Theory about hydroplaning

[SpeedingFirebird]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

SpeedingFirebird: So when I punch the gas and the tires lose grip I'm technically hydroplaning? That seems to fit your definition, which is when the tires can't move the water fast enough.

My point was that something usually has to cause it: i.e if you're driving in a straight line not giving it a lot of gas, then you're probably going too fast if you feel it start to hydroplane. If you're turning a corner and you start to hydroplane, you're probably giving it too much gas.

Loss of traction isn't just due to speed, true: sometimes it's due to the extremity of the maneuver: you don't have to be going very fast to lose traction if you give it a lot of gas.

The same principle can be applied to drag racing: the faster you punch the throttle, the higher the chances you will lose traction.

If you steer too quickly, or brake too quickly couldn't the tires temporarily lose ability to distribute water out from under themselves?

Maybe hydroplaning issues results from maneuvers that are too radical for the conditions rather than actual speed?

I'd like to test this out on a big wet piece of pavement with no obstacles in sight. :)

Most of what you are talking about is just breaking traction. A manuever that breaks traction in wet conditions is not hydroplaning. The exact principles apply on dry pavement or on snow

Hydroplaning is getting a layer of water between your tires and the pavement thus rendering your tires useless (aka like driving on ice). Braking or steering too quickly does not do this.

If you are driving in a straight line and start to hydroplane, it is because the tires cannot move water fast enough - speed being only one of the factors.

[SpeedingFirebird]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

from wikipedia:

In a typical hydroplaning situation, increasing water pressure in front of the wheel means that the amount of water being dispersed by the tread is less than the amount being forced under the wheel. A wedge of water is forced under the tire which is lifted on a sheet of water.

The vehicle then loses braking, steering and power to the drive wheels because of loss of wheel contact with the road. The result is complete loss of normal control by the driver, and the vehicle will slide until it either collides with an obstacle or until wheel road friction is regained. The likelihood of hydroplaning increases if the speed of the vehicle is high, the vehicle is imbalanced, the tire is underinflated, has worn tread or the water is deep.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydropl...oad_vehicle%29

[Camarorulz]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

Interesting...

[Vracer111]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

Good tires help out to reduce hydroplaning... I can cruise at 70-80mph in the wet in my Tacoma and be pretty resistant to hydroplaning with the 245/45-16 Hankook R-S2 Z212's it wears. Hit a patch of water deeper than the tread depth and it looses traction for a bit then gains it right back. Of course when it comes to turns it's best to play it safe and reduce the speed to the appropriate level.

Loosing grip at an intersection after stopping isn't from hydroplaning - it's from oils that have been displaced by the water. I have slid wide, even spun 90 degrees once (immediately countersteered and eventually got it back though) at this one particular intersection going no more than 10mph when making a left turn. Some intersections are just VERY slick when it rains and you have to take them SLOWLY with careful throttle.

[bret_xi]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

i hydroplaned going about 30-35, spun around once and then hit a large ditch/embankment :( but that was more than a year ago..

[black98V6]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

don't forget the road itself, the street that used to run in front of my apartment complex was really slick. It looked like asphalt that was white, you'd have to see it to understand, this stuff was very slick. Even standing at a light on my motorcycle my feet would slide sometimes when the road was dry. Even when dry if I tried to take a turn too quickly the car would slide. It had something to do with the material the road was made of. When it rained the road was 10 times worse. While this doesn't necessarily result in hydroplaning the end result (loss of traction) can have the same consequences. They finally overlaid it about 3 months ago with regular asphalt. My point is that hydroplaning doesn't always have to do with the driver or the car, the road surface itself can play a huge role.

[Stock98camaro]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

I'm not too sure how it happened, but I've hydroplaned a couple of times. One time, I stopped at a light. Took a right turn when the light turned green (i took it at like 15mph cuz it was raining), and I ended up sliding over into the next lane. Luckily I was the only one on the road then, but still....I need new tires, so i blame it on that

I think you slid... And not hydroplane. If you hydroplaned around a 90 degree corner, you would most likely lose total control.

[youngsc]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

The black top they are using now develops a light film on it that makes turning a ***** with RWD in the rain or especially right after its rained.

[LD]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

any accident can be related to too much speed
if you slide off the road and hit a tree, you were going to fast
even if it was 1mph and it was pure ice and you slide off the road, if you were going 0mph it wouldnt have happened
saying all hydroplaning is related to speed is too much of a blanket statement

[zlexiss]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

it takes something like 2-3 inches of water to FLOAT a normal car. yes, this is a fact.

Survey says, "Show me the math!"

3300 pounds means that 53 cubic feet of water must be displaced.

_IF_ your firebird (at 193" length by 74" width) dragged on the ground, was flat bottomed, and was waterproof (best case for floating with the lowest water level here), we're already at 6" of water depth. Since we do have ground clearance, I'm guessing it would take over a foot, and probably closer to 2-3 feet to float (since you're not getting any help from the firewall forward).

Seriously, where'd you read a "fact" like that?

[youngsc]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

I think what was meant is for the cars tire to lose traction. Since water does not compress when a tire goes over a puddle it will cause it to momentarily lose traction thus sliding or hydroplaning. I would def disagree with floating it though.

[ReodDai]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

Brand new tires, 2 lane road, going TEN mph and going straight. Hydroplane, didn't hit the breaks and didn't turn the wheel, car lifted.. turned about 160 degrees to the left. Crossed over the other lane, left the road and skidded to a stop once it hit gravel facing the wrong way on the side of the road.

Yea...

Edit: Should be noted this was a 45mph road and I was going ten because it was raining and the road itself was a winding road on the way home from my lake house. Yea.. still hydroplaned....oddly enough not even on a curve...

[homedog119]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

Brand new tires, 2 lane road, going TEN mph and going straight. Hydroplane, didn't hit the breaks and didn't turn the wheel, car lifted.. turned about 160 degrees to the left. Crossed over the other lane, left the road and skidded to a stop once it hit gravel facing the wrong way on the side of the road.

Yea...

Edit: Should be noted this was a 45mph road and I was going ten because it was raining and the road itself was a winding road on the way home from my lake house. Yea.. still hydroplaned....oddly enough not even on a curve...

how much of a weight reduction have you done

[sac2165]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

You should not put tire shine on the tread of the tires.

[ReodDai]

Re: Theory about hydroplaning

how much of a weight reduction have you done

Not enough to be relavent and there was no shine on the tires.