Sideways at 70mph

[Local Boy]

:eek: Can you say HYDRO-PLANE:eek:

On my way to work this morning, raining hard, driving on the free way, in the fast lane (left lane)...

With a 4 foot concrete median on my left, separating traffic, my lane was a sweeping right turn...

Didn't notice anything, except that I heard water hitting the floor pan, hard, under my feet and seat...Thought to myself, "That can't be good".

Then, I turned the wheel to the right (a little) to account for the sweeping right turn ahead of me...

NOTHING :eek:...Car went straight for a short while (@5 sec)...Then started to spin slowly to the right (clockwise)...putting my drivers door in line with the concrete median, that turned right, ahead of me...at 70 mph...:eek::eek::eek: Thought my tail end was going to clip the wall, first...since I was still in the left lane, and spinning slowly clockwise...

Took my foot off the throttle...held the wheel were I had put it (turned a little to the right)...and waited for the tires to gain traction...or hit the wall...which ever came first...

Had to fight the urge to correct the steering, by turning the wheel to the left...

That would have put me into the wall...When the tires hooked...

Got pretty close to wall...eyes wide open...at the last sec...felt the tires hook...and the car jerked...corrected itself... and went straight in the direction I had the tires pointed (to the right)...

Whew...That was a close one...Came within inches of the wall...Cars behind me probably tripped out watching me going sideways at 70mph, next to the concrete median, in a hard rain...

Took a good swig of my coffee :beer:

Smiled :)...and said to myself...

"GOD, I LOVE MY CAR!!!" YEEEHAAAWWW :banana:

It never skipped a beat...and got back on the throttle, like nothing happened...

ALOHA :wave:

BTW: Was surprised at how easy it hydro-planed, considering the wieght of this beast...

That's the second time, my car saved me!!!

[ImpalaSlayer]

hmm hard rain and 70mph:shake:

[CRUZTAKER]

More and more often these stories surface.
It has even happened to me.

And every time I wonder....

Why are (we) driving so fast in the rain when (we) are fully aware these cars, with these tires and similar, DO NOT handle well.

I personally do not drive my MM in rain. And if I am caught in anything that puts more water on the road than 2-3 mm I slow to 55 mph, and if the rain causes more than 1/2 inch of rain, I pull over and wait it out.

[powis0520]

thats not that bad 5 days ago i was driving in my 05 gto that i recently bought. i was in the far right lane @ 1:00 am on my way home on the highway it was raining and i heard my passenger side rear tire blow out then my car started drifting toward the wall on the left side then before you know it all i could see was the wall. i was going 70 mph and i went through 4 lanes and t boned the wall. the car was totalled and now im looking for a 03-04 silver merc marauder with low milage

[RoyLPita]

thats not that bad 5 days ago i was driving in my 05 gto that i recently bought. i was in the far right lane @ 1:00 am on my way home on the highway it was raining and i heard my passenger side rear tire blow out then my car started drifting toward the wall on the left side then before you know it all i could see was the wall. i was going 70 mph and i went through 4 lanes and t boned the wall. the car was totalled and now im looking for a 03-04 silver merc marauder with low milage

Welcome aboard. Glad to hear that you got out ok. As for finding a silver MM, keep looking around in the Auto Trader.

There is a s/c'd 2004 in IL (or near it) w/43k for a price. There is also a 70k mile black s/c'd 2003 for $19k in WI.

Enjoy the site.

BTW, The 05-06 GTO is on my list of vehicles that I will own in 10 years or so.

[Bigdogjim]

I hope the cruise control was not in use?

Sorry but 70 is way too fast in the rain.

Glad you and your marauder came out OK :up:

[Local Boy]

I did not see anywhere, that our cars do NOT handle well in heavy rain...

Guess I found out on my own...

I now agree...70 mph is TOO FAST...Will certainly slow down next time...Thanks for the best wishes

BTW: No cruise control...

"powis0520" sorry to hear about your misfortune...Wishing you all the best...

ALOHA

[Shora]

what tires are you using?

How deep is the thread?

Oh, nice job at staying calm. Most (or many), would have posted a different thread about losing another Marauder.

[bigmerc'03]

at least ur getting rain.????rain what is that it doesn t rain in north georgia

[Local Boy]

Stock tires on all corners...with good tread on them...

Thanks, Shora...

ALOHA

[SMOKE]

I was recently on a rain-slicked highway (rain had stopped, but I was on very wet/shiny black asphalt).

Went out to the passing lane around 70 mph and got into gas a bit more than necessary (car downshifted rather than torqued it's way up a mph or two to complete the move the left lane and around the car ahead of me).

