Miata Mailing List: December 1998, Message #147

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>Previously on Snow tire Speeds, John Freas said...
>
><SNIP>
>> Kind of a silly response, but why are you driving on snow tires on a dry
>> road?  Yeah, I know, but really, how long does it take to change a set of
>> tires?
><SNIP>
>> FWIW.
>>
>>    -John
>Gordon Wrote
>John, you've been in the South too long already!  It doesn't have to be
>snowy for there to be traction problems, just cold.  You will, of course,
>recall previous discussions on how Dunlop SP8000s go through a phase change
>at near-freezing temperatures and lose any semblance of grip, even on bare
>dry roads.  This is a common problem for high-performance summer tires,
>probably including the RE-71 I suspect.

Just a data point.  I drove my RE-71's through a snow storm in New Mexico
last year, and the ensuing slush-covered roads.  Temps were between 20 and
30 degrees Fahrenheit.  I sure wouldn't want to do it again, but they did
ok.  Of course this was when they were brand-new and had full tread depth.

Kevin Morrison and Spider '94R+
Tampa, Florida, and other places...
kevin@sunriders.com
http://www.mx5.net
Team Woozy from the Ny-Quil...