Hydroplaning issues

[Cam_Cam]

And knock off the shit with people not driving right for the conditions. People hyrdoplane, it happens.

I'm sure his wife wasn't going 120 MPH around a curve in the rain like some of you are acting.

[Beardface]

Originally Posted by Cam_Cam

And knock off the shit with people not driving right for the conditions. People hyrdoplane, it happens.

I'm sure his wife wasn't going 120 MPH around a curve in the rain like some of you are acting.

Depending on conditions, 50 mph on the highway might be too fast. If you want to avoid hydroplaning, it really is as simple as slowing down to a safe speed.

DriversEd.com: Hydroplaning

Hydroplaning means loss of traction and sliding on a film of water. Wet road surfaces can cause tires to hydroplane. This could result in loss of control and steering ability, as your tires may lose contact with the pavement. Hydroplaning is caused by a combination of standing water on the road, car speed, and under-inflated or worn-out tires.

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by Cam_Cam

And knock off the shit with people not driving right for the conditions. People hyrdoplane, it happens.

So what is your sage advice for avoiding hydroplaning situations? Or do you truly believe that they all are unavoidable?

I'm sure his wife wasn't going 120 MPH around a curve in the rain like some of you are acting.

Nobody is posting in the exaggerated tone that your imagination is apparently reading into their replies. Though if I'd "busting a curb" at your age, I might have been a bit sensitive for a while, too.

You might want to re-read this post.


Norm

[GAFreddy]

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

So what is your sage advice for avoiding hydroplaning situations? Or do you truly believe that they all are unavoidable?


Nobody is posting in the exaggerated tone that your imagination is apparently reading into their replies. Though if I'd "busting a curb" at your age, I might have been a bit sensitive for a while, too.

You might want to re-read this post.


Norm

Exactly.

[RLHMARINES]

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

Learn to drive with a delicate touch on the controls in the wet, too. Sudden steering or pedal inputs can and will upset the car all the way to a spin if you're careless or clumsy enough about this.

Do an autocross in the rain so you can better find out for yourself where your tires' poor weather grip limits are. If you really want to know where the limits are and get an even better idea about how much grip is or is not there, make one run with the Stabilitrak turned off after you've been through the course a couple of times (so you'll have a better idea about where it goes).


Norm

This is very sound advice.

I still remember an incident I had with my wife in the car as we traveled cross country years ago in my aggressive and fearless younger years. As I was speeding thru Houston late at night during what I thought was a light rain in really light traffic, I experienced that unnerving sensation of total helplessness after hitting a water puddle (I did not see it but I felt it) at about 60 mph and loosing control as my steering got light and I could feel the car coming around on me and see the concrete center divider coming closer in what seemed like slow motion as we did a complete 360 on the freeway. I had a little fwd Cavalier Z24 back then so front wheel drive with no control or steering is not good. Luckily by the grace of the good Lord we did not hit anyone or anything.

Too fast for conditions, my fault totally.

[RLHMARINES]

I had an oh sh*t moment last year as I was caught on the freeway in a sudden rain storm with my F1's. I slowed down and picked the center lane to ride in but that was well and fine until I had to pass a TT by using the fast lane.
As I was passing in the fast lane I hit a puddle with my left front tire and the whole car just darted left 1/2 lane over to guard rail. I was going 55 but the wide F1's where no match for that puddle but I just got off the gas and steered thru it while riding it out.

My PSS that are my winter tires now are much more forgiving in rainy and cooler weather than the F1's.

[Chevy_cowboy]

Originally Posted by Cam_Cam

And knock off the shit with people not driving right for the conditions. People hyrdoplane, it happens.

I'm sure his wife wasn't going 120 MPH around a curve in the rain like some of you are acting.

You don't have to be speeding to be driving too fast for conditions, and too fast for conditions is often a different speed dependent on the vehicle you're in.

[NYCamOwner]

Originally Posted by Chevy_cowboy

Most of the V6's do have all season tires, its only the RS equipped cars that have Pzeros.

Your salesman's neglect to properly inform you about the car you're buying is the dealership's fault, not GM's. He works for the dealership.

