This tire uses a specialized rubber compound that remains stiff at high temperatures to provide optimal cornering, braking, and acceleration on warm pavement. The tread patterns are optimized to evacuate water and resist hydroplaning, but lack the siping needed for snow. The compound turns hard and brittle in freezing temperatures, completely losing traction and risking tread cracking.
You can't drive this car home on summer tires right now, it's 20 degrees outside and you'll slide right off the road.
Never move a vehicle equipped with summer tires when the ambient temperature is below freezing, as the stiffened rubber can crack just from rolling.
Also heard as
- performance tire
Related terms
Winter tire
A specialized tire engineered with a soft rubber compound and deep sipes to maintain traction in freezing conditions.
All-season tire
A tire designed with a tread pattern and rubber compound meant for year-round use in moderate climates.
Treadwear
A standardized rating indicating how quickly a tire's rubber compound will degrade.