Should I give up my 13 GS for a RCF?
I had the previous generation of the Michelin AS Plus on my SLK55 AMG and they performed VERY WELL in WET weather, but NOT FREEZING. I didn't encounter any real "snow" either with them. My main objective is to have good traction in wet cold/dry cold weather, but not freezing or snow.
BTW, the OEM UHP SUMMER TIRES on the RCF will be DANGEROUS when ambient temperature drops below 40 even in DRY conditions. This is due to the rubber compounds turning rock hard and will literally crack. Don't risk it!!!
Thanks
Please read the following article:
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...king/index.htm
Excerpts from the above said the following:
"If you own a car with summer tires, refrain from using it at all in cold temperatures as the tires may crack. Leave it parked. Beyond cracking concerns, summer tires have diminished grip below 40º F on dry and wet roads and virtually little to no grip on snow and ice."
General Motors is advising ALL their Corvette and other high performance vehicle owners to NOT EVEN MOVE THEIR VEHICLES when the ambient temperature drops to below freezing due to "cracking" of the tires. The tires will literally crack if the vehicle is moved. GM also issued an advisory to auto transporters NOT TO MOVE THE VEHICLES IF THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE DROPS TO FREEZING.
I like the Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+. It's all season.
But if you are in heavy snow for weeks in the winter, then probably you should get dedicated SNOW TIRES. Many years ago when I had to travel routinely to way up northern CA mountains.....I had a set of Bridgestone's Blizzak SNOW TIRES which worked great. But as soon as temperature gets warm to like 60's degrees F, these snow tires will not do well because its compounds are way too pliable and you'll literally leave your tires on the pavement as you brake and speed up from a stand still. So I changed back to all season tires and carried tire chains when required by law on the mountain passes when there are SNOW accumulation.
Be safe.
Thanks
Last edited by lexusrus; Nov 3, 2017 at 07:53 PM.
Truth be told, you're giving up very little with the Pilot A/S 3+ all season tires. They'll work in light snow, and won't give you the grief summer tires will below 40F (yes, they get really glassy below 40F (5C)) as I have already experienced with the cold snap (freeze warnings issued) we had in Atlanta last weekend. The A/S 3+ will work just fine in these conditions, and the only time I would be concerned about running these tires on an IS F, RC F, or GS F would be at a track event. They might chunk if the temperatures are high enough, but even then, if you are a reasonably skilled driver, you could have a fun track day with them.
The discussion about moving from a GS platform to the RC platform is important. The RC has nowhere near the same interior volume, so if you are confident that you'll almost never need back seats, the RC platform will be fine. If you regularly use back seats, four doors are a lot more convenient, and a real back seat a la GS is pretty helpful as is the full sized trunk on the GS. The one other thing - RC ergonomics are the tightest of the lot. If you are tallish (5' 10" or more) and the RC you want has a sunroof, you might feel cramped. I am 6' 2" with a 33-34" inseam. My head hits the liner on the sunroof model RCs. I have LOTS of head room in the GS F. Ultimately you have to be happy with what you buy, but be sure to consider all the important aspects of living with the car day to day if you're expecting this to be your daily.
Last edited by 05RollaXRS; Nov 4, 2017 at 01:29 PM.
I've also owned two door vehicles with larger back seats (Scion tC was the last) and shuffling in and out with only two doors gets really old really fast.
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If you're regularly driving 3-4 folks, or like putting things in the back often, get the 4 door, but if its just occasional use for 1 back set passenger, don't cross the RCF off the list.












