More than likely, I was hydroplaning on Sunday. I never drive in severe weather, however I had no choice driving 4 hours back to the city I go to school at - that a brief heavy rainstorm developed. It was my first time experience.. my '94 Pontiac Grand Prix did shake (I was going 55 on a 65 mph speed limit highway for about 15 miles.. and other cars were zooming by). I did swerve a little.. but luckily I made it back to my destination. So my question is, if I experience it again.. what's the ''proper'' speed to avoid hydroplaning? Does 4-wheel drive make a difference when it comes to sudden weather phenomenons such as this?
Yes, I know it is probably the dumbest question of the day. However, I am just curious.
Thank you.
2007-03-27 13:40:19 · 8 answers · asked by ~ Miss Naomi ~ 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Commuting
Thanks to everyone with their answers.. I really appreciate it.
As a meteorology student, I knew what the forecast was going to be a few days prior.. I just wished the rain would have fallen AFTER I got back.. lol. Oh well, you can't control Mother Nature..
2007-03-28 15:33:47 · update #1
Honestly, the proper speed is the one in which the car doesn't fishtail all over the road. Having a 4WD doesn't really matter all that much if you're doing 80 over drenched pavement.
2007-03-27 13:50:50 · answer #1 · answered by knight2001us 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, not dumb question the way you put it. Just dumb when you ask to fix a problem and do not mention what kind of car you drive.
Yes, 4 wheels, or AWID (All Wheel Drive) does make a difference in driving in raining weather. No proper speed. If you ever drive down a highway sometimes in rolling country the inside land will have more water on it then the passing lane. That is why cars ZOOM by you. In heavy rain, put on your HIGH beams too.
Lots depends on your tires, like if they have a lot of thread on them or not. But go around 50 mph and when hydrolaning just LET OFF on the gas and NO braking. If you go that fast the problems corrects itself within a few seconds. I am here in San Antonio, Texas and now drive at 50. Funny, just 10 mph more and I hydroplane and I got NEW tires, but then to get the extra 15 miles from 65 to 55 is about 13.85 minus 16.36 equal about 2 minutes and 30 seconds difference. Is your life or well being worth that?
Get a calculator and figure out how much faster you get there speeding. Then figure out the consequences of ticket, accident, not being able to say you were wrong because in the accident you were dead, dead wrong. Once I did this, I do not speed no more. Take care and may the force be with you. Stay in school and dont get married. When you get your degree then come and look for me then. lol
2007-03-27 14:06:16 · answer #2 · answered by Big C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check your tires for wear and proper inflation. A Grand Prix is a pretty heavy car and should not 'float' easily if you have good tires. When it first begins to rain is when it will be most slippery cause the oil that is on the roads will rise on top of the water. Put your tires a little out of the groove where you would normally ride. The roads usually have a groove there and water accumulates in them. Shaking is not usually how hydroplaning feels. The shaking may be because there was so much water on the road. There is no 'proper' speed. Just depends on the road, the driver and the vehicle. Might be best for you to NOT be on a freeway while learning to drive in inclement weather. Learn at lower speeds.
2007-03-27 14:43:19 · answer #3 · answered by tedditn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not the dumbest probably the smartest question asked so far.
I was turned around (literally) on a major Freeway in Dallas, Texas (LBJ/635 if you want to look).
I was being very careful in a Downpour and traveling at 35 MPH in the far right lane. Visibility was less than 15 feet and I was maintaining the speed of the cars in front of me (smart people pull to the right and slow down).
Some IDIOT in a big truck (Huge Wheels) sped past us (the people in front of me included) and we hydroplaned, spinning every where and two of the cars crashed into each other because that truck splashed all of the water under his/ her wheels into our lane.
To make a long story long...
The smartest thing to do is pull over. Most Downpours only last 2-20 minutes, then go on safely.
The most defensive thing to do (if you have to keep going) is watch your mirrors for the STUPID PEOPLE that think they are invincible and do not give a S--- about anybody else on the road. Take heed, please. If you have to drive in bad weather slow down, no matter if you get honked at or anything else.
2007-03-27 14:28:07 · answer #4 · answered by LN has3 zjc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hydroplaning is when the tires are unable to shed water between the contact patch (where the tire tread meets the road) and the actual road surface. As a result, the tire loses traction with the road and slips. The condition is related to the condition of your tires - your chances for hydroplaning decrease if your tires are newer and designed to channel water. The following link will give you a better idea of what is happening during hydroplaning.
2007-03-28 13:50:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Slowing down and driving at a slower speed if the best thing to do...
Hydroplaning occurs when there is sufficient water between the road and the entire footprint area of your tires tread to separate and lift it off the frictioned surface leaving you without traction like on a sheet of ice...
4X4's in and of them selves being 4wd do not have any real advantage over 2wd cars.. amy slight advantage they have comes from the actual diggerence in tire design...
that said their tread is always deeper and of an more aggressive design which helps them... same tires on you car would have same result..
deeper tread means more area water must fill up before the water can lift the tires tread from the roadway... it must nearly fill the entire depth of the grooves before hydroplaing occurs..
sticking to narrower vs wider tires during the wet season also helps... narrower tires means the water must have greater force to lift the cars weight at tires from the road surface...
so identical cars one with narrow tires and one with wide tires... the one with wider tires would have more water force pushing the tread away from the road surface and so it would hydorplane sooner and at lower speeds than the one with narrow tires
I had a wild hydorplaning incident in 1984 from a very sudden down pour at only 45 MPH with my 66 Plymouth Fury...
2 major factors were road in that area very beaten where tires ride smoooth not rough pavement....
my rear tires were L60-14's... 11" wide so lots of water under them...
I did 2 and 1/2 360's in the road before hitting the ditch a little scarry yes but didn't wreck the car or damage it either
Walt
2007-03-27 14:12:26 · answer #6 · answered by Ronk W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may already know this, if you are Hydroplaning, just simply let off the gas and keep the wheels straight. "Don't hit the brakes." I try to keep one side of the vehicle out of the higher water. This makes the hydroplaning have to pull against the car itself. 4wd doesn't help in this situation. I think your speed was fine, you'll see those cars later in the ditch.
Hope this helps,
Dan
2007-03-30 19:39:45 · answer #7 · answered by dansabouttheroom 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well for one..if the road is ever wet, and you're at a stop light which turns green for you to go....just let your foot off the brake and have your car begin to crawl forward and slowly put on the gas. I've just stepped on it in the past and hydroplained like crazy....
I'd also assume slamming on the breaks is a bad idea..if you need to stop fast on slick roadways, tap on the brakes.
I realize that isn't the answer to your question but its somethin from my past experiences
2007-03-27 13:44:34 · answer #8 · answered by CoCo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