Good Tires for rain

[stunna55]

I have noticed alot lately with all the rain that whenever I'm on the highway or goin above 50 and hit even a little water puddle that my car skids or losses a little control. The esp light never comes on, but I hate that feeling casue I was once in a accident in the rain where I lost control. I gotta get new tires soon and was wondering if anyone new a good 22" tire that can handle in the rain. I have nitto's now.

[II kings 9:20]

Don't know if they are avail in 22 but the Michelin Rain Force is just for this purpose.

[Meister]

Originally Posted by stunna55

I have noticed alot lately with all the rain that whenever I'm on the highway or goin above 50 and hit even a little water puddle that my car skids or losses a little control. The esp light never comes on, but I hate that feeling casue I was once in a accident in the rain where I lost control...

What II kings said.

However, comma, in the meantime you can fudge and make your present tires less prone to hydroplaning by simply upping the tire pressure. I'd probably inflate to 36 or even 38 psi. The higher you go, within posted max inflation limits, the more resistant to hydroplaning your tire is. And since you'll be ridding yourself of your present tires soon, wear problems from over inflation should not be a concern. Be aware though that at 38 psi your already harsh ride when impacting bumps will be like you're riding on concrete, not rubber.

The formula, BTW, used to determine the speed at which your vehicle hydroplanes is simply 9 x the square root of your tire pressure. Ergo at 36 psi your car will hydroplane at the value of 9 x 6, or 54 mph. At 49 psi (may not be a "legal" inflation value for your tire) your car will hydroplane at 9 x 7, or 63 mph. With your tires underinflated, bad news for many reasons, to 25 psi your car will hydroplane at a paltry 45 mph, so you'll be hydroplaning even in town.

Note that *regardless of speed* your car won't hydroplane until the depth of standing water exceeds the depth of your tire groves. So on a road that's merely wet, but with no standing water, you'll not hydroplane even at warp speed, but will of course have reduced traction and increased stopping distances.

The practical aspect of all this is that if you have to make a road trip where wet conditions are likely, it behooves you to temporarly inflate your tires to the high side of normal. Given a roadway with standing water patches deeper than your tire tread, you could safely cruise 18 mph faster with your tires inflated to 49 psi than with them at 25 psi. And inflating them to a more realistic 36 psi would have you cruising 9 mph faster, while safely remaining below hydroplaning speed.

Hope this helps.

[stunna55]

Thanks alot (escpecially II kings) I really didnt know all that. I pretty much hydrplane everytime it rains so I guess I need to switch these tires out soon. I really didnt even think about the psi. Thanks alot and ill look into thoose Michelines

[marlinspike]

Ok, um 22 inches is not going to be good in the rain...or for good handling or for good braking or really for anything, but especially bad in the rain and snow.

[chasb]

Originally Posted by Meister

What II kings said.

However, comma, in the meantime you can fudge and make your present tires less prone to hydroplaning by simply upping the tire pressure. I'd probably inflate to 36 or even 38 psi. The higher you go, within posted max inflation limits, the more resistant to hydroplaning your tire is. And since you'll be ridding yourself of your present tires soon, wear problems from over inflation should not be a concern. Be aware though that at 38 psi your already harsh ride when impacting bumps will be like you're riding on concrete, not rubber.

The formula, BTW, used to determine the speed at which your vehicle hydroplanes is simply 9 x the square root of your tire pressure. Ergo at 36 psi your car will hydroplane at the value of 9 x 6, or 54 mph. At 49 psi (may not be a "legal" inflation value for your tire) your car will hydroplane at 9 x 7, or 63 mph. With your tires underinflated, bad news for many reasons, to 25 psi your car will hydroplane at a paltry 45 mph, so you'll be hydroplaning even in town.

Note that *regardless of speed* your car won't hydroplane until the depth of standing water exceeds the depth of your tire groves. So on a road that's merely wet, but with no standing water, you'll not hydroplane even at warp speed, but will of course have reduced traction and increased stopping distances.

The practical aspect of all this is that if you have to make a road trip where wet conditions are likely, it behooves you to temporarly inflate your tires to the high side of normal. Given a roadway with standing water patches deeper than your tire tread, you could safely cruise 18 mph faster with your tires inflated to 49 psi than with them at 25 psi. And inflating them to a more realistic 36 psi would have you cruising 9 mph faster, while safely remaining below hydroplaning speed.

Hope this helps.

You are a showoff, but -as usual the technoid is correct.