The problems of our Pilot Sport tires on snow and ice are well documented but what about just plain cold? Right now on the east coast it's about 10 degrees F, and since I bought my coupe only last June I've never driven it in these kinds of temps. I blew off an early morning drive today because it was only 1 degree outside here in NYC. I know I should get winter tires, but my G is almost exclusively a weekend getaway car, so my driving is mostly discretionary.

I'd be curious what kind of performance people are getting on extremely cold Pilots. Are they safe for normal driving? Are they initially crazy but ok after driving a few miles? Thanks for anything you can report on this.

 

as long as your careful there fine in the cold IMO, i'm in St. Louis and as it's not 10 out it gets pretty cold. I haven't had any problems, They tend to break loose a little easier than normal but it's nothing out of control

04, 6mt, Twilight Blue, Premium, Aero

 

My Pilot Sports do well when it's cold here in California, but then cold here is only like 45-50 degrees. [img]/w3timages/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Dr. Jim
2003 DesertPlatinum/Graphite G35C 6MT
Aero/Prem/Nav/HyperGround/XMSat/BSM/Tint/ClearBra/CG/NismoChromeShifter/RacePedals/Z-tube/JWTPopCharger

 

Here in Canada, My pilots were great in summer temps. But I noticed as the temp dropped down to freezing or below the tires were hard and non flexible, and tended to slip rather than flex and grab. Of course I couldn't see this but it was what imagined was happening.
Seems these pilots are great for warm climes but not good in the cold.
Last Janurary 7th. when I picked up the car, I drove home in snow flurries. The car slipped easily and the VDC / ABS was on almost constantly despite my being very careful.
These 2 situations have caused me to be very careful with my Pilots and I strongly recommend not using them in any conditions other than summer.
After what I've seen with poor winter grip on dry roads, and poor grip on snow and ice, I would not recommend anyone drive on them in winter months at all. Just too chancy. [img]/w3timages/icons/frown.gif[/img]

<font color=red>G</font color=red>S<font color=green>M</font color=green>
<font color=red>G</font color=red>S<font color=green>M</font color=green> <font color=black>Silverstone Coupe</font color=black>

 

My buddy has a VW Golf with the 1.8T. He has the Yokohama AVS ES100 on his car for the summer. Even though it's FWD, he found the tires almost useless with even 1/2" snow on the ground! I guess such is the nature of summer performance tires!

<font color=green>GroundingGear™ Equipped </font color=green>

 

Coincidentally, my winter tires are 'Yokohama AVS Winter'.
These, of course, work great in the winter on ice and snow, but not so good on dry pavement.
It's to be expected I suppose with dedicated tires.
C.

<font color=red>G</font color=red>S<font color=green>M</font color=green>
<font color=red>G</font color=red>S<font color=green>M</font color=green> <font color=black>Silverstone Coupe</font color=black>

 

This is a copy-paste from my response to the same post over at FA.

I went on a long drive today from CT to Riverhead LI (180 miles total). When I first got out of the garage I spun the tires cause they were cold. But once I got on the highway, and after 15 minutes of driving at 75 Mph, I didn't notice any traction problems. Also (and this is a questions), don't you guys think, that even though it's cold outside, once you're on the highway for lets say more than 15 minutes, wouldn't the tires warm up to a normal temperature anyways?



2004 G35C 6MT DG/Gr/Prem/NAV/A.Pedals/C.Corners/C.Bra/PIAA/Grnd.Kit [img]/w3timages/icons/cool.gif[/img]

 

After the early season blizzard in NY - I realized the pilots were useless in the snow. I bought a set of 17" Blizzaks mounted on ASA rims from tire rack. The ride is deinately comprimised a bit from the 18" pilots but at least I can enjoy the car in the winter months. Only 3 months to go unitl the "summer tires" go back on

04/G35C/DG/Prem/Aero/Perf. Tires and wheels/ Valentine 1/Winter:Blizzak LM22 on ASA K3 Rims/R splash Guards

Long Island, New York, USA

 

Mr.Elussive,

Keep in mind that the roads in our area seem to always have winter salt and fine grit on them, even on a nice, clear day.

I blame the road condition more than the temps for the lack of traction during winter months.

 

"I am thinking if I had gotten Blizzak LM-22's or Wintersport M3's, that are supposedly great-handling snow tires, they would have done a better job on dry roads than the Pilot Sports in this terribly cold weather."

The Blizzak LM-22s are actually really good on dry roads! Only problem is that they wear out quite fast, so don't leave them on when the temp goes up!

<font color=green>GroundingGear™ Equipped </font color=green>

 

Pilots work ok in cold weather like here in miami it is in the 50's, and a little while back it got down to the high 30's at night.
If you drive like a reserved driver, you'll have no problem. But if you take corners fast, or are generally more spirited you'll easily notice the difference from a hot temp day to this cold temp day. They are harder, less sticky, and seem not to grab the road much at all... thus straight easy driving is fine, but anything else becomes a slight problem...
You gotta be careful, it is much easier to fishtail.

-Eric

'03.5 Silver/Black | Prem | Perf | Aero | Stillen Hi-Flow | Z -Tube | Grounding Kit | Nismo Oil/Radiator Caps | Solid Allum Pedals | Diamond Matts | Tints | Valentine1 | Hide-Away License Plate!

 

I too live in N.J. (southern part), and I can tell you the pilots are not for the snow!!!!!! the big snow we had in early December here in the Northeast definitely proved that to me....but I do drive up to paramus area 5 days a week...so far even in this frigid temperature we are having I do not feel any major difference in the dry performance of these tires. It takes me two minutes and I'm on the Garden State Parkway so I usually go from 25mph to 80mph in no time...I think once I start adding up the miles on the tires however it will be another story...time will tell....

04 cpe ivory pearl/willow/5at/prem/sport wheel pkg

 

I was driving uphill the other day and I came across some ice. On this ice(just a sheet of ice) the car began to slide. The VDC stopped the car from movin completely. I was like are you kidding me...

2003.5 Blk/Blk w/all dem options