How cold out have you guys run your Star Specs in? Any issues encountered? Do these tires have a higher tolerance to cold temps than stock Advans? I'm only talking about cold temps, not any freezing precip. Rain, yes.

 

At the Dunlop website it reads, "The Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is not intended to be driven in snow or near-freezing conditions."

What temp is "near-freezing" exactly? I interpret that as 35* and below.

Would it be safe to drive on these above 35* on dry tarmac? On wet tarmac? No extreme driving. Not even by half. Normal car, normal person driving. No drama driving.

 

I have raced (track day) in a 40* and heavy rain day on the old Z1 compound. No issues, tires worked great.

Few laps from the driest session:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GBEGRIux5Q

 

^ Finally got a chance to take a look at your vid'. Loved it. In my other thread you told me to be safe and switch to the Winter Sport 3D at 50*. And here you are in 40* rain topping out at 140 on the straight. I know you're on a track, but that's hilarious. I'll be safe on the street with the Z1 Star Specs in 35*-plus temps. Won't dare drive like you when it's cold and wet out. Ha! Btw, what setting did you have your ACD set to in that vid'?

 

Well I wouldn't want to track on snow tires But for snows their compounds are generally ok at 50*.

I would just be careful on the streets at those temps. The tire could break-away unexpectedly.

ACD Set to broken It does work, but I have the 3 lights of doom. The setting I leave it on is Tarmac.

 

I'll be finding out how well these Z1's work in cold temps when I do Thunderbolt @ NJMP next Saturday with PDA. I know from previous experience they work very well in the WET. Obviously they are great in the warm dry weather too. WHen I had them at Shenandoah earlier this month they performed flawlessly.

 

I've noticed I've been having a little less grip the colder it gets. I have winter tires, but I'm afriad of scratching my painted wheels. The tire machine at work is lame. It scratches wheels all the time.

 

I make the switch to snow tires once the high temp of the day is staying in the 40's.

 

Please come back to this thread and report your findings. Thanks for replying, everyone.

 

41degrees currently. Just did a rolling start in first gear and was at the threshold of traction. I can't normally do that when it's dry. I'll probably end up keeping the star specs on all year, but just NOT drive in the snow, unless I can find other wheels to put my all seasons on.