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A Lexus tech said that the temperature gauge isn't perfect so they give the warning at 37 degrees.
Even if it were on the money, the sensor is monitoring air temperature, not the surface of the road. It's very common to encounter black ice with air temperatures a bit above 32 degrees because the ground is still frozen (it takes a while to warm up) after a prolonged cold spell.
Originally Posted by Pnthrzrule
The funny part is that when it's around 17F or basically sub freezing then it does't blink at all. Maybe they figure if it's that cold out you should know ANY precipitation is gonna be frozen so you prob should just stay indoors!!!
It actually makes sense. Remember that pressure lowers the melting point of ice. Traction is at its worst at temperatures near the freezing point, where the weight of the vehicle causes a thin layer of ice to melt on the surface. The liquid water between the ice and the tire acts as a lubricant, significantly reducing friction. At really cold temperatures, this doesn't happen.