Anyone planning on driving their Emira through winter?

[Blackthought_]

And just like that I woke up this morning in NJ and it was a chilly 45 degrees which reminded me winter is right around the corner. Around this time I often contemplate do I tuck away my fun car for the summer or do I put on all season tires and drive it like it’s meant to be driven?? Life is too short to not drive for several months! For those of us living in cold temperatures, what are you planning on doing this winter!?

 

[Climber]

South Texas will drive year around do avoid tropical storms . Hate washing and waxing after each rain so I drive my convertible in the rain sound crazy…
Summer temperatures 101day 82 night
Winter temperatures 70day 55 night
Sometimes if can freeze a few times a year. Once the sun comes out the temperature quickly rises…

 

[scc.131.fe]

Every sunny and salt-free day (following a good rain to clean the roads). Planning on leaving the Goodyears on. Will see how they do below freezing.

Will there be some unavoidable salt exposure? Yes
Will parts of the car wear faster by cycling to operating temps from freezing? Yes
Would I give up this car for 25% of every year to avoid that? Nope.

 

[jamesbxxx]

2nd winter for me. Car is there for the using. I hate salted roads but it’s insignificant in the grand scheme of life. Some of the best drives are crisp winter days.

 

[EspritGuy]

Makes sense. I live not far from the largest salt mine in the world and they spread it like our economy depends on it.

This helps me understand All-Season tires.

 

[KAR120C]

Every sunny and salt-free day (following a good rain to clean the roads). Planning on leaving the Goodyears on. Will see how they do below freezing.

Will there be some unavoidable salt exposure? Yes
Will parts of the car wear faster by cycling to operating temps from freezing? Yes
Would I give up this car for 25% of every year to avoid that? Nope.

Be careful running the Goodyears that cold! They really aren’t designed to run near freezing. You can easily get a shoulder crack and a catastrophic deflation.

Summer performance tires usually get pretty slick anyway below 45!

 

[morphious]

Will drive through winter here in So Cal unless it is raining.

 

[allenyao09]

Winters in PNW are not too bad - lots of rain but not much snow and ice. I drove my GR Supra through the winter and plan to do so with the Emira as well. But it will definitely be driven less than usual.

 

[sonor8s]

Winters are mild here in southeastern PA. I generally equip my fun cars with a winter wheel setup for temps below 40F. If there is precipitation and or salt on the road, the cars stay garaged.

 

[Steve Tillett]

I’m actually shocked people are considering this in areas that spread salt.

We have salt all over the roads in the UK too but not as much snow of course. I drove mine all through last winter and it was absolutely fine.

 

[pcarguy]

Putting it away.

I've learned that at least my Cayman (Michelin Pilot Sport 4S) becomes dangerous when temps dip below 50F. I've had 2 close calls.

Not sure how the Emira's Goodyear Eagle F1s (on touring) are in the cold, but probably best I don't find out.

 

[Blackthought_]

Putting it away.

I've learned that at least my Cayman (Michelin Pilot Sport 4S) becomes dangerous when temps dip below 50F. I've had 2 close calls.

Not sure how the Emira's Goodyear Eagle F1s (on touring) are in the cold, but probably best I don't find out.

Yeah both tires are summer tires. Folks that drive through winter in cold temps switch their tires out to all seasons or even winter tires

 

[Jean Huppert]

Hello from France.
Here in the mountains, the winter tires are mandatory from november to march, so if you want to use your car ...
Same size as the summer tyres, Hankook Ventus S1 EVO 3, (295/30R20, 245/45R20)
Rims : https://aerieperformance.com/produc...2-by-aerie-performance?variant=44486724681982

​

I tested them only on wet or dry roads : quite good for winter tires, and for the snow, I have a Jeep Gladiator !
So far, I'm satisfied.

 

[AK16]

I live in central Massachusetts. I have a fun performance AWD SUV I will be using for all boring transportation needs. However, for all fun drives I do during the fall/winter/spring, I fully intend on using the Emira! I just ordered a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 All Season tires that should be arriving today/tomorrow. Once I replace the OEM Goodyear tires with those, I will be fine to drive it in all conditions except full-on snow storm. I definitely will NOT be driving in treacherous conditions because one can't drive spiritedly anyway. It just wouldn't make sense. But for those cold brisk winter mornings where the roads are dry and the sun is shining, the Emira will absolutely get to stretch it's legs more often than not.

 

[HethelYellow]

Being a pretty much daily driver I drove mine throughout winter last year (UK and France) on Sport suspension and Cup2s - which was interesting.

Will be continuing through this winter, my winter tyres (Pirelli Sottozero) went on about a month ago and have transformed the car in the wet, much more confidence inspiring! These tyres were epic in the snow too on my 911 - three trips to the Alps last winter for skiing in the Pork and on at least one occasion arrived safely up the Mountain to the 3Valleys in some very heavy blizzard / dump conditions. Not sure if the Emira will go skiing as I need to find a roof solution for the skis, had the PRTS (Porsche Roof Transport System) on the 911 which was a very robust roof rack system and ski carrier and I don't believe Lotus have anything equivalent, not sure I trust the universal 'sucker' systems at overnight auto-route speeds ....

My car has just gone through second service and also had two new seats fitted (the heated seat didn't work on the driver side so Lotus decided to replace the seat and given the mileage on mine they weren't confident it would match the 2 year old passenger side so decided to replace both). At least my @rse will be toasty this winter...

 

[HethelYellow]

PS where are you Jean/which Mountains??

 

[Jean Huppert]

Northern Ardèche, altitude 1100m, lat 45°N, long 4°E