Hydroplane/RWD

[fpasta]

Suggest the OP practice in a simulator even as simple as a video game with force feed back haptic steering wheel etc.. I am not trying to imply game vs real life but to help you figure out the thresholds.

Heck maybe straight joysticks wheel suffice.

I forgot to mention simulate the weather too for wet conditions. Race in the rain.

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[StrWhtMME]

Not knowing all the conditions, speed, steering input, amount of water, pavement type, and many other factors. One possible reason for loss of control is ”TTO” Trailing Throttle Oversteer. If you lift off the accelerator too quickly, the weight transfers to the front, possibly causing loss of traction at the rear. Just a thought.

 

[ctenidae]

Glad you're OK- that moment it lets go makes you wonder if you remembered to put on clean undies, for sure.

A sudden deeper piddle can do all kinds of whacky things, especially if other factors cascade too.

14,000 miles isn't a lot on tires normally, but the weight of EVs absolutely eats them. Add in overinflation, and your tires might have been thinner than you thought.

A little less tread, a little deeper puddle, a little shimmy of the wheel or twitch of the throttle, and it can all come apart in a hurry, no matter RWD, FWD, AWD, fast, slow, straight or curved.

One thing I noticed in my 3P was that the car's traction control sometimes reacted in unexpected ways. It corrected fine, usually, but it took a while to not react to it, even when I felt it do something that made me think, "Why the hell did you do it like that?" Point being, electric drive allows different traction control reactions, and you do have to adjust your driving style and inputs. I haven't noticed the GT doing anything particularly odd, but I haven't had the chance to push it hard consistently (the kids changed school and the drive home isn't quite as good as the old school (which had about 15 great turns on a mile stretch. Many, I loved that road...)).

/edit- wanted to fix piddle to puddle, but I think I like that image better...

 

[Mach-Lee]

I have had my Mach-E for 10 months now. I absolutely love it but noticed during rain that I would sometimes feel as though I was hydroplaning. Unfortunately I am now finding out that living in south Florida + RWD was possibly a bad combo for me. On Sunday my car spun out and landed in a ditch. Thankfully I was not injured and neither was anyone else. The car however is likely totaled. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this a Mach-e issue? A tire issue? Or a RWD issue? Or just purely bad luck? I was not speeding. The tires were not worn (14,000 miles). In fact I moved to the center lane several minutes before to stay away from puddles because I felt as though I was sliding a bit. I have to make a decision as to order another mach-e or to move on to a different car so any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hydroplaning is caused when the tires can't pump the water out of the way fast enough. Low tread depth, low tire pressure, or excessive speed cause hydroplaning. In 14,000 miles, your factory tires may have been worn out (they wear fast for some people). Tread depth should be checked about every 6,000 miles.

Excessive speed is also a prime cause of hydroplaning, after poor tread depth. When you see pooling water on the road, SLOW DOWN (like 20 mph) BEFORE hitting it. You can hydroplane going the speed limit on the highway. It's important to slow down ahead of hitting it because you can't easily slow down while hydroplaning.

So primarily a tire/driver issue.

 

[Raymondjram]

Thank you. These replies are helpful. I’m an ER nurse practitioner and was on my way to work. I have 3 kids so thankfully I was solo. But man was it scary!

Check the tire pressures. Add a bit more about 5 more PSI. Higher air pressure reduces the footprint which increases the pressure per square inch upon the wet pavement, increasing grip. Michelin, the world's best tire maker, sells harder tires just for this type of driving. They have more groves than regular tires, and that also helps to increase tire grip. This is basic physics.

 

[intensifi]

These tires exist now:

https://www.michelinman.com/auto/tires/michelin-crossclimate2

They are amazing in all conditions. Our group calls them super tires!

 

[Raymondjram]

I live in California, and would just like to experience rain! ?

That is easy to do. Just break up a main water pipe on the road.

 

[breeves002]

EV low rolling resistance tires generally are a little bit worse in wet/snowy weather, but hydroplaning happens no matter the drive type. You were going too fast for conditions and hit too much water too fast. It can't squeeze it out fast enough. Live and learn from the mistake. Glad you were ok sorry to hear about the car.

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

That is easy to do. Just break up a main water pipe on the road.

I think you and I may have different definitions of the word rain… ?

 

[jason330i]

I wonder if one pedal driving could be the issue. If I recall correctly you want to coast through puddles.

 

[llinthicum1]

My guess would be tire related. With ABS and Advanced Traction Control it would be very hard to spin out.

 

[Nygman]

Think this has been said but hydroplaning is your speed, water depth, and tire width. Wider tires are more likely to do it than skinny, then water depth and speed play a part. You have to slow way down to prevent it, and that will be related to the amount of water on the road.

When I lived in Florida the sky's can open at any point and often did. I had wide, admittedly worn, tires so slowed on a particularly flooded section of the road. 20 or so in a 45. Needless to say, someone speeding behind me flashing an honking. I waived him around, only for him to pass me, and then aquaplane off the road when it turned. He must have been doing 60, as if it wasn't raining. I kept going (he did hit anything) and quietly smiled to myself. Always drive at a speed that's safe for the conditions even if it's below the speed limit and never speed when it rains, especially if you have wide tires and there are large puddles.

 

[slimothyjames]

I wonder if one pedal driving could be the issue. If I recall correctly you want to coast through puddles.

You are correct, in general if you're about to hit a large puddle, there should be no throttle or brake input. For 1PD, if you slightly touch the pedal, you just coast/do not start braking.

Like others have said, start coasting/slowing down right before the puddle and steer through any turbulence the puddle gives.

AWD does help, since all 4 wheels are connected to the drivetrain vs FWD/RWD where the non-powered wheels are just free spinning.

When I used to daily drive a 370Z it hydroplaned a lot more than my other vehicles.

 

[breeves002]

When I used to daily drive a 370Z it hydroplaned a lot more than my other vehicles.

Part of that is likely very wide, sporty tires. Wider tires have a tougher time pushing water out of the way.

 

[slimothyjames]

Part of that is likely very wide, sporty tires. Wider tires have a tougher time pushing water out of the way.

Oh 100% haha. I had meaty tires on it. Even downsizing to a 245 width for winter tires, I spun out during a snowstorm. Good ol' RWD.

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