Not entirely true, I have a 2LT vert, non-RS, and I have PZeros....

[cb66]

Originally Posted by Chevy_cowboy

Most of the V6's do have all season tires, its only the RS equipped cars that have Pzeros.

Your salesman's neglect to properly inform you about the car you're buying is the dealership's fault, not GM's. He works for the dealership.

The LT without RS I used to own came with Pzeros so many do, but that's irrelevant its not the dealership or the salesman's fault if the person doesn't know what is to fast for conditions. Being involved in Fire/EMS for 20 plus years I have seen many motor vehicle accidents that involved hydroplaning all makes all models cars, trucks and SUV's but people continue to drive the speed limit and faster and do not slow down in adverse conditions. Its the same story its always someone else's fault today. In this thread lets blame the car the traction control, the tires, lets blame GM, lets blame the salesman ....but lets not say that maybe we were driving a little to fast or the conditions. A previous post by another member states you don't have to be speeding to be driving to fast for conditions , he is 100% correct.One post even tries to justify not slowing down saying that you risk getting from being involved in a rear end collision ...Are you kidding me?

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by Chevy_cowboy

You don't have to be speeding to be driving too fast for conditions, and too fast for conditions is often a different speed dependent on the vehicle you're in.

Sometimes those conditions are not about either the road or the car . . . sometimes it's purely driver error or at least driver sloppiness at the controls. I am certainly not immune to driver shortcomings . . .

While I honestly can't remember of ever having spun on a wet street, I've come close on the track. My car does not have stability control (and TC was off). 40, maybe 45 mph.



Here it's driver error, plain and simple; I was the one who put the tire tracks you see there (this being a frame taken from the in-car video of the following session an hour or so later). I botched the preceding turn, ran wide on exit, and let's just say that dirt doesn't offer much in the way of grip so around she came. On the street, sliding on somebody else's sand or mud (or brine in the winter) might lead to a similar result. If it does, hopefully there will be sufficient runoff room. Somewhere a little above 70 mph.




Norm

[Chevy_cowboy]

Originally Posted by NYCamOwner

Not entirely true, I have a 2LT vert, non-RS, and I have PZeros....

from the factory?

I thought you had to add RS to get the bigger wheels and tires on a V6

[Red2014SS]

P-Zeros are standard equipment on a lot of cars. They are even standard equipment on Ford F150 FX4 pickup trucks. Which is why I have a hard time understanding why anyone would defend them or call them a "performance tire".... They are crappy tires 75% of the time and the manufacturer excuses this fact by labeling them a "summer tire." When, compared to real performance tires, they really aren't all that great in the summer. It's a bit ironic.. as the P-Zero gets totally slammed on truck forums.

Oh well.. I guess if Chevrolet installs it at the factory, it must be great. Ignore the hydroplaning... it was driver error... I will conform.

[Chevy_cowboy]

Originally Posted by Red2014SS

P-Zeros are standard equipment on a lot of cars. They are even standard equipment on Ford F150 FX4 pickup trucks. Which is why I have a hard time understanding why anyone would defend them or call them a "performance tire".... They are crappy tires 75% of the time and the manufacturer excuses this fact by labeling them a "summer tire." When, compared to real performance tires, they really aren't all that great in the summer. It's a bit ironic.. as the P-Zero gets totally slammed on truck forums.

Oh well.. I guess if Chevrolet installs it at the factory, it must be great. Ignore the hydroplaning... it was driver error... I will conform.

Blizzaks must be crappy tires too, Bridgestone hides that fact by labeling them "Snow tires" I'm betting they'd perform badly if you tried to run a road course with them on a 90 degree day.

[Red2014SS]

Originally Posted by Chevy_cowboy

Blizzaks must be crappy tires too, Bridgestone hides that fact by labeling them "Snow tires" I'm betting they'd perform badly if you tried to run a road course with them on a 90 degree day.

What car comes from the factory with Blizzaks? Name one. Does Bridgestone call them a performance tire?

P-Zeros rock! They're the best. I am conforming.