GTPE Default Tires: Fine for Winter in Seattle?

[eddieparker]

Just got my new lass last week, and I'm loving her. That said, for some reason I thought the tires were all-seasons but now that I'm reading up I hear they're technically "summer tires" (which I've never owned: born and raised Canadian so my defaults were largely all-seasons).

Now that I'm in the US (Seattle Area) however, I'm curious: are the default tires on the Mach E GTPE fine for rain and wet conditions? Or should I be looking at a winter/all-seasons to avoid slipping and sliding?

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[hybrid2bev]

https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=Ok+to+drive+on+summer+tires+in+the+winter

?

No, don't drive on summer tires in winter. Temps in the 40sF and lower will destroy the tires.

 

[RickMachE]

Correct.

Specifically, those tires will have issues, including cracking and more, below 45 degrees (and won't be covered under warranty). And they need to be stored at 20 degrees or higher when you remove them.

 

[Mach1E]

Just got my new lass last week, and I'm loving her. That said, for some reason I thought the tires were all-seasons but now that I'm reading up I hear they're technically "summer tires" (which I've never owned: born and raised Canadian so my defaults were largely all-seasons).

Now that I'm in the US (Seattle Area) however, I'm curious: are the default tires on the Mach E GTPE fine for rain and wet conditions? Or should I be looking at a winter/all-seasons to avoid slipping and sliding?

You need different tires.

They do offer all seasons as an option on GTPE now, but you had to check that options box when you ordered.

 

[silverelan]

Nope, those tires are going to be outright dangerous from Thanksgiving to Valentine's Day. If you have no plans to go up to or over the Cascades, then a decent set of all seasons is all you need. If you want to take your MME skiing or something, then get a second wheelset with winter tires.

 

[AliRafiee]

Depends on where in Seattle.
I moved here from Texas and drove my Mustang GT for 3-4 years with the Michelin Pilot summer tires with no issue. The only “issue” was launching it on cold days. I lost every race because it wouldn’t hook up. After they wore out I went with the Pilot all seasons.
I wouldn’t drive it on those 3-4 days of snow. It works fine in the rain.

 

[AliRafiee]

https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=Ok+to+drive+on+summer+tires+in+the+winter

?

No, don't drive on summer tires in winter. Temps in the 40sF and lower will destroy the tires.

It rarely gets below 40 here.

https://www.google.com/search?q=summer+tires+in+seattle

 

[RickMachE]

It rarely gets below 40 here.

The cutoff is 45.

Pirelli's warranty does not cover tires that develop compound cracking due to use in ambient temperatures below 45° Fahrenheit (7° Celsius), so the P Zero, like all summer tires, is not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.

 

[eddieparker]

Alright, thanks for the feedback. Looks like Discount Tire wins this round.

 

[DevSecOps]

I put CrossClimate2's on my GTPE. I go visit my dad who lives in Lake Tahoe (Snow) all the time in the winter. The stock tires are garbage in rain, snow or really any winter weather.

 

[TheVirtualTim]

The grade of rubber used in summer-only tires gets rather stiff below 40°F. Even on dry pavement it looses grip. At 20°F it will brittle enough to crack and destroy the tires.

I picked up a spare set of rims and bought a set of winter tires (which should not be used when temps are consistently above 45°F) and the tire shop stores the spare set for me ($110 per season for storage and that includes the price of swapping the tires).

The other option is to get all-seasons. All-seasons aren't as good as summer tires in summer ... nor as good as winter tires in winter. But you don't have to swap them.

 

[JeffGo]

Alright, thanks for the feedback. Looks like Discount Tire wins this round.

Make doubly sure they know how to properly jack your car! Otherwise, they could destroy the battery rail and you don't want that.

 

[eddieparker]

The grade of rubber used in summer-only tires gets rather stiff below 40°F. Even on dry pavement it looses grip. At 20°F it will brittle enough to crack and destroy the tires.

I picked up a spare set of rims and bought a set of winter tires (which should not be used when temps are consistently above 45°F) and the tire shop stores the spare set for me ($110 per season for storage and that includes the price of swapping the tires).

The other option is to get all-seasons. All-seasons aren't as good as summer tires in summer ... nor as good as winter tires in winter. But you don't have to swap them.

I really wish tire shops here offered storing spares. Apparently it's not as common in Seattle, my guess is because it rarely gets cold enough for people to run anything vs all seasons.

My plan is to get some winter tires for now (we go to the mountains to ski, and the occasional trip up to Canada; be nice to have a second vehicle that can make that trip), and run the summers until they run out; then switch to all-seasons.

 

[TheVirtualTim]

I really wish tire shops here offered storing spares. Apparently it's not as common in Seattle, my guess is because it rarely gets cold enough for people to run anything vs all seasons.

My plan is to get some winter tires for now (we go to the mountains to ski, and the occasional trip up to Canada; be nice to have a second vehicle that can make that trip), and run the summers until they run out; then switch to all-seasons.

Discount Tire offers tire storage here (I think they might call it "tire valet"). Do they not offer it in Seattle?

BTW the winter tires I ended up going with were Bridgestone Blizzak's LM005 after hearing numerous recommendations for them (including some from the people I know at Ford who swore by them).

https://www.bridgestonetire.com/catalog/ford/mustang-mach-e/2022/gt-performance-edition/#

I ordered through Tire Rack and they were delivered to a local Discount Tire for installation (Discount Tire owns Tire Rack).

Lastly ... but this is IMPORTANT. MAKE SURE the tech knows where the jack points are located under the car. The whole underside is covered so you can't actually see the frame. Ford marks the jack points but if they just pick a spot that looks good enough ... but isn't the designated jack-point, they can damage the battery pack.

 

[eddieparker]

Discount Tire offers tire storage here (I think they might call it "tire valet"). Do they not offer it in Seattle?

Lastly ... but this is IMPORTANT. MAKE SURE the tech knows where the jack points are located under the car. The whole underside is covered so you can't actually see the frame. Ford marks the jack points but if they just pick a spot that looks good enough ... but isn't the designated jack-point, they can damage the battery pack.

Sadly discount tire here doesn't seem to offer it, so we'll have to find room somewhere in the garage or whatever. At least it practically never freezes here so it should be fine.

Glad you like the LM005's - that's what I went ahead and got. Back in Canada I used to rock the Blizzaks and loved them, so figured out why not. And I decided to get some "Nice" brand rims so if anyone asks (noone will) I can tell them I've got nice rims.

Thanks for the tip about the battery pack. Someone else mentioned it above and the repetition of it makes me realize just how important it is.

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