WhiteKnight '01

Just curious why Camaros in general hydroplane so easily.

My previous car, a 2003 Monte Carlo SS, could plow through the rain, and puddles on the road, even parts of the road that were flooded with a few inches of standing water. It rarely every hydroplaned, and if it did, it lasted a second or two.

The Camaro, feels much more dangerous in the rain, very tricky. Why is this?

What other cars are similar to the Camaro in hydroplaning? All RWD cars???

gs462

iTrader: (4)

Wider, harder tires with generally a tread pattern geared more towards handling then wet traction.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

It shouldn't be *that* easy to hydroplane, and if it is happening even in small puddles then you need new tires.

I do agree that skinnier tires will cut through rain and snow better though.

silversrtman

iTrader: (20)

Yup it's the wide tires

bene

iTrader: (16)

Get all season tires, and the camaro will actually handle well in the pouring rain.

LeanPocket

iTrader: (6)

size of tires and type of tire..

not the actual car itself.

thegodfather899

iTrader: (1)

yea my car actually doesnt do that bad in the rain

silversrtman

iTrader: (20)

My car is terrifying to drive in the rain...I have summer tires with plenty of tread...any corner I have to be really careful or it will come around on me

V68Sweep

Same here. Luckily it doesn't rain very much in Southern California, but when it does is rains cats and dogs.

When my Camaro was a V6, I took it around a corner that I would normally try to drift a bit around, but it was raining and I took it a little too fast...I did a nice and smooth, but very unexpected, 180* turn, almost hit the curb and was facing the wrong way on the road.

Luckily traffic was lite so I didn't get hit or anything!

TransAmWS.6

Yup, my car is pretty much stock and it's the same way.

My daily commute one way is about 20 miles and 90% of it is on a highway that has a lot of hills and grooves in the pavement. If I'm at a steady speed at 70 and it's raining, the smallest puddle of standing water in one of those grooves will make the car jerk back to 65 or so pretty violently, really wakes you up if you're not paying attention.

But yeah, as said before, a lot of it has to do with the width and tread pattern that a lot of the available tires for these cars have.

WhiteKnight '01

Glad to see I'm not the only one.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

i thought with my F1s my SS was fine in rain. it did kick out on me once but my ASR straightened me out.


if youre running any type of racing or summer tire id drive carefullt in wet weather.

srbliss

Seriously - 70 in the rain is just stupid. Just because everyone else is a dumb *** does not mean you need to join them. Slow the F down in the rain. Think a little bit about what may happen if bad **** happens. How would you feel if you killed someone because you were in a hurry?
Dang I feel like an old fart, but you need to think this way today.

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

RWD is one reason.

TIRES is the big reason. Don't expect performance rubber to do well in water. I had basic all seasons on my V6 Camaro for example (which were narrower as well) and it did just fine in the rain until the tread wore thin.

Also, how you drive is another big reason.

battousai

iTrader: (3)

had some crappy Rikens... spun terribly whithout trying (on my V6)

put on some Michelins, and i have no problem now... so i'd say it is the tire.

projectX

iTrader: (51)

ME + RAIN Don't get along to well since buying an f-body. Oh, and yes tires are a huge part of it.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

I drove 75 miles per day on the expressway for a very long time, often in the rain on 275mm all-season tires. Never once did the car hydroplane.

You guys having issues probably need a different type of tire for the sort of driving you are doing.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

Road condition and type play a huge role also.

TransAmWS.6

Nah, I understand your point. But, the highway I commute on his humongous, it has long swooping hills and a few grooves here and there, but it's wide open for the most part, no turns or anything. I just hop on there after I get out of class and roll.

But you're right, slowing down some in the rain wouldn't hurt anything, I probably should.

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

Tires are a factor..275/40/17 on that F-body are going to hydroplane if you drive like a tool. A skinnier tire will benefit better, but then again type is also a factor.

My 8500lb 2001 2500HD with 275/75/16's on it will cruise along in the rain without a problem, it has enough vehicle weight to keep the tires planted.