The only tire option that comes with the 18" OEM wheels is a set of summer tires. My question is, are summer tires safe to drive on in cold weather? I know they're terrible in snow, but I had heard the rubber composite is different on a summer tire and it hardens in cold weather. Don't know if this significantly affects the drivability in cold weather or if it just won't have that real strong sticky grip feel. I was thinking about not trading in my current FWD drive car with all-seasons so that I could use that in the snow and for hauling equipment and such, and hopefully just using the IS350 in dry conditions during the winter. Northern NJ temps can get in the single digits at the deepest part of winter and I'm curious as to what that will do to a summer tire.

 

I worked for NTB for 3-4 years back in college and used to know tires pretty well.

Summer tires will get pretty slick when the temps get below freezing. They have a low silica rubber content that makes them very sticky in the dry...They do make pretty decent all-season Ultra High performance tires that may suit your needs better, they wont hold up at the track, but for every day driving they arent bad.

(off topic)
Does anyone know if a 275/35/18 will fit on the rear of this car on the stock rims... Will they rub? Ive been searching and searching for this answer...

 

I have driven on max performance tires in cold weather before; it's not ideal as the tires do get very hard, but as long as you take it easy, you'll probably be ok. That being said, A/S might be a better fit for your needs.

I think 275 minimum recommended wheel width is 9" for most tires. Obviously, every tire is different, but 275 seems too wide. 8.5" is actually about as narrow a wheel as most 255s take....

 

For the record, I had posted a thread previously, and Bichon had advised me that there are infact 2 Luxury Packages.

LT - Luxury Package + 18" Wheels w/ Summer Tires

LL - Luxury Package w/o Summer Tires (Which is Standard 17" OEM All Season Tires.

** IF Summer Tires are a concern in the colder weather (a concern of mine as well) then get the LL package with All season tires, then just buy your extra set of summer tires for warmer weather.

- Then of course you have to buy bigger rims 18/19" with your summer wheels.

 

i run summer tires in 20 degree winter no problem. you can't hit the corners as fast as normal, but it's not a dramatic difference unless you always run at 10/10ths. we barely get any snow here, so i don[t switch my wheels, i just drive my jeep when it snows.