Newbie to summer tires--Help Please.

C

chfenton

Joined
Jan 16, 2025
Messages
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So I just found this forum and my dream car, a pre-owned 2021 Audi RS Q8 with the optional 295/35/23 tires that are Continental Sport Contact6 summer tires. The car was in south Florida so no issues but sometime between leaving Florida a week ago and arriving in the Atlanta area yesterday, I noticed this sidewall crack (see pic below). It has been ridiculously cold here-lows in the 20's and some days highs not much more than 40. I'm pretty conservative and had already ordered winter tires as I know the summer compound does not like these cold temps, but since I just found the car last week I called several places and no one had any stock of this tire size. I found a set in Italy and they have made their way to Indy via fedex and so I expect them to arrive in the next couple of days.

Of course I need to drive 3 miles to the tire shop. If I stay below 25 mph the entire way, is it a reasonably good chance I'll make it without issue? Or am I past pressing my luck and need to tow to the tire shop?

Thanks for your opinions

 
chfenton said:
So I just found this forum and my dream car, a pre-owned 2021 Audi RS Q8 with the optional 295/35/23 tires that are Continental Sport Contact6 summer tires. The car was in south Florida so no issues but sometime between leaving Florida a week ago and arriving in the Atlanta area yesterday, I noticed this sidewall crack (see pic below). It has been ridiculously cold here-lows in the 20's and some days highs not much more than 40. I'm pretty conservative and had already ordered winter tires as I know the summer compound does not like these cold temps, but since I just found the car last week I called several places and no one had any stock of this tire size. I found a set in Italy and they have made their way to Indy via fedex and so I expect them to arrive in the next couple of days.

Of course I need to drive 3 miles to the tire shop. If I stay below 25 mph the entire way, is it a reasonably good chance I'll make it without issue? Or am I past pressing my luck and need to tow to the tire shop?

Thanks for your opinions

Click to expand...

It should be fine as the air is retained by the inner layer below the cords/belts so for that distance I would not worry at all. The cold did not cause the crack as I'm in Toronto area and never had a cold weather crack related issue on any type of tire.
 
hemitom said:
That's not a crack ! that tire has been hit by something or run up a curb.
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Thanks both for the info/opinions. The only thing out of the ordinary I noticed was backing out of the driveway this morning we have about a 3/4 inch lip from driveway down to the street. It was about 30 degrees and sounded like I went though a lot hole when this back tire hit the street. Is it possible that small drop onto the road in the freezing cold could cause this damage?
 
I've seen tires deteriorate and crack in that location if run low on air for for extended period of time.
but those are summer tires temps under about 40f can have issue with track tires.. and those wear out in <10k miles so maybe the composition is closer to track than summer?
At 25mph the worst would be a flat for 3 mile trip.. I'd try it.
What tires did you go with?
 
Rand said:
I've seen tires deteriorate and crack in that location if run low on air for for extended period of time.
but those are summer tires temps under about 40f can have issue with track tires.. and those wear out in <10k miles so maybe the composition is closer to track than summer?
At 25mph the worst would be a flat for 3 mile trip.. I'd try it.
What tires did you go with?
Click to expand...
The only ones I could find in stock and in Italy last week were the Hankook Icept Evo 2.
 
Rand said:
so you will purchase separate tires + wheels for rest of year later?
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Correct - plan to run the Hankook Icepts for Nov-March and summer for Apr-Oct. Seems that in 295/35/23 for summer tires I have seen the Continental Contacts, Pirelli Scorpion, Michelin Pilot and Hankook Ventus. Any recommendations/opinions?
 
chfenton said:
Correct - plan to run the Hankook Icepts for Nov-March and summer for Apr-Oct. Seems that in 295/35/23 for summer tires I have seen the Continental Contacts, Pirelli Scorpion, Michelin Pilot and Hankook Ventus. Any recommendations/opinions?
Click to expand...

What you could do is get separate wheels, 21 inch diameter and run the Conti TS850P winter tires

Honestly, I'd run 21's year-round :D
The tire size TR suggests for the 21" is 285/45-21, so there's more sidewall.

If you want to keep using the OE size summer tires, get the Conti SportContact 6 or the PremiumContact 6 (a grand touring summer tire)
 
slacktide_bitog said:
What you could do is get separate wheels, 21 inch diameter and run the Conti TS850P winter tires

Honestly, I'd run 21's year-round :D
The tire size TR suggests for the 21" is 285/45-21, so there's more sidewall.

If you want to keep using the OE size summer tires, get the Conti SportContact 6 or the PremiumContact 6 (a grand touring summer tire)
Click to expand...
Thanks, but I thought I read somewhere else that 22's were the smallest you could go to get over the huge brake caliper on the RS?
 
chfenton said:
Thanks, but I thought I read somewhere else that 22's were the smallest you could go to get over the huge brake caliper on the RS?
Click to expand...

I checked it out on TR, and their winter tire package builder had some 21" wheels. I assumed ceramic brakes when I did it, too (it asks ceramic or regular). Even a complete tire/wheel package could be cheaper than shipping Hankooks from Italy, and you'll get them sooner too :D

It's possible that only a select few 21" wheels will clear the calipers and most won't :unsure:
 
Last edited:
chfenton said:
Correct - plan to run the Hankook Icepts for Nov-March and summer for Apr-Oct. Seems that in 295/35/23 for summer tires I have seen the Continental Contacts, Pirelli Scorpion, Michelin Pilot and Hankook Ventus. Any recommendations/opinions?
Click to expand...
What are your average mornings temperature for Apr-Oct. (Summer)?
Mine are at ~freezing 30F - 32F. I'd like to try summer tires for my MDX instead of AS. I have a set for winter.
 
Tundragod said:
What are your average mornings temperature for Apr-Oct. (Summer)?
Mine are at ~freezing 30F - 32F. I'd like to try summer tires for my MDX instead of AS. I have a set for winter.
Click to expand...
Summer tires are fine in cold temperatures.
200wt or lower tires are not, those that are track capable.
For example I used on track Yokohama Advan Apax V601, which is decent summer tire and that one would be OK in using below 32. Not that it would perform well.
I used Michelin PSS in CO, as low as 15 degrees before putting snow tires.
 
How old are the tires? I have a car that only gets driven in the summer, it has the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires and they have tiny cracks due to aging, they age out before I wear them out.
 
edyvw said:
Summer tires are fine in cold temperatures.
200wt or lower tires are not, those that are track capable.
For example I used on track Yokohama Advan Apax V601, which is decent summer tire and that one would be OK in using below 32. Not that it would perform well.
I used Michelin PSS in CO, as low as 15 degrees before putting snow tires.
Click to expand...

Thinking about these from Tirerack. Not sure what the DOT date is. Seems like a good price.​

Bridgestone Alenza 001 ​

Street/Sport Truck Summer ​

bs_alenza_001_full.jpg
​

Special $117.58​

 
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