Why does my Type S Hydroplane easily?
11-24-2015, 05:46 AM
#1
Why does my Type S Hydroplane easily?
Never really asked this before, but I bought the car in April of this year. I run the same tires on my s2000, General G-Max AS 03
In my s2000, I have no issues with tire wear, dry grip, or wet grip. S2000 is slightly lowered, but I can still go through any level of standing water with one hand on the steering wheel and not be scared about the car possibly getting tossed to the side. I usually keep two hands on in the rain, but just for good comparisons that is how confident I am in the rain in this car.
In the RSX I've never run it on stock wheels/tires. I'm running the same size all around 245/40/17, exact same tire as the rears on the s2000. Running coilovers but it's not slammed (maybe a 1/2"-3/4" visible gap), had an alignment done and every day dry driving feels great. But man do I have to slow down, typically 40-45 or slower in a 55 if there's any bit of standing water or else the front end just slides left/right. When I say standing water, I mean when it looks like a smooth sheet of water, doesn't really matter how much water is there when I hit it.
These tires still have plenty of tread, bought new in April as well. I've already inspected the tires to make sure the tread is still deep and even, no uneven wear, but I hate driving this car in the rain. I keep both cars tire pressure in the 35-37psi range, anything to help to gas mileage on my daily 130 mile round trips to/from work.
I also had these same tires, although they were only 205/45/16's, on my 2000 civic and there was no gap in the wheel area and again no issues with hydroplaning. Just if the water was actually deep enough to hit the bumper instead, then obviously it would jerk the car.
Anyone have any ideas what might be an issues, besides the obvious of slowing down even more? I know wider tires cause you to lose traction more easily than a skinnier tire in the rain/snow, but I bought these for the looks and also knowing the exact size that I have on my other car handles perfectly in the rain.
In my s2000, I have no issues with tire wear, dry grip, or wet grip. S2000 is slightly lowered, but I can still go through any level of standing water with one hand on the steering wheel and not be scared about the car possibly getting tossed to the side. I usually keep two hands on in the rain, but just for good comparisons that is how confident I am in the rain in this car.
In the RSX I've never run it on stock wheels/tires. I'm running the same size all around 245/40/17, exact same tire as the rears on the s2000. Running coilovers but it's not slammed (maybe a 1/2"-3/4" visible gap), had an alignment done and every day dry driving feels great. But man do I have to slow down, typically 40-45 or slower in a 55 if there's any bit of standing water or else the front end just slides left/right. When I say standing water, I mean when it looks like a smooth sheet of water, doesn't really matter how much water is there when I hit it.
These tires still have plenty of tread, bought new in April as well. I've already inspected the tires to make sure the tread is still deep and even, no uneven wear, but I hate driving this car in the rain. I keep both cars tire pressure in the 35-37psi range, anything to help to gas mileage on my daily 130 mile round trips to/from work.
I also had these same tires, although they were only 205/45/16's, on my 2000 civic and there was no gap in the wheel area and again no issues with hydroplaning. Just if the water was actually deep enough to hit the bumper instead, then obviously it would jerk the car.
Anyone have any ideas what might be an issues, besides the obvious of slowing down even more? I know wider tires cause you to lose traction more easily than a skinnier tire in the rain/snow, but I bought these for the looks and also knowing the exact size that I have on my other car handles perfectly in the rain.
11-24-2015, 03:31 PM
#2
Honda-Tech Member
Re: Why does my Type S Hydroplane easily?
Never really asked this before, but I bought the car in April of this year. I run the same tires on my s2000, General G-Max AS 03
In my s2000, I have no issues with tire wear, dry grip, or wet grip. S2000 is slightly lowered, but I can still go through any level of standing water with one hand on the steering wheel and not be scared about the car possibly getting tossed to the side. I usually keep two hands on in the rain, but just for good comparisons that is how confident I am in the rain in this car.
In the RSX I've never run it on stock wheels/tires. I'm running the same size all around 245/40/17, exact same tire as the rears on the s2000. Running coilovers but it's not slammed (maybe a 1/2"-3/4" visible gap), had an alignment done and every day dry driving feels great. But man do I have to slow down, typically 40-45 or slower in a 55 if there's any bit of standing water or else the front end just slides left/right. When I say standing water, I mean when it looks like a smooth sheet of water, doesn't really matter how much water is there when I hit it.
