Hydroplaning/aquaplaning

[Johnny]

Hey guys, just wanna give a warning about the dangers of driving in heavy rain.

Basically i was driving in heavy rain last night and taking off from a traffic light i changed into 2nd at about 4000rpm and without warning my car just glided all over the road, i actually ended up in the middle lane.

This was a portion of tarmac with a few cm of water and it was very scary but i managed to keep calm and not slam of the brakes which would have probably made me spin or hit a gutter.

Thankgod for ATTESSA which pulled me forward and not fishtail; I learned that 4 fat tyres and a few cm of water do not mix even when your driving carefully.

GTS-T and GTT owners have to be much more careful and alert in the rain as id hate to see someones pride and joy damaged.

Anyways just though id share this experience so people are aware of how dangerous rain can be.

-Johnny

[gotRICE?]

I mean its not exactly new news is it?

Its pretty clear you need to be EXTREMELY careful in wet weather. Especially in RWD Turbo cars.

If you stay off boost, its fine. Take it easy

[GTR-N1]

Even without RWD or turbo on my daily, I came to grief 2 weeks ago in the 4th gen Prelude.

On a drenched road, I still couldn't even keep pace with a Vectra around a bend and did a 360 (fortunately not hitting anything).

It was my idiocy really. I thought I could trust the 4WS in spite of the fact that I knew my tyres had a bad reputation in the wet.

I now can't wait to wear down these NS IIs and get something decent. Oh yes, and take my Mom's advice when she waves me good-bye.

[CeJay]

4WS is evil in the wet, in my old mx6 it would make the car tail happy if you squirted it in a roundabout, as it steered the rear wheels in the opposite direction until a certain speed.

[Kinks]

My last car had a minispool which forced me to be careful in the wet, I would coast around corners off-throttle if I could and just the slightest throttle if I needed it.

Interestingly, the R33 is almost as bad at times. It caught me out once recently on a very highly polished asphalt corner, I came through it at a conservative speed and as soon as I touched the throttle it snapped out on me. Got it back but it really took me by surprise, lucky I wasn't going any quicker. Variable road surfaces make a huge difference and you simply have to be VERY careful in the wet. No exceptions.

[turbo_brian]

depending on the amount of water depends on the tire requirement, but a decent set of tires at the right speed will pump majority of the water away.

Big problem here is that people dont realise the type of tire isn't up to the task, and then find out the hard way the car is floating, not driving.

I had a similar issue in my 32GTR, but for this issue, the ATTESSA system because evil, because there was enough time for the back to tilt to a 45 degree angle before the ATTESSA kicked in, launching me in that general direction.

The simple fact is slow the f**k down in the wet, the driving conditions are very much different.

B.

[SKY 34]

The simple fact is slow the f**k down in the wet, the driving conditions are very much different.

B.

agreed Brian, not exactly the road the wheel or the car, is how yo drive when its wet.

A test was conducted some time ago I can't remember the fellas name but since, the road is designed not to pond more than 200mm, 300mm max with a safety factor. when the tests was conducted unfortunately it was a while back when vehicles are a lot heavier. However at that point if I'm not wrong the critical ponding is determined to be around the 350mm ish. and mainroads have adopted 200mm advisable and 300mm critical ponding for light vehicles.

There are several roads intentionally designed to flood up to this level and it is deemed save, they have propoer warnings and it is expected for people to slow down

If you notice the kerbs are designed about 300mm mark this is because it is assumed that when water flooded the street to this height, vehicles will start floating, In some places where there are no storm water system, the road is actually the main conveyance when flood comes..hence they would rather have property damaged than floating cars everywhere causing more damage...

a small puddle will make your tyres float for a short while and if you drive within the limit or don't do crasy acceleration causing your wheels to loose traction, then you shouldn't skid out

[burkill]

so, even the awd drive boys stuggle?

i just got home from driving through a shit load of rain. i had no problems.

if i hold my foot flat to the floor, i can feel a wheel slip a little through a big puddle, but whilst feathering it didn't slip at all.

i did get new tyres yesty, nothing flash. plus they are only like or 7 inch wide, so they cut the water, as opposed to floating like a boat. i can usually drag off commos and falcons at the lights in the rain, coz they can't get traction, and it's hard to have a feel for it in an auto that keeps trying to shift gears. it's quite embarrasing for them really. once my i usually get a car legnth or two in front by the time we get to 60k's. then they roar past once they finally get traction, and the race over, coz the speed limit is only 60.

[(B1) MR_fanny]

its more a combination of tyres, road and amount of water as some others have stated rather than the car itself, be it all wheel drive or rwd. Ive had the front of my 33 aqua plane for a sec while the rears still held grip where you would first expect it to let go.

+1 for just slow down and adjust your driving to the conditions. I was in traffic on thursday in melb when we had heavy rain and hail and the like and theres people flying around and tailgating, speeding and swerving like it was dry. I guess nothing bad has ever happened to them in the rain, YET.

[GTR-N1]

And how about accumulated oil/grease on the road after a long dry spell?

Sol'n: The first couple of days of rain are the hairiest which means one needs to slow down whilst the roads are slick

And how about drivers becoming so used to long dry spells, they overestimate their own capabilities when the rain falls?

Sol'n: Make an adjustment for the first couple of days of rain in order to hone the skills of driver/car/road composure under these conditions

And how about the way the car behaves in the wet due to tyres being underinflated/overinflated/lacking tread or like mine lacking grip?

Sol'n: Do a double-check in the mind about the condition of the tyres

And how about the tired condition of one's shocks/suspension/bushes etc. Don't these behave differently in the wet?

Sol'n: When the rain falls do a double-check on these and follow Mom's advice as she waves good-bye

[GTR-N1]

...never realised how much friction would play a part in my life till I turned 13

[grigor]

Hey guys, thanks for the responses. I know its not new news for most but many have not experienced it yet and i wasnt even driving hard, im very careful in the wet.

This was completely unexpected and i was in a straight line too; no steering lock and at less than 20kph

Sorry Johnny, but bullshit.

4000rpm in 1st isn't taking it easy in the wet.

You've learned a lesson, short shift to reduce the power available.

[KiwiRS4T]

Sorry Johnny, but bullshit.

4000rpm in 1st isn't taking it easy in the wet.

You've learned a lesson, short shift to reduce the power available.

1. Always listen to your mother.

2. I have some Bridgestone RE001 on my AWD Stagea only 215 wide but they are excellent in the dry and the wet. Went on a track day and the tyres packed up after a few laps but i am keeping them on for daily driving and got a set of 8in rims with some semi slicks for the track (useless on a wet road).

So...horses for courses and SLOW DOWN in the wet.

[joeyjoejoejuniorshabadoo]

i dont have any troubles in the wet... i'm on dunlop lemans 245/40/18 with 265rwkw and a decent suspension setup (5/7coils, sways, struts, caster, camber hicas lock)

the car only lets go when i know its going to and never surprises me.

i take it super easy and dont hit boost... simple

[R31Nismoid]

well i could drive with 370rwkw in the wet quite ok with RWD...

[R31Nismoid]

Personal threats or attacks (no matter how stupid they are), will not be tolerated.