Temperatures are rising, the grass is turning green, and everyone’s allergies are in overload from all the pollen in the air. This can only mean one thing: spring is here and it’s time to swap in the summer setup and put the winter one into hibernation.
Starting in March each year, I closely watch the temperatures climb to the point where the lows hold steady above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. By mid- April, conditions are warm enough and I set aside an evening for a little “quality time” with my car.
I didn’t appreciate the benefit of summer tires until buying a set along with new wheels three years ago. For years, I drove thousands of daily commute miles, aggressively hammered along hundreds of twisty back roads, and even participated in a high performance driving event (HPDE) on all season tires. I was quite satisfied with the car’s handling from the factory.
The summer setup really improves grip levels and makes the car feel more lively. Cornering limits are much higher, the steering is more responsive and turn-in on corners is much quicker. The handling improvement offered by such a simple modification is eye-opening.
Driving enthusiasts all over the world celebrate this change of season when their vehicles transform from a sloppy handling winter setup designed for safety to one focused on fun and performance. I’ll try not to think about the dark days of fall only a few months away. There is fun driving ahead and autocross seasons starts in a few weeks!