Snows grip better than Summers?

[SallySpeed3]

Ok, I have a couple of questions because I really am not knowledgable about tires at all. I know that summer tires are meant to be driven in the summer when its warm, and definitely not when the temperature is below freezing. I also know that obviously they can't do jack s*** in the snow. But does that mean they also lose performance in lower temperatures? Before putting on my snow tires I noticed I was getting slightly more wheel hop than I was a couple of months ago.

Now that my snow tires are on, I can mash the pedal in any gear and get absolutely no wheel hop at all. I actually am getting better traction it seems than I was with my summer tires on.

So I guess my question is, was I experiencing some poor traction in the last couple of weeks because of the drop of temperature? and was it somehow affecting my summer tires rubber?

 

[CWPspeed3]

To answer your question simply, yes.
Its the compound the tires are made of. The stock tires are a summer compound and not rated for use in temps below ~40* under that temp they are very cold and hard and will spin more causing more wheel hop. Your winter tires are different compound rated for winter use. Im sure you will get some more technical responses but hope that helps.

 

[Wagonbacker9]

different rubber compound = better cold traction. you basically put it exactly right. without a chemistry degree theres little point in digging further into the subject. lol

 

[Nliiitend1]

As these guys have already said, "Yes."

 

[SallySpeed3]

lol ok good. I had never regretted getting the sumitomos' but when i started to have traction issues a couple weeks ago, then with the recent snow tires gripping like crazy, i started to doubt my purchase. thanks guys.

 

[Wagonbacker9]

yeah, summer compounds are designed for a different temp range... thats why all seasons do everything OK, and summers/snows do their specific jobs better.

 

[coololddude]

In the Summer snow tires will not "grip like crazy."

 

[Wagonbacker9]

id imagine you get em hot enough they'll just rip apart in chunks... but refuse to find out first hand. I did a burner on mine once, but it wasn't long.

 

[MS3Buckeye]

Yeah, you really shouldn't put the winter tires on when there is any chance of any warmer days ahead.

The tires get incredibly soft and just fall apart. Seriously, tread wear increases DRAMATICALLY with higher temperatures with a winter tire.

You don't have your location posted (I don't either) but where I live it has had highs in the 40s but today we were in the 60s. I always wait as long as possible to switch to winters, as the only drawback is reduced traction with summers and no detriment on the tire.

If the highs where you live are going to be in the 50s yet, I would wait on changing to winters if it were my money.

 

[CWPspeed3]

Which is why I dont go with a dedicated set of winter tires, I ran all season tires last winter while lowered and never got stuck, plowed a lot of snow but it happens.