Taking delivery of my FL5! ...But it's really stinking cold, is it safe to drive home?

[JustAddBeer]

My FL5, which has been on order since early December, has arrived! I managed to snag it at MSRP, and I'm excited to pick her up from the stealership. Unfortunately, I reside in Minnesota which is frankly awful. Its insanely cold right now with no end in sight.

My question is: will it be safe to drive the FL5 on stock tires ~30 miles home in frigid temps with clear roads?

I could ask the stealership to give me a week or two for temps to *maybe* rise to 25-35F before I get her from them, but it isn't much of an improvement.

The final course of action would be to hire a flatbed to move it, which I haven't started to price but I imagine it's more than I would want to pay.

I am storing her until spring once she's at the house.

I appreciate any input

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[Clark_Kent]

I would not drive on PS4S tires in negative tempuratures and especially not for ~30 miles. Look into having it towed (flatbed), have the dealer hold the car until temps are above freezing, or if you plan to run a winter wheel/tire combo perform the swap and then drive home.

 

[jtlctr]

The flatbed option also comes with the benefit of not having road salt deposited all over your undercarriage. I’m assuming your roads must be coated with the stuff.

 

[TypeRD]

I agree with @jtlctr. Flatbed is your best option. Once you get it home, put a battery tender on it and over-inflate your tires to ~45 psi. This is how they’re inflated from the factory for transport. It’ll help prevent flat spots while your car sits in the garage. They also make flat spot prevention “cradles” you can get on Amazon too.

 

[Chrismullin1]

I've driven in minus temperatures on the stock tyres many times...yet to crash it. No issue here whatsoever in my view. Yes the tyres don't perform at their best at low temperature but you won't be sliding all over the place if you drive sensibly. As you would with a brand new car...

 

[Evox787]

PS4’s being summer tires have some limitations but I saw people on other forums saying that they use them in cold weather it just will accelerate the degradation but I don’t think it will do it in that drive, but at the end of the day, it is your choice, and you are the one who will take the risk. The dealer should advise you better or help you out, but they got your money already, so they don’t care anymore. Take note that probably they sold you on different "warranties" if they will let you drive the car, even though the car, in the situation with the freeze temps, you’re in a hell of a ride if something is to happen and you need to use one of those "warranties". That you can drive it, sure, I don’t see why not, but I think the risk will be higher using summer tires in such cold weather conditions. Like other advice here, better tow it to your house and avoid the headaches.

 

[Unity Performance]

Flatbed it. Anyone in the Northern states know that summers pose a big risk. You can try to wait for a day with no snow but something like ice on a bridge good still get you.

 

[MoodySara]

If you're going to buy winter tires/wheels, I'd recommend sending them to the dealer and installing them before you take delivery.
Summer tires really do not like, and may not survive, freezing temperatures.

Tire Rack has an article about using summer tires in winter:

https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/can-i-drive-summer-performance-tires-in-cold-temperatures

 

[DmK]

When I got mine, I told dealer that want to swap wheels on the car before I'll drive it away.
Granted its my daily so I'd need to switch them one way or another.
They ordered the wheels and installed them. Honda was actually running promotion buy 3 get 1 free so it ended up being cheaper then buying anywhere else....

Although since you planing to store it away just get a flatbed, would be ideal to get a covered one since the salt dust gonna get on your car oneway or another.... or just give it a nice wash once you will get it home.

 

[Major Ram]

I've personally driven a few times for 30-60 miles (Philly, NJ areas) in temps between 21-26F. I took necessary precautions while braking, turning and mostly drove like a granny!
Never slipped a bit nor felt loss of control and speeds below 55 mph. Of course there was no snow on the lanes. I am kind of amazed how good were the stock ps4s in those conditions.
Good luck!

 

[NeRO_CTR]

Storing til spring? Ask if the dealer would keep it in the showroom. Frees up space, free storage.

 

[RODSCIVIC]

If it's already paid for, just flatbed it as others have said. Last thing you want is anyone driving it, even to just move it.

 

[jtlctr]

If it's already paid for, just flatbed it as others have said. Last thing you want is anyone driving it, even to just move it.

I can also imagine a scenario where some little kids get restless and start roughhousing around your new car while their parents are signing the paperwork on their new Odyssey.

 

[madbikes]

My FL5, which has been on order since early December, has arrived! I managed to snag it at MSRP, and I'm excited to pick her up from the stealership. Unfortunately, I reside in Minnesota which is frankly awful. Its insanely cold right now with no end in sight.

My question is: will it be safe to drive the FL5 on stock tires ~30 miles home in frigid temps with clear roads?

I could ask the stealership to give me a week or two for temps to *maybe* rise to 25-35F before I get her from them, but it isn't much of an improvement.

The final course of action would be to hire a flatbed to move it, which I haven't started to price but I imagine it's more than I would want to pay.

I am storing her until spring once she's at the house.

I appreciate any input

1000 percent flatbed it. Summer tires simply do not work under Minnesota Winters. At minimum, you will need winter tires to drive home.

Summer tires has a thing called Glass Transition, where the rubber will not work when too cold.

 

[007]

Driven on Pilot Sports through winter in sub-zero temps for years, first on my E46 M3 and then my M2C. Both were manual, both RWD. Would I recommend it? Not really. But if there’s no snow and you’re not driving like an idiot, it’s totally manageable. And yeah, I’d imagine it’s a lot easier with FWD.

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