Hydroplaning?

[potter22]

Do you think the Corvette has a tendency to hydroplane more than other cars. Just wondering because of all this rain we have had in So Cal? I know some people will say not to drive it in the rain but there are going to be times when it happens. Thanks

 

[JEFNLSA]

My Vette is one of the best cars I've ever driven in the rain. As long as you have good tread and don't let the rearend get away from ya (ASR ON) you should be fine. Over-acceleration and bad tires would be my biggest concern in the rain.

You know, it's funny cuz normally you in So Cal & me in Phx wouldn't even be talking about rain but that sure isn't the case right now. You and I have had more rain than our part of the country has seen in a long time.

 

[SSTibet]

Jeff, picture of your car is absolutely one of the best at CAC. I love looking at it...

Cheers,

Selim

 

[JEFNLSA]

Jeff, picture of your car is absolutely one of the best at CAC. I love looking at it...

Cheers,

Selim

Thx Selim...

Yours isn't too shabby either. Love the yellow!

 

[DRTH VTR]

Relatively light car, large tires-

 

[tomtom72]

I wonder if the underbody & wheelwell aero characterists influence hydroplaning? I think tread pattern has alot to do with it. I never drove my C4 in the rain, just got it, but I remember how my early C3 reacted to different types of tread patterns. T/A & GY Eagle's from the mid 70's were not too good above 55 mph. The only tires I ever used that I would call good rain tires on my C3 were CN36's but they were very costly. I just wonder if there are aero influences that come in to play? Tom

 

[78SilvAnniv]

I don't think aerodynamics come into play at all with hydroplaning. If they are, you're driving too fast! :L
Hydroplaning is the result of tires floating on the water or meeting water resistance and this happens when the tread is not able to travel the water out from under the tire fast enough. Wide tires, low tread depth or bad tread pattern, a light weight car and excess water on the roadway are going to predispose it to 'floating' on the water.
If I must drive in the rain I drive slower and watch the cars ahead of me to see how much water they are driving through so I'll know if I need to slow down more before hitting a low spot in the road.

 

[RonJ]

Wide tires + light car + standing water = hydroplaning!!

Ron .... :ugh

 

[Moonunit 451]

Wide tires + light car + standing water = hydroplaning!!

Ron .... :ugh

True enough. That said, I still can't believe how awsome these Eagle F1 GS D3's handle in any and all amounts of water on the roadway.

285's up front and 315's on the rear at all speeds and I've driven them 120 to 135 sustained in heavy rain. The only time I even can tell I'm in water would be going through deep standing water, maybe 3/4" or so, from just plain heavy rain situations. They are AWSOME!

 

[WhalePirot]

I still can't believe how awsome these Eagle F1 GS D3's handle in any and all amounts of water on the roadway.

Thanks for that. I believe they will be my next tires. Goodyear, the only American tire company left.

We were told in Air Force pilot training that a study found that hydroplaning speed was a function of tire pressure. I never believed that, feeling that it had to be a function of water pressure (speed) and area (tire width). After all, the product of them is force, which is what lifts the vehicle.

Tire tread design that allows the water to escape, reduces both the effective area and the pressure of the water, as I see it.