back to my all-seasons for the trip, and I'm glad I did - despite having to use them for one snowstorm after my return. I didn't think I'd feel comfortable driving 75-80 mph on southern interstates in warm weather with the squirmy winter tires. My snows aren't run-flats, so I didn't want to deal with the prospect of a flat, either. (Even though I keep a M Mobility Kit in the car.)

For me, the only downside was that I had to pay someone else to re-install the winter wheels and tires when I returned home because my driveway wasn't clear enough to get the jack safely under the car.

I'd base my decision on the weather forecast a few days before you leave. If it looks like your first travel day southbound will be snow-free, switch to all seasons. (It sounds like your return trip will be late enough in the season to minimize the prospect of heavy snow.)
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      02-22-2014, 06:42 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by welkerbrads View Post
I don't know what kind of all season tires you have but I just put a set of Michelin Primacy's on and drove in 10 - 12" of snow and mine did great. I would switch. Just my opinion. That is what you are asking.
Thanks all for the input, I have the original Pirelli run flats for all weather and have Bridgestone Blizzak run flats for my winters. Both have low mileage on them. May take a chance and put the all seasons on and pray for nice weather down and back....
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      02-24-2014, 06:26 AM   #9
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winter tires do not perform well on warm temps same shit applies to summer tires in cold temp.

All season and u should be fine. i have all season and i haven't had any issue with the amount of snow NY has had this year.
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      02-25-2014, 08:08 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bagekko View Post
Driving for a day or two in FL on winter tires would eat them up, let alone 2-3 weeks. If you drove around for that long in 70-80 degree weather the would be completely worn out by the time you got back. Winter tires lose grip above 45 degrees, it would be dangerous to drive on them constantly above those temps. You would smell burnt rubber after every drive.

Absolutely dont drive to FL on winters, switch to all seasons, or if temps are above 45 degrees you could drive on summers but be careful.
That's an old wive's tale. While true that winter tires will wear more in warmemr climate the wear will not be so bad and you will definitely not smell burnt tire on every drive. I spent a full winter in Tampa driving a Z4MC on winter tires without any problems.
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      02-26-2014, 08:47 AM   #11
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All depends on how you drive I guess. On a warm day in the M5 I can smell my winters heated up and one day this winter in the X3 on snows I could smell them too. But I would guess that driving on winters during a 70-80 degree sunny day in FL they would heat up pretty well in any highway driving.

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Originally Posted by pmeloche View Post
That's an old wive's tale. While true that winter tires will wear more in warmemr climate the wear will not be so bad and you will definitely not smell burnt tire on every drive. I spent a full winter in Tampa driving a Z4MC on winter tires without any problems.
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      02-26-2014, 11:32 AM   #12
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I'd be interested in seeing data on panic stopping distances from 70 mph at 80 degrees on winters vs. all-seasons. This is the kind of situation that would concern me the most with winter tires in warm weather.
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      02-26-2014, 12:47 PM   #13
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Sounds like something Tirerack might have a review/test on, I know they have data on all season vs winter in winter conditions, but it would be a great idea to test in warmer conditions.

Quote:
Originally Posted by midlifecrisis View Post
I'd be interested in seeing data on panic stopping distances from 70 mph at 80 degrees on winters vs. all-seasons. This is the kind of situation that would concern me the most with winter tires in warm weather.
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      02-26-2014, 04:50 PM   #14
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I found this on the Continental web site:

http://www.continental-tires.com/www...summer_en.html
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      02-26-2014, 05:36 PM   #15
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I would say it depends on which tires you're talking about. H or V-rated winters like the Sottozero or PA4 are probably going to be OK in Florida, but Q-rated tires like the X-Ice or Blizzak WS are out of the question.

All seasons are at least drivable in snow with xDrive.
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      02-27-2014, 06:59 AM   #16
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Hi all and thanks for all the input. I have decided to go with my all seasons with the possible issues with wear on my winters. If the weather turns bad and the X drive cant handle it I will spend an extra night in a motel....cheers....
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      02-28-2014, 04:01 AM   #17
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Hi,

Why not put your standard tyres on and buy some snow socks for the bad times.

Take up no room and will get you out of trouble if needed.

That is if you can get them for your size of wheel/tyres that is!

just a thought.

Mac10
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