Hydroplaning issues - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Russtl · 03-18-2015, 07:35 PM

We recently rolled our 2014 2/SS after hydroplaning. The traction control took over and made it very difficult to control the car and my wife rolled the car. I just thought it was a freak accident until I recently met 2 others that wrecked their 2014 SS due to hydroplaning and the traction control took over.

Has anyone ever encountered this? If so I think there may be a glitch or a flaw with the traction control in hydroplaning situations.

Homer2 · 03-18-2015, 07:42 PM

Can you describe how? I would assume letting off the gas and the traction control taking over would stabilize things?

Splitter · 03-18-2015, 08:26 PM

Slow down.

Evergreen6 · 03-18-2015, 08:43 PM

Hydroplaning is a pretty violent event if any kind of speed is involved because the water is usually partially covering a lane or maybe there are ruts in the road that have filled and you might not hit evenly. Water or snow runoff on steep grades is a killer--most people are looking for pooled water, and runoff typically blends in with the road surface when it's raining.

Hitting water unevenly will pull the car hard to one side. If the car is only feet from the road edge or median and the car is traveling at highway speeds, this means the driver has fractions of a second to react before the car is headed off the road or across the lane. Most people usually panic and oversteer and over-brake, worsening the situation.

Traction control can only cut power and stability control can only counter-brake the wheels to maintain linear travel. Neither system can steer the front wheels.

I've been boating in my Camaro and Stabilitrak and Traction Control worked very well. I've done it in an SS too...those Pirelli's don't help, that's for sure. Once they've lost traction, it takes more work to regain it. They're a dry summer performance tire.

mastercarp · 03-18-2015, 08:49 PM

Also not a good Idea to use Cruise Control during rain or rainy conditions

zr1chris · 03-18-2015, 08:53 PM

Wait... She "rolled" it? How in the world did she pull that off?
I can't imagine what I'd have to do to roll this car.

The Patriot · 03-18-2015, 09:13 PM

First, I assume you are both ok, happy to hear that. Second, details man!

Spec · 03-18-2015, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Patriot

First, I assume you are both ok, happy to hear that. Second, details man!

Yeah, hope you're all okay... and pics if you've got them... hard to see a damaged Camaro, but we can all learn from it... :(

Mr_Draco · 03-18-2015, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russtl

We recently rolled our 2014 2/SS after hydroplaning. The traction control took over and made it very difficult to control the car and my wife rolled the car. I just thought it was a freak accident until I recently met 2 others that wrecked their 2014 SS due to hydroplaning and the traction control took over.

Has anyone ever encountered this? If so I think there may be a glitch or a flaw with the traction control in hydroplaning situations.

Without knowing specifics it's hard to say, did she roll the car on the road itself, down an embankment beside the road, what? We really need specifics to say for sure but unless you hydroplane off a embankment immediately after it starts, a roll over in a hydroplaning situation is caused by driver error and inexperience.

BubbaSS · 03-18-2015, 11:18 PM

These guys are probably right, but I've always felt like something like that could happen. I actually disabled TC in my tune.

derklug · 03-19-2015, 12:13 AM

Once you begin hydroplaning, there is nothing traction control can do to help you. Like glare ice, the tires have no traction and will not begin to spin again until your speed drops enough for the water film to be broken. With or without traction control, you would have ended upside down in a ditch. Camaro SS's, Mustang GT's, Corvettes, M3's, any car with wide performance tires is more apt to hydroplane than a normal sedan.

PalmerGA · 03-19-2015, 04:45 AM

Glad everyone's okay, OP.

Hydroplaning is the warm-weather equivalent of driving on ice. When it happens, there is really nothing you can do but let off the gas, stay off the brakes, avoid turning the wheels sharply, and ride it out. If you perform this basic driving technique, I seriously doubt TC/ST would compound the problem.

NYCamOwner · 03-19-2015, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russtl

We recently rolled our 2014 2/SS after hydroplaning. The traction control took over and made it very difficult to control the car and my wife rolled the car. I just thought it was a freak accident until I recently met 2 others that wrecked their 2014 SS due to hydroplaning and the traction control took over.

Has anyone ever encountered this? If so I think there may be a glitch or a flaw with the traction control in hydroplaning situations.

A little more information about the scene would be helpful. Weather conditions, type and condition of the road, speed, and any other info you can provide. How long have you had the car and how much time behind the wheel have you and/or your wife had with it?

ssrs2lt · 03-19-2015, 05:46 AM

I'm assuming everyone is ok. Yes it seems this car hydroplanes more than other cars. I hydroplaned at 40 mph..

03-18-2015, 07:35 PM	#1
Russtl Drives: 2014 Camaro SS/2 convertible Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: WA, United States Posts: 8	Hydroplaning issues We recently rolled our 2014 2/SS after hydroplaning. The traction control took over and made it very difficult to control the car and my wife rolled the car. I just thought it was a freak accident until I recently met 2 others that wrecked their 2014 SS due to hydroplaning and the traction control took over. Has anyone ever encountered this? If so I think there may be a glitch or a flaw with the traction control in hydroplaning situations.

03-18-2015, 07:42 PM	#2
Homer2 Drives: 50th Anni.. coming home 11/01 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Toronto. Ontario Posts: 1,636	Can you describe how? I would assume letting off the gas and the traction control taking over would stabilize things? __________________ ##################### Built Sept 16/2016 - #2681 of 5955. She came home with me 11/01/16. 50th Anni, 2SS, A8, NPP, NGM Rock Guards, Footwell Lighting, Black Bow Ties, Street Warrior Rotors and Pads, Ceramic Pro, 3M PPF, Oracle Ghosted Side Markers, Kooks 2" headers w/hi flow cats. GPI Stage 1 Cam installed at 305,000 kms.

