2014 Sr5 4x4 Hydroplaning in H2
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rigtec
New member
Hi 4RZ,
Four wheel drive won't prevent a hydro-plane scenario because at that point the wheels are 'for the most part', off of the ground. Now there are some tire manufacturers that make claims that they design treads that allow the standing water to 'Pass-through'; there-by avoiding a condition that would allow the tire to 'skim' across it, but I've never purchased 'Rain treads' or 'anti-hydro-planing' tires so I don't know if they work or to what degree ('tis physics)... perhaps someone else here can add more, Best to you,
cheers
Four wheel drive won't prevent a hydro-plane scenario because at that point the wheels are 'for the most part', off of the ground. Now there are some tire manufacturers that make claims that they design treads that allow the standing water to 'Pass-through'; there-by avoiding a condition that would allow the tire to 'skim' across it, but I've never purchased 'Rain treads' or 'anti-hydro-planing' tires so I don't know if they work or to what degree ('tis physics)... perhaps someone else here can add more, Best to you,
cheers
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Hydroplaning has nothing to do with the drivetrain and everything to do with tires and the way the vehicle is being driven. The stock tires leave a lot to be desired and maybe you were driving too fast for the conditions? Buying better highway tires and slowing down will definitely prevent or mitigate future episodes of hydroplaning.
Thanks all, mine are Dunlop Grand Trek AT20. My wife was driving the vehicle i am sure she was under 30 and it as a 25mph zone and we both felt the vehicle move a bit to the side. She used to drive a civic earlier and said that never happened so was not sure if any one else had the same experience.
1engineer
Moderator
Don't even go there. Those tires are not bad in the rain. They are not the best nor are they the worst. It also has no bearing on the cost. Perelli Cup tires for example suck in the rain. The problem is the vehicle was moving too fast for conditions plain and simple. You can cause any tire to hydroplane on any vehicle given enough speed. So OP, tell your wife to slow down. That's the problem that should be underlined and bolded.
rigtec
New member
Now that you put it that way; under 30/25mph zone... Every so often my truck does just that, like it's out of my control. But what that is, is the 'Vehicle Stability Control' (VSC) and 'ABS' kicking in because one of my wheels slid (slightly) due to it crossing a wet, steel 'Man hole cover' or the 'painted white line' in the road... this is perfectly normal and the system is working as it should.
Next time it's raining/drizzling and you're all by yourself, try this: go to a (paved) back-road location. Doing about 15 to 20mph, direct the truck to a spot on the street where there's a painted line (making sure that there's no one behind you), and come to an abrupt stop w/ a tire on the line. You should feel the truck correcting it's 'slipping wheel / traction' as the tire begins to slide. I suggest this because it'll help you become familiar with some of your new truck's sophisticated 'Tracking & Braking Controls' and may dismiss the hydro-plane theory all together, Best!
JSparky
New member
Hey those are slick! Or wait.. I mean, not? Never mind.
Nice Scout, is that an 80? I don't think I've ever seen an 80 on the road.
Lastly, to the OP. Take other's advice and slow it down when it's wet out.
Thanks guys.. at this point i will ask her to slow it down a bit when she sees a pooling, but i was worried about how the vehicle will behave on highway speeds. I has some bad hydroplaning with my 05 Accord so i am on constant lookout for any pooling. Just wanted to see if this was a common occurrence with stock tires.
Thanks rigtec. I just got the truck last week so still getting used to it. Both of us came from a small sedan/coupe background so it will be a while before we get used to the bigboy
we have a some long trip's coming up so hopefully will get used to the vehicle.
rigtec
New member
Thanks rigtec. I just got the truck last week so still getting used to it. Both of us came from a small sedan/coupe background so it will be a while before we get used to the bigboy
Congratulations on this new truck; you're gonna love it!
In all the years that I've been a member here, this is honestly the first time that I've read about this subject (as a point of concern). I'm not saying that it can't happen, but even if it did, it would still be accompanied by the ABS/VSC systems. I really don't think there's anything the matter with the original/stock tires because we all have used them and... no issues reported. "Enjoy your new truck"
Cheers!
DesertCanyons
New member
Hydroplaning
Here in So Cal it hasn't rained enough to pond water on the roads in about 5 years. I wish it would because we can use the water.
Contrary to what's been said here, I think 4 wheel high would help in rainy conditions. With the SR5 you should be getting constant torque to the front axle in 4H which will help keep the truck in a straight line. My 1995 Jeep GC is full time 4H and I never have trouble in rain. It does well on ice and snow too.
