I stopped posting to this thread because the posts seemed to be getting a little testy and as someone said there seemed to be a lack of hard information. However, this is an issue of importance to many of us, not because we use our cars daily in the snow, but because there is some benefit to driving the cars every few weeks year round when conditions allow. In the winter, that means in colder temps for many of us, even if the roads are bare and dry. Given all that has been said, it may be beneficial to review what we know and what we do not.
First, there is no written warning from Vredestein, either on its web sites or in written literature warning against using the tires in colder temperatures. The only information Vredestein has supplied on line is a sun symbol with the word āSummerā underneath. Vredestein has posted a video on line showing the longer stopping distances that can be expected from summer versus winter tires, but that video does not warn that any use of summer tires in colder temperatures may cause damage to the tires. Vredestein has made no effort to warn consumers against using the Vredestein Classic in colder temperatures (other than stopping distances), and it has failed to respond to numerous inquiries on the subject. The one exception is a phone call to someone at Vredestein USA who talked to someone in Europe who confirmed an āincreased chance of damageā if the tire is used in cold temperatures. Not exactly the type of hard information one would hope for, and though it may be in the eye of the beholder, the statement is classically ambiguous because it can be interpreted in several different ways. If there is a substantial risk of damage to the tire from use in cold temperatures, Vredestein should issue explicit written warnings and not allow misinformation, or scant information, to rule the day.
Second, in the absence of a formal warning from Vredestein, people have pointed to generic warnings about summer tires from tire retailers in the US. Perhaps these are ignored at oneās peril, but it begs the question of what basis there is for them if the information did not originate with Vredestein. If it had, presumably Vredestein would have issued the warnings itself. I doubt that Tire Rack (which has a vested interest in selling winter tires) has done extensive testing to failure of the Vredestein Classic in cold temperatures.
Third, the warnings from GM and Consumer Reports refer to āultra high performanceā summer tires such as those found on Corvettes, certain Cadillac sport models and other high performance cars. I donāt believe we have yet seen any information which indicates that the Classics are in this ultra high performance category. Certainly, they are not race tires or anything close. Again, Vredestein could put this issue to rest, but has not.
Finally, I have not seen any warnings which indicate that the tires could fail catastrophically. Instead, the generic warnings I have seen relate to possible cracking in the tread and or sidewalls of the tires which are susceptible to this type of damage. Nobody wants to inspect their tires and find cracks, but if there had been catastrophic failures, as there have been with Firestone tires on Ford Explorers, one would expect that there would be a record of such failures and express warnings from the manufacturer to avoid whatever condition caused the tires to fail.
One would think Vredestein would do the responsible thing and put out detailed information which would put these questions to rest. I have to admit my general skepticism is based on 50-years of driving in the snow on various radial tire brands with no problems whatsoever. But if Vredestein would like to step up and tell me otherwise, I would like to hear what they have to say. So far, they have not responded to my correspondence both to Vredestein USA and corporate headquarters in the Netherlands, nor to written inquiries others have sent, so it doesnāt appear to be a high priority issue for them.