03-18-2015, 09:13 PM	#7
The Patriot Drives: 2014 2SS/RS VERT Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Idaho Posts: 455	First, I assume you are both ok, happy to hear that. Second, details man! __________________ 2014 2SS/RS Vert. "Today I didn't even have to use my AK, I got ta' say it was a good day"

03-18-2015, 11:18 PM	#10
BubbaSS WHAT RED LIGHT?! Drives: 2011 Black Camaro 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,115	These guys are probably right, but I've always felt like something like that could happen. I actually disabled TC in my tune. __________________ 2011 2SS/RS M6 BLACK - VARARAM NO TUNE INTAKE, MODDED AND PORTED TB, PORTED INTAKE MANIFOLD, VITESSE THROTTLE CONTROLLER, DOUG THORLEY LT'S, CATLESS, X-PIPE, 25" STAINLESS WORKS RETRO CHAMBERED MUFFLERS, CUSTOM 2.5" MANDREL BENT EXHAUST, RICHMOND 4.10 GEARS, CUSTOM CAM (231/242 @ 114LSA), MUSTANG DYNO TUNED BY TORQ, 20% CERAMIC TINTS, EIBACH PROKIT SPRINGS 1" DROP, HAWK PERFORMANCE CERAMIC BRAKES, NITTO INVO TIRES, HYDROCARBON TAIL LIGHT AND FOG LIGHT BEZELS BY EMBLEMPROS, METRA DASH KIT, JVC KW-AV71BT, PHOENIX GOLD iAMP GM1, PASSPORT QI45 - 450 RWHP 415 RWTQ

03-19-2015, 12:13 AM	#11
derklug Drives: 12 Boss 302 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi Posts: 1,369	Once you begin hydroplaning, there is nothing traction control can do to help you. Like glare ice, the tires have no traction and will not begin to spin again until your speed drops enough for the water film to be broken. With or without traction control, you would have ended upside down in a ditch. Camaro SS's, Mustang GT's, Corvettes, M3's, any car with wide performance tires is more apt to hydroplane than a normal sedan. __________________ The biggest mistakes in life come when you know exactly what you are doing.

03-18-2015, 08:26 PM	#3
Splitter Account Suspended Drives: '14 RRM 1LT/RS A6 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MA Posts: 2,065	Slow down.

03-18-2015, 08:43 PM	#4
Evergreen6 Drives: 2023 Camaro 1SS Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: United States Posts: 1,437	Hydroplaning is a pretty violent event if any kind of speed is involved because the water is usually partially covering a lane or maybe there are ruts in the road that have filled and you might not hit evenly. Water or snow runoff on steep grades is a killer--most people are looking for pooled water, and runoff typically blends in with the road surface when it's raining. Hitting water unevenly will pull the car hard to one side. If the car is only feet from the road edge or median and the car is traveling at highway speeds, this means the driver has fractions of a second to react before the car is headed off the road or across the lane. Most people usually panic and oversteer and over-brake, worsening the situation. Traction control can only cut power and stability control can only counter-brake the wheels to maintain linear travel. Neither system can steer the front wheels. I've been boating in my Camaro and Stabilitrak and Traction Control worked very well. I've done it in an SS too...those Pirelli's don't help, that's for sure. Once they've lost traction, it takes more work to regain it. They're a dry summer performance tire.

03-18-2015, 08:49 PM	#5
mastercarp Drives: 15' 2LT/RS Vert. Red Hot Born:1/26 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Mt.Vernon IL. Posts: 56	Also not a good Idea to use Cruise Control during rain or rainy conditions

03-18-2015, 08:53 PM	#6
zr1chris Drives: 2018 Camaro 1SS/1LE Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Port Saint Lucie FL Posts: 1,224	Wait... She "rolled" it? How in the world did she pull that off? I can't imagine what I'd have to do to roll this car.

03-19-2015, 04:45 AM	#12
PalmerGA Drives: 2013 SIM 1SS/RS L99 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Southwest GA Posts: 8,755 View My Garage	Glad everyone's okay, OP. Hydroplaning is the warm-weather equivalent of driving on ice. When it happens, there is really nothing you can do but let off the gas, stay off the brakes, avoid turning the wheels sharply, and ride it out. If you perform this basic driving technique, I seriously doubt TC/ST would compound the problem. __________________ 2013 1SS/RS Coupe L99, Stainless Power Works LT Headers, SCT X4 Custom Tune from RDP, CAI Inc. Air Intake w/ Apex Scoop, VMAX CNC Ported Throttle Body, Solo Axle-Back Exhaust w/ J-pipes, Apex Catch Can, Husky Splash Guards, Heritage Grille, 3D Carbon Rear Spoiler, Oracle Chrome Turn Signal Bulbs, GM Reverse Light Trim Billets, Gorilla Black Locking Lugs, Emblem Pros Retro SS Badges/Custom Retro SS Kickplates/Under-hood Bowtie, 35% window Tint, Nitto Motivo Tires (6-8-18)

03-19-2015, 05:46 AM	#14
ssrs2lt Drives: too many Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: oh va pa ma tx Posts: 3,046	I'm assuming everyone is ok. Yes it seems this car hydroplanes more than other cars. I hydroplaned at 40 mph.. __________________