Can it get too cold to drive the 1le?

[gajagfan]

Originally Posted by Billy10mm

Last winter. Had wheels on order (MRR 228s), but they were stuck on a container ship off the port of California for a few months due to labor/union issues. Avoided driving the 1LE, but occassionally had to do it.

Left my house one morning, right around 35 degrees outside. I have traveled about 100 yards from my home, I'm in third gear at just over 1K RPM, and the light in front of me turns yellow. I go to about a third of available throttle travel (again, I'm barely off idle right now), and the rear tires just light right up and kick out violently to the right.

I'm not usually the nay-sayer when it comes to tires. I think the G2s are fantastic in the wet, while others feel they are terrible. Yes, they hydro-plane easily, but if you're not in standing water, they have excellent wet-weather traction. And I'm generally someone who enjoys driving in snow with just about any vehicle. But seriously, the G2s are just atrocious when the temps drop. You can light them up in 4th gear at 1500 RPM if they haven't warmed up yet. It's just silly dangerous.

I mounted my MRR-228s with BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 all-seasons this weekend as the cold weather is upon us. MUCH, MUCH safer this morning (and glad I did it this weekend, it was 29 degrees when I left my house this morning).

Billy, since we are told not to drive the G2's below forty, I can not speak to situations much below forty, though I have seen 38 - 38 degrees on the MyLink before. I have to say that I did not have any issues at 40 and just below, though I would agree that traction was reduced. Keep in mind we also have different theories as to what pressures we run. I can promise mine were not much over 32 degrees if any at those temps. That may have had something to do with it. I do agree with your wet weather assessment and just as a comparison, it was about 30 degrees warmer here this morning.

[jeff657756]

I'm in Ohio and last year I put my 1le up around this time. Even with all season tires I would still only drive on nice days with no salt on the ground.

[markgws6]

CA does not regularly see extreme winter conditions. Never-the-less I had medium to sever traction loss at 50 degrees F while trying to accelerate to freeway speeds on the GY tires. Granted I was in 2nd or 3rd gear and maybe 3/4 throttle in dry conditions, but already going maybe 50-60 MPH. The rear came out very abruptly and unexpectedly, luckily the cars next to me gave me space to recover! Another time I was at a track event at Laguna Seca and I disabled the traction control (comp mode) for the very "first" lap out early in the morning. (Temps maybe 57-62F degrees or so.) I got on the throttle a little too much before I was through a turn and the rear came out (again very quick and abrupt and not where I expected). The car proceeded to fish-tail until I got it back under control (I did not go off, luckily.) Completely dry conditions both times. So I'd have to agree, these tires are definitely dangerous in colder temps when not warmed up.

[Dropspeed]

Its only dangerous as the air temp changes. Your airride begins to loose pressure and you drag through the snow...Other than that no issues.

Sorry couldn't help myself

[allabtsprt]

I am the only one who grew up in the north and drove all winter long on bologna skins when I was a poor teenager? All this hubbub about these tires doesn't faze me at all. Just practice defensive driving and you will be fine.

[yenkostyle]

Originally Posted by Dropspeed

Its only dangerous as the air temp changes. Your airride begins to loose pressure and you drag through the snow...Other than that no issues.

Sorry couldn't help myself

^^^now that right there was pretty damn funny!!!!!

[Dropspeed]

Originally Posted by allabtsprt

I am the only one who grew up in the north and drove all winter long on bologna skins when I was a poor teenager? All this hubbub about these tires doesn't faze me at all. Just practice defensive driving and you will be fine.

#youhavenoidea There is no such thing as defensive driving when the G2s are cold. There is only hold on and pray if you have to make any sort of defensive move in the cold. There is a HUGE difference between the BFG Radial T/A I drove year round on a 1980 RWD Buick Regal to HS 26+ years ago and the stock Goodyear Eagle G2 Supercars. They are downright scary below 50 degrees.

I have been driving MI winters for 26 years, oad course racer/instructor for 18+ and usually the fastest guy in the race in the rain.....My brass balls are pretty big, but those tires scare me when cold!

-Matt

[Billy10mm]

Originally Posted by gajagfan

Billy, since we are told not to drive the G2's below forty, I can not speak to situations much below forty, though I have seen 38 - 38 degrees on the MyLink before. I have to say that I did not have any issues at 40 and just below, though I would agree that traction was reduced. Keep in mind we also have different theories as to what pressures we run. I can promise mine were not much over 32 degrees if any at those temps. That may have had something to do with it. I do agree with your wet weather assessment and just as a comparison, it was about 30 degrees warmer here this morning.

For last winter, because I needed to generate heat, I was running my G2s at 32 to 34 PSI cold. After a few miles of driving, I would see pressures increase 4 to 5 PSI which indicated that they had warmed up. 40 PSI is my summer pressure.

[nancygrl]

I've lived all across the country (mostly up north 38yrs.) been in almost every weather situation and season. Practiced and experienced plenty of winter weather driving etc...I agree with "Dropspeed" these G2 tires are downright scary when it's cold out. And I don't scare very easy when driving.

[markgws6]

Originally Posted by Dropspeed

Its only dangerous as the air temp changes. Your airride begins to loose pressure and you drag through the snow...Other than that no issues.

Sorry couldn't help myself

That must be a northerner's joke because I'm still trying to figure it out.


You guys can drive the 1LE in the snow. Just mount skis to the fronts and tracks on the rears and you are set!

[gajagfan]

Originally Posted by Billy10mm

For last winter, because I needed to generate heat, I was running my G2s at 32 to 34 PSI cold. After a few miles of driving, I would see pressures increase 4 to 5 PSI which indicated that they had warmed up. 40 PSI is my summer pressure.

I start at about 32 year round and see about 3/4 PSI max increase winter or summer.

[z3R0fo01]

I wouldn't call them scary. Definitely a little loose lol I drove on them plenty of times down below 32 F. I prob wouldn't recommend it, but don't be so scared.

[LT1Zob]

Issue isn't scared or not, issue is the cold and hitting potholes with tires that should not be exposed to low temps

[Dropspeed]

Originally Posted by markgws6

That must be a northerner's joke because I'm still trying to figure it out.


You guys can drive the 1LE in the snow. Just mount skis to the fronts and tracks on the rears and you are set!

No, the OP had two seperate threads about putting airride on his 1LE and he was flamed in both threads.