gofastblue

I have the dunlop wintersport M3s for the car this year, but I mainly need them for going up to the mountains. Last year I used to change them with normal ones each time I went up. I put the snows on and want to leave them on, but it doesn't actually snow where I mainly drive. What is the warmest weather acceptable for the M3s? How well do these tires perform in rainy weather? Is it okay to drive at freeway speeds (ie. 80mph)?

sparkhill

BTW, we had our first real snow here last night - cars crashed and/or stuck everywhere - and of course the RS4 with Dunlop M3's did great! You could break the tires loose if you really tried, but driving responsibly, they were great.

Vijay

You are fine up to about 70 degrees. Beyond that the rubber will really begin to wear prematurely with repeated exposure. Tires are fine in the rain. They are either H or V speed rated depending on the particular tire, hence the Winter " Sport" nomenclature.

abwc

Since temps vary so widely during the winter (YMMV), and since 10F is worth 1 psi, you would be smart to:

1. set your pressures for the average temp during the winter

2. check and reset them on the day you head up into the (colder) hills

3. reset them again when you get back down on the flatlands

daveak05

you would think they'd be used to it enough by now. Too many displaced bay area yuppies maybe?

I used to see the same thing when I was down there from the lake shopping on snowy days(of which there are more than most people think).

Company xmas party was on the weekend before the big meltdown and flood, remember that? Were you there in 96-97? First the airport was closed due to snow and then the jets on the tarmac were up to their landing gear in water.

When we got back to our house in Tahoe, the snow was up to my shoulders leading to the front door. This was all in a 36 hour period. It snowed 5+ ft at the lake in that time.

gofastblue

Set pressure higher or lower for colder weather?

gofastblue

Thanks.

daveak05

it's an old axiom. The reason is simple. By taking air out of the tire it is softer in extreme cold, it conforms better to the surface, and it therefore has a larger contact patch.

This applies only to heavy snow, or snow on ice conditions. Driving around NYC, for example, with 1" and 38 degrees shouldn't matter...I wouldn't bother.

gofastblue

Thanks

sparkhill

I grew up in Colorado and noticed the same phenomenon as the warm weather folks started moving to the state. I wasn't in Reno in 96-97 but have seen the impressive photos.