During the downshift had a nice surge of power so I just stayed on her. Car went back up to fourth with such a shot that the friggin rear end stepped out on me! Scared me pretty good afterwards (was concentrating on driving and the car settled on its own...was a very brief kick and snap back to center so initally didn't really sweat it...ignorance is bliss I guess).

I say the scare came "afterwards" because I thought later had the car stepped out on me as power was building during the downshift...I swear I could just see myself doing circles in the middle of a four lane highway. The car would have just spun.

But the car kicked out on the upshift, so there was no power behind anything, if I was on dry pavement I would guess the car would've just "chirped' the tires.

Have a whole new respect for this car and wet roads now...

JWM

[cruzer]

I was involved in the one of the first aircraft accidents where it was found that hydroplaning was a major factor (I have the messed up back to prove it) . It happened in 1951 in England. What I have found out over the years and with 22,000 hours of flying in every kind of weather there is reveals some interesting facts.
Hydroplaning is directly effected by tire pressure
The tread print has very little to do with speed of hydroplaning---pattern has an effect--but not a lot ---slicks are a perfect example
The weight of the object has nothing to do with the speed of hydroplaning--a 500,000 pound DC-10 will hydroplane at the same speed as a 4,000 pound car (tire pressure will change the speed)
The average car--regardless of weight, will hydroplane at about 55 MPH
You can be hydroplaning and never know it til it bites you
Lots of people don't like traction control--it will give you a warning before you can sense it yourself
You get fooled when you are driving in another car's tire sweep--get out of it and you are gone
A high speed skid pad is a wonderful ego-buster

In summary--hydroplaning is no better or worse in our cars--tread will make a little difference--just slow down when there is enough water on the road to make a heavy spray

There is a lot of good info on the net about hydroplaning testing--makes a good read.

Drive safely, but with gusto !!! Maury

[Bigdogjim]

Well put Maury. I thing I always notice when driving a 54,000 GVW bus is most drivers do not slow down in the rain.

Not only is hydroplaning an issue but, stopping distance is increased!

[Motorhead350]

The rain is one of the only times I actually take it easy. Now I learned a few things, but do not do 50 with slicks on. I did that once with my Blazer during a rainstorm and I had no choice. Anything above 50 started putting me in a fishtail. I'll never forget that night. :eek:

[ckadiddle]

Orlando, Florida - the hydroplaning capital of the USA. Where else can you waterski on an interstate highway nearly year round?

[fastcar]

Wow, Local, that's quite a story. I'm really glad you kept your cool.

I agree with the gentleman who posted that hydroplaning is a concern no matter the weight of the vehicle.

I disagree that these cars don't handle well in the rain. They probably handle better than most. Why do you think everyone is driving them at 70-80 in the rain? I drive mine the same in the wet as in the dry, and hydroplane all the time. I enjoy the excitement ;)

I especially love it when out of no where you hit a deep patch, and there is a deafening sound, and your front end is suddenly sucked toward the guard rail.:D

fastcar:burnout:

[Bigdogjim]

Sway bars and control arms are big help the car handle better.

On a '03 300A I put the 245's all the way around and found an improvment in the rain.

[Local Boy]

Hey fastcar...You sound fun to drive with..."in your car" HEHEHE

Don't forget ...the faster your car gets...the easier it will jump out on you...

Enjoy the 13 sec class...Hopefully I will be there soon as well...

ALOHA

[ryanstickney1]

In case no one has posted it before. Tires will begin to hydroplane at a speed equal to 4 times the square root of the tire pressure. IE: A tire is inflated to 35 psi, square root of that is about 6. 6 X 4 = 24. Given the right amount of water (more than the depth of your tread) you can expect a hydroplane event at or above that speed. The faster, the more severe.:burnout:

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

KDWs in the rain, make this car scary. I have gotten this car quite loose without trying, in the rain, w/ newer KDWs

[FastMerc]

70 in the rain are you nuts,with these garbage tires we have been stuck with! Im glad you were OK and no wreck. :D

[407MARAUDER]

EVERY TIme it rains here. (every other day) : ) I have to be careful on take offs at the green light or ill jerk sideways a little. I don't have traction control. Is there a way to go to ford and get it installed?

[magindat]

Randy,
Glad you're good. Get used to it. The car WILL step out on you regularly after your 'resurrection'. You're going straight to the low 12's right past the 13's. Take your time to learn the shift points/vs throttle position. A downshift on wet roads WILL break 'em loose.
Good job with the cool head.
All the best.
Rich

[Local Boy]

Thanks guys for your concern...

I don't do 70 (in the rain) anymore...I learned THAT lesson...

That's good advice Rich...Thanks!

ALOHA

[vkirkend]

Been there done that... $2000.oo repair. No more TEXTING!!!