The Z Traction
 

Well I have had my car for 4 months now and had 2 scary moments with it. I was wondering if I am the only person that experiences these issues. Or maybe they arent issues; i dont know.

Both times it had rained and its not like I was driving like a maniac or real aggressive. First time was on 45mph road going around 50-55mph and all the sudden my tires lose traction and i hydroplane two lanes to the right and then I catch traction and all is well. I chalk that up to maybe something in the road.

Next time I am on crosstown (basically toll road) and going 80-85mph tops when it had barely rained. The road was only two lanes wide with walls on both sides and my car decides to freak out. Driving in left lane and my back wheels hydroplane hard to the right, then hard to the left, right, left....till i skid to a stop inches from the wall. I don't even know if I counter steered it while it was happening because it all happened so quickly. All I remember is the steering wheel jerking each time it switched sides... I definitely counted my blessings because 99 times out of 100, I should have totaled it into that wall.

I did not have traction control off nor was I trying to change lanes or anything stupid. My previous car was 10' camaro so it weighed a lot more....so maybe the weight makes a huge difference??

Get better tires for the first one, for the second one, you need better tires and to SLOW DOWN. The teas on the car doesn't have that much weight, you have to be safer

I understand what you are saying but it wasnt like I was even going real fast and there was zero water on the pavement. Cars were driving past me and i was basically on cruise control. It just doesnt make sense that it would jerk like that out of no where.

... You said it was raining, or had rained both times. And you said your car hydroplaned, meaning water was involved...

Yeah when it rains/had rained, I don't go over 55. If it's hard rain, I'll be that guy doing 45 in the far right lane with hazards on.

Same for gavel roads. The paint on my car is still fresh, and I had to drive through newly paved road with lots of gravel to get to the credit union and fitness center. Speed limit is around 35 MPH, and I tried to coast around 40 MPH when this F150 sped past me kicking up gravel at my car and leaving dust trail at well over 50-60 MPH.

Anyhow... new tires. I like my Conti tires.

Like mentioned already, most likely tires.

Let us know what kind of tires you have, how many miles on them, and last time you got an alignment done or checked the tire wear on your car.

(Please don't say OEM tires with 50k miles :ugh2:)

I read a lot about prior about driving these things in the rain and last week got the chance to experience it. Rear wheel drive with no weight and big *** tires=slow down.

OP, what kind of tires do you have? Check tire rack for which category they fall in to:

"Extreme Performance Summer Tires
You want extreme dry street performance and are willing to trade some comfort and hydroplaning resistance to get it.

Not to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, in snow or on ice, or at high speeds in deep standing water, these specially tuned tires combine big-block tread designs with aggressive tread compounds and reinforced internal constructions to emphasize dry road response, traction, handling and high speed capabilities for serious driving enthusiasts."

I have Bridgestone Pole Position and those aren't too bad. My next tires are going to be 'no rain allowed' though. Haha.

stock re050s are terrible in the rain

This. I've got Continental DWs and I can hammer it in the rain with no issues.


OP, you mentioned driving 80-85 when it barely rained. That is when the pavement is the slickest. After it starts raining the oil and crap in the pavement surfaces and makes it slicker than after a hard rain.

I know exactly what you are talking about OP, I had that happen to me to, now everytime it rains I do not go over 55. The stock tires are not good in Rain.

Not sure what this stuff you call rain is or why you'd want to drive in it, but those are pretty wide tires up front & can trap a lot of water. As Andrew said, got to slow it down. They are summer tires you know ;)

Funny how people blame the tires / the weight of the car, ect.... If your tires break loose in the rain/on the gravel, ect You're driving too fast for the conditions, simple as that..
80 -85 mph after a rain on a wet road is too fast, I don't care what you're driving, or how much you paid for your tires. My $ .02

nope, in my area never happened to me. i even tested the Z in a serious down pour to see its limits. no issues.

you do have to have some level of caution to drive a rwd car. :)
check tires. psi, tread wear, etc.

Love my Nitto Invo's in the rain!