These tires still have plenty of tread, bought new in April as well. I've already inspected the tires to make sure the tread is still deep and even, no uneven wear, but I hate driving this car in the rain. I keep both cars tire pressure in the 35-37psi range, anything to help to gas mileage on my daily 130 mile round trips to/from work.
I also had these same tires, although they were only 205/45/16's, on my 2000 civic and there was no gap in the wheel area and again no issues with hydroplaning. Just if the water was actually deep enough to hit the bumper instead, then obviously it would jerk the car.
Anyone have any ideas what might be an issues, besides the obvious of slowing down even more? I know wider tires cause you to lose traction more easily than a skinnier tire in the rain/snow, but I bought these for the looks and also knowing the exact size that I have on my other car handles perfectly in the rain.
In my s2000, I have no issues with tire wear, dry grip, or wet grip. S2000 is slightly lowered, but I can still go through any level of standing water with one hand on the steering wheel and not be scared about the car possibly getting tossed to the side. I usually keep two hands on in the rain, but just for good comparisons that is how confident I am in the rain in this car.
In the RSX I've never run it on stock wheels/tires. I'm running the same size all around 245/40/17, exact same tire as the rears on the s2000. Running coilovers but it's not slammed (maybe a 1/2"-3/4" visible gap), had an alignment done and every day dry driving feels great. But man do I have to slow down, typically 40-45 or slower in a 55 if there's any bit of standing water or else the front end just slides left/right. When I say standing water, I mean when it looks like a smooth sheet of water, doesn't really matter how much water is there when I hit it.
These tires still have plenty of tread, bought new in April as well. I've already inspected the tires to make sure the tread is still deep and even, no uneven wear, but I hate driving this car in the rain. I keep both cars tire pressure in the 35-37psi range, anything to help to gas mileage on my daily 130 mile round trips to/from work.
I also had these same tires, although they were only 205/45/16's, on my 2000 civic and there was no gap in the wheel area and again no issues with hydroplaning. Just if the water was actually deep enough to hit the bumper instead, then obviously it would jerk the car.
Anyone have any ideas what might be an issues, besides the obvious of slowing down even more? I know wider tires cause you to lose traction more easily than a skinnier tire in the rain/snow, but I bought these for the looks and also knowing the exact size that I have on my other car handles perfectly in the rain.
I run Azenis 615s on my RSX and only start to hydroplane @ 70+ mph.
11-27-2015, 06:02 AM
#4
Cool Cool Island Breezes. BOY-EE
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: TRILLINOIS....WAY downtown, jerky.
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Re: Why does my Type S Hydroplane easily?
Factory recommended pressures take into account, the weight of the car, and how much pressure the factory sized tires with similar construction will need in order to hold the car up with a nice, even footprint.
You have tires that are wider than stock, with a larger volume than stock, with about 5 or 6 more PSI as recommended over stock.
Wider tires are more prone to hydroplaning. An actual boat called a hydroplane works because it has so much surface area touching the water, that its likely to just skip across it.
Try putting your pressure down to factory specs. The savings in gas isn't much. And when you wear out your tires prematurely, then you will definitely lose the savings you saw in gas.
Have the alignment re-checked.
When it comes time to buy a new set of tires, buy something that does very well in water, but has low rolling resistance. Although, you may have to pay some $$ for those. And/or you may need to back them up with a set of snow tires if you live in a snowy climate.
Narrow tires save gas, work better in standing puddles, and work better in snow.
You have tires that are wider than stock, with a larger volume than stock, with about 5 or 6 more PSI as recommended over stock.
Wider tires are more prone to hydroplaning. An actual boat called a hydroplane works because it has so much surface area touching the water, that its likely to just skip across it.
Try putting your pressure down to factory specs. The savings in gas isn't much. And when you wear out your tires prematurely, then you will definitely lose the savings you saw in gas.
Have the alignment re-checked.
When it comes time to buy a new set of tires, buy something that does very well in water, but has low rolling resistance. Although, you may have to pay some $$ for those. And/or you may need to back them up with a set of snow tires if you live in a snowy climate.
Narrow tires save gas, work better in standing puddles, and work better in snow.
11-28-2015, 09:59 AM
#6
Honda-Tech Member
Re: Why does my Type S Hydroplane easily?
Factory spec is around 33 I believe. Every PSI maters because the tire pressure changes with temperature and as B Serious pointed out,that spec was engineered specifically for your tire and vehicle.
If this doesn't help,then as he also pointed out,your tire may simply be too wide to drive fast on in the rain. (my tire is only 225/45/17)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post