You can hydroplane by stepping on the gas and spinning the wheels during acceleration. I know. I did it at 65 mph in a Ford Ranger on a slight incline. I wound up going backwards at 60 mph and slammed the truck into the concrete center divider before coming to a stop going backwards in a carpool lane. Several cars just missed hitting me there and I had no way to turn the car around in traffic. Luckily a few people stopped to let me turn around. Amazingly there was no damage to the car except well ground chrome on the bumper corners front and back.
You're used to driving smaller sedans that handle better in rain. The T4R is light in the back end compared to a sedan. I think the distribution is about 60% front and 40% rear. It may be 55/45. It probably evens out when the truck is loaded or the 3rd row seat is full. Pick-up trucks are much worse. They'll spin out fast on wet roads if you hit the brakes hard. The T4R also weighs twice what either of those Hondas weigh.
30 mph is not fast if the road is flat and straight. But in a 25 mph zone I gotta wonder what the road was like. Yea, if the car slides a little, slow down.
Here in So Cal it hasn't rained enough to pond water on the roads in about 5 years. I wish it would because we can use the water.
Contrary to what's been said here, I think 4 wheel high would help in rainy conditions. With the SR5 you should be getting constant torque to the front axle in 4H which will help keep the truck in a straight line. My 1995 Jeep GC is full time 4H and I never have trouble in rain. It does well on ice and snow too.
You can hydroplane by stepping on the gas and spinning the wheels during acceleration. I know. I did it at 65 mph in a Ford Ranger on a slight incline. I wound up going backwards at 60 mph and slammed the truck into the concrete center divider before coming to a stop going backwards in a carpool lane. Several cars just missed hitting me there and I had no way to turn the car around in traffic. Luckily a few people stopped to let me turn around. Amazingly there was no damage to the car except well ground chrome on the bumper corners front and back.
You're used to driving smaller sedans that handle better in rain. The T4R is light in the back end compared to a sedan. I think the distribution is about 60% front and 40% rear. It may be 55/45. It probably evens out when the truck is loaded or the 3rd row seat is full. Pick-up trucks are much worse. They'll spin out fast on wet roads if you hit the brakes hard. The T4R also weighs twice what either of those Hondas weigh.
30 mph is not fast if the road is flat and straight. But in a 25 mph zone I gotta wonder what the road was like. Yea, if the car slides a little, slow down.
rigtec
New member
Hi DC,
Your statement is absolutely and unequivocally correct regarding the 4WD feature being very useful on slick, rainy surfaces; there is no debate about that. But some here (including myself), are making an emphatic distinction between a 'wet slippery road surface', and 'a huge puddle'; which can cause the wheels on the truck to 'briefly' disconnect from the road surface, and potentially send the vehicle into an uncontrolled, very dangerous slide/skid... just my 0.2 cents, Rgds!
jrandom
New member
Honestly I wish I new, stolen pic :redface: My only experience, a friend of mine has a restored 76' Scout II.
DesertCanyons
New member
Bald tires in the rain
Hi Rigtec,
Yes, In my story about the Ford Ranger on the freeway a 65 mph I was floating on a film of water during a downpour. The freeway was full of cars all around me, all going 60+ mph. Californians don't know how to drive in the rain. :nono: I was in the middle lane, following tire tracks in the water. When I started moving left across lanes and accelerating I hit a thicker film of water and immediately, uncontrollably went into a sideways spin. It's amazing I didn't hit anyone or take out 4 other cars as I spun and slid over to the center divider barrier.
My tires were also fairly well worn, nearly tread-less. I replaced the tires soon after that. Bald tires can contribute to spin-out in the rain too.
Hi Rigtec,
Yes, In my story about the Ford Ranger on the freeway a 65 mph I was floating on a film of water during a downpour. The freeway was full of cars all around me, all going 60+ mph. Californians don't know how to drive in the rain. :nono: I was in the middle lane, following tire tracks in the water. When I started moving left across lanes and accelerating I hit a thicker film of water and immediately, uncontrollably went into a sideways spin. It's amazing I didn't hit anyone or take out 4 other cars as I spun and slid over to the center divider barrier.
My tires were also fairly well worn, nearly tread-less. I replaced the tires soon after that. Bald tires can contribute to spin-out in the rain too.
