My basis for knowledge in this case is the manufacturer of the product, Michelin.
According to them, my tires are summer tires. Apparently you know better.
Have you even looked at the Michelin web site?
From the Energy Saver page…
“Advanced silica tread compound provides all-season traction and no-compromise wet braking.”
From the summer tire page…
“The Pilot Exalto PE2 was developed to provide crisp and responsive handling in both wet and dry conditions, however it is not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.”
This is like arguing with a vegan about the best way to grill a steak.
Please provide a cite for this claim.
I’ll save you some time… I did find a page for their Energy Saver tires that are for Mini Coopers, BMW 3 series, and Passats that are listed as Summer tires.
That still doesn’t mean you should use them in winter conditions… why do you think they call the “Summer” tires?
How often does Tuesday come in Minnesota? Where I am it comes weekly. If Minneapolis got 24 inch snow storms every week, they could expect total snowfall of 312 inches over a winter. Do you know the average annual snowfall in Minneapolis? 55.5 inches. That means DC is getting half a Minneapolis year’s snow in about 36 hours. Still sound routine to your family? If so, they are incredibly ignorant and like to feel baselessly superior. For what it’s worth, I grew up very close to one of the few cities in the US snowier than Minneapolis. This would be a big storm even by that city’s standards.
They put some of the trains in the tunnels to protect them from the snow.
Because Michelin quotes them as summer tires.
That is what I have. Per my argument. Get it?
Or maybe they were making a joke.
But if you are tired and cranky you may not have understood that.
No, I don’t get your argument. There is ONE version of their energy saver tires that are listed as Summer Tires. They are used on three models of cars as I mentioned before. The much more common version is the Energy Saver A/S which is an all season tire. Care to take a look at yours and answer me honestly which you have (or tell me if you drive a Mini Cooper, VW Passat, or BMW 3 series).
My point is that any tire listed as a “Summer” tire is listed this way for a reason. It is for use in the summer… not the winter.
Many posters here have explained very clearly and cited facts as to why they should not be used in winter. You have cited your own special abilities to manage to drive on tires in conditions they aren’t intended for.
By the way… how’s that prediction that the roads should be clear by Saturday holding up for you?
Seriously though, (albeit off topic) why do rail transit systems shut down in inclement weather?
Perhaps there is some confusion on your part related to “original equipment” versus “what I replaced it with”.
My 2006 Honda Civic Michelin “energy saver” tire replacement is not necessarily the same tire as what Audi specifies as original equipment on say, their Michelin OEM “energy saver” tires for 2016. Let me assure you, Michelin considers my replacement tires as summer tires.
I hold no allusion to any “special” ability in winter driving skills, I simply take note of other’s lack of said ability.
As for my prediction of road clearance… My crystal ball is no better than anyone else’s, I just gave a guestimate.
Is it now absolutely necessary for me to cite a Michelin link to convince you that my tires are of the summer classification?
If necessary, I can comply.
I’m not sure what you are trying to “win” here… I already said that they offer a version of this tire that is listed as an “Ultra Performance Summer” tire. So you do not need to provide a cite… I’ve admitted that they make such a thing.
They also offer more common versions of the same name (Energy Saver) that are listed as All Season. I find it hard to believe that you paid the premium to put the “Ultra High Performance” tires on a 10 year old Civic. Especially in an area that gets 4" of snow. You don’t sound like a Ricer or you would have told me about all your other mods besides the tires. I looked at the three major tire stores, and only one offered the Summer version for your make/model/year. They all offered the All Season version though.
You posted before that…
“I believe my tires qualify as to your criteria for “summer tires”.”
It was not the poster you’re replying to that set the criteria for a summer tire. This makes me think you don’t understand that “Summer” is actually a technical definition of a type of tire and not just “Not Snow” tires. Similar to how tires also have speed ratings.
One last time from the Michelin site regarding “Summer” tires… “not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.” But, you seem to know better than the manufacturer.
I’ll ask you one more time why you think a tire that is specifically designated as a “Summer” tire would be appropriate in the winter… especially when the manufacturer says it isn’t.
I’ll toss out an olive branch though… I loved the Go Go Gophers cartoon.
This is what the DC Metro folks have to say about it:
From here:
http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/safety_security/snowmap.cfm
Storm is over, so I feel free to go off topic.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta reminds me of theHakkalügi cyclocross bike. Fitting name, because if you have ever raced cyclocross, you have coughed up a lot of crap, including a lung or two.
Linkee no workee.
And neither do summer tires on ice. 
Interesting – the link works on my laptop, but not on my smart phone.
Yes, please.