I hydroplaned last night. :-(

roadrash · 12-09-2009, 08:14 PM

... but managed to save it... whew!

It had been raining for a while but at the time was only sprinkling and there didn't SEEM to be much water on the road. I was in the left lane of a 2-lane stretch of interstate and had just passed a car in the right lane by about 3-4 car lengths.

The water couldn't have been very deep because there wasn't the big splash that you get when driving through deep water. So, I'm pretty sure it was due to speed rather than water depth that caused it. I guess that's what I get for trying to increase the gap between myself and the other car so that they wouldn't have so much road spray to deal with. That's the only time I really "pushed the envelope" in that hour of driving.

I'm still not exactly sure what I did to save it, but from the few web sites I've looked at this morning, I used the correct procedure. I felt the rear end drifting to the right, so I eased off the gas (did not brake) and steered slightly to the right, in the direction I needed to go. When the left front tire touched the "rumble strips" at the left edge of the pavement and got traction, everything snapped back into line.

There's nothing quite like that feeling of... oh crap, I'm hydroplaning! Oh, CRAP, I'm pointing towards the median and oncoming traffic... then the loud buzz of the rumble strips... then everything is fine. LOL

So, the lesson here is: Slow down when the road is wet because you can hydroplane even it's not actually raining.

Yes, tires will be ordered soon.

**1996 328ti** · 12-09-2009, 09:02 PM

There really isn't much you can do except be very gentle on your inputs.
Breathing off the throttle is good. Jumping off, BAD.

Glad it had a happy ending.

**cooljess76** · 12-09-2009, 09:03 PM

If you're running directional tires, make sure they're facing the right direction. If they're facing the wrong direction, they'll actually direct water to the center of the tire and cause you to hydroplane

Found that out the hard way

roadrash · 12-09-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

Breathing off the throttle is good. Jumping off, BAD.

And "freaking out" is REALLY EFFIN' BAD. LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

Glad it had a happy ending.

Me too! Or more accurately, I'm glad it wasn't "an ending."

RAiMA · 12-09-2009, 09:51 PM

Good to hear everything turned out fine. I was like, Oh F#$% NO when I saw the title and ur name.

roadrash · 12-09-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAiMA

I was like, Oh F#$% NO when I saw the title and ur name.

Sorry to tease... I was being overly dramatic. heh heh I did it on purpose, just to amuse myself.

Now that I think about it... if the title gets someone else's attention and helps them to remember to slow down the next time they're driving in the rain, well that's a bonus and this thread has served a purpose. :-)

Hey... remember.... Let's be careful out there!

roadrash · 12-09-2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooljess76

If you're running directional tires, make sure they're facing the right direction.

I was 99.9% sure that wasn't an issue, but checked just now anyway. They're not directional and they all have the "outside" label showing, so I'm all good there.

However, the rears have even less tread than I realized. So, I'll be dealing with that after I get home from the next trip.

dahamler · 12-09-2009, 10:29 PM

I just drove about 10 hours in the heavy rain here in the south with 255 wide tires on all four corners (in a 2500 pound car). Needless to say I was very thankful for the driver's school I attended along with some track sessions. I don't think I could have brought the car home in one piece without some formal instruction and practice.

Is is me or does the TI seem a little worse in adverse weather conditions than other cars?

roadrash · 12-09-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahamler

Is is me or does the TI seem a little worse in adverse weather conditions than other cars?

I guess it depends on what you're comparing it to. The ti seems a little better in heavy rain than my '89 Civic Si was, but it doesn't seem as stable as an SUV.

**1996 328ti** · 12-09-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadrash

And "freaking out" is REALLY EFFIN' BAD. LOL

There's plenty of time to do that afterwards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahamler

Is is me or does the TI seem a little worse in adverse weather conditions than other cars?

The ti is a bit tail happy. Given the light rear and semi-trailing arm suspension.

Driving schools have really given me a respect for my own capabilities and reading road conditions. I think DEs have kept me out of more trouble rather than recovering from trouble.

dahamler · 12-09-2009, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

There's plenty of time to do that afterwards.

The ti is a bit tail happy. Given the light rear and semi-trailing arm suspension.

Driving schools have really given me a respect for my own capabilities and reading road conditions. I think DEs have kept me out of more trouble rather than recovering from trouble.

I hope to correct some of that with my new TC Kline suspension that should arrive tomorrow!

tiFreak · 12-10-2009, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadrash

The water couldn't have been very deep because there wasn't the big splash that you get when driving through deep water. So, I'm pretty sure it was due to speed rather than water depth that caused it.

you're more likely to hyrdoplane in shallow water than deep water if I remember correctly

I had a few close calls today too but that was because I was trying to drift my Subaru on the snow we just got

pdxmotorhead · 12-10-2009, 03:19 AM

I've noticed the tail of the TI is REALLY REALLY sensitive to tire pressure.

Also the car needs the pressure split front to rear if running symmetric tires,
I run 30 front 34 rear with my Toyo Tires (All season tread) and if its nasty icy I take out 2 lbs front and rear. If the rear gets overinflated watch out!

Dave

minicoop900 · 12-10-2009, 04:03 AM

i slid a buncha times before i got my new tires, but it was always minor, i went to a skid control class and the 3 rules they gave me are
1.)look where you WANT to go, not at what youre going to hit.
2.)steer your car in the direction your supposed to be going and just try to keep your slide going in that direction if it continues
3.) dont panic and slam on the brakes or let go of the gas suddenly

budget76 · 12-10-2009, 07:33 PM

I can't deny I've hydroplaned many times in the year and a half I've had the TI. You've just got to be smart about it. When it happens you can feel the steering input isn't right, so you edge of the gas to slow down, and you'll eventually drop down back to the road and get traction back. Scary the first time. Now it's a natural reaction to get back under control

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