rear end gets loose

[vinay]

seems like whenever the roads are wet my rear end gets loose real easily when i turn... im not talking about DRENCHED roads.. just soggy wet ones do the trick ....

what are the most important factors that affect grip while turning ?

im guessing tire compound and tread is way up there...

[HeLLroT325iS]

Youre not the only one with that problem. I attempted a little drifting on an open entrance ramp to a highway when it was a little wet. I was in second gear going about 40 and before I new it I was going backwards. I am running Khumo ecsta supras which grip pretty good when its dry, but I am not impressed with their wet traction. My tip, don't turn off your traction control.

[Daved]

Same thing happens to me, I oversteer a lot when it's wet.

I can't turn off the traction control because I don't have it :(

[1996 328ti]

what are the most important factors that affect grip while turning ?

im guessing tire compound and tread is way up there...
It's plain physics. The most important factor is speed.
Also the oil on the road rises above the water making it even worse.
And yes, tire compound and tread is next.
Some compounds are better than others. My Yoke AVS Intermediates were deadly at the wear bars wereas my Toyo T1S are fine. Many people have lost it on highway ramps in the rain and blame it on the car. It's not the car's fault. Physics is physics. People have to understand the limits of the car in all weather conditions and surfaces.

Get out to a driving school or a skid pad.
It's better to find the limits in a structured event then learning for yourself the hard way on the street.

[Spennie]

I'm also running Kumho Ecsta Supras and I was impressed with their wet traction... Well, compared to my worn Pirelli P7000s I was!

[Teuton]

It's plain physics. The most important factor is speed.
Also the oil on the road rises above the water making it even worse.
And yes, tire compound and tread is next.
Some compounds are better than others. My Yoke AVS Intermediates were deadly at the wear bars wereas my Toyo T1S are fine. Many people have lost it on highway ramps in the rain and blame it on the car. It's not the car's fault. Physics is physics. People have to understand the limits of the car in all weather conditions and surfaces.

Get out to a driving school or a skid pad.
It's better to find the limits in a structured event then learning for yourself the hard way on the street.

Steven hit the nail on the head. In the wet, you get much less traction (around 40%) compared to dry. Plus the fact that you are trying to negotiate turns, so you are asking tires to split traction between turning, breaking and accelerating (especially in a turn).

Physics is physics and you can't exceed that. Driving schools and/or AutoX will help you learn this.

Pete

[vinay]

I dont think i push my car THAT hard....

But I swear my old civic with cheap worn out tires could handle wet roads better ....

I guess the mass of the vehicle results in more momentum, which probably has a lot to do with it too ...

[silverstar]

I dont think i push my car THAT hard....

But I swear my old civic with cheap worn out tires could handle wet roads better ....

I guess the mass of the vehicle results in more momentum, which probably has a lot to do with it too ...

YOUR HONDA IS A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE " NO COMPARISON THERE"

[kinghawk]

I would recommend everything everybody mentioned above but if you still feel its a problem with the car minus the tires take a look at your suspension compoents. A broken sway bar or sway bar links can contribute to the car being loose on turns.

[jmott]

civic had less power, and when the drive wheel lose traction less interesting things happen, so you didn't notice as much.


I dont think i push my car THAT hard....

But I swear my old civic with cheap worn out tires could handle wet roads better ....

I guess the mass of the vehicle results in more momentum, which probably has a lot to do with it too ...

[1996 328ti]

I dont think i push my car THAT hard.It doesn't take much in the rain, especially early rain when the oil rises above the water. I am very respectful in the rain. I slid on wet gravel in 2000 and totalled my car on a left hand, down hill turn. I was not going THAT fast either. I will not make that mistake again!

[vinay]

YOUR HONDA IS A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE " NO COMPARISON THERE"

doh. good point :-)