Driving M3/M4 in the rain - anything to worry about?

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by Bch53211

Maybe you should re-read the first sentence (the former), while not just concentrating on the second (the latter).

The point in the OP is pretty clear to me and most others responding.

[Poiseuille]

Thanks to the OP for starting this thread, reminds me that I ought to check to see if the wipers actually work.

[TanzaniteBlue]

No issues even in snow on the OEM winter set.

[BLKSAPPE92]

Originally Posted by Jbellah

Only way the car is going to be all over the place is if you drive like an idiot in the rain or if you have summer tires on your car. I had a vette which had summer tires never drove it in the rain but in low temperatures and it did slide some. so if you have it all oem you should be good.

I just wanna point out that corvette sucks in the rain because vehicle weight, hp and wide tires summer tires have nothing to do with it.

Now so anyone that reads this summer tires are the best tire for dry and wet weather above 32deg F. Just as snow tires are best tires for all weather below 32deg F and excel with snow/slush/ice and wet pavement in low temperatures. All weather tires because tire manufacturers are trying to get them to work across all weather conditions the rubber compound can't be tailored to to excel in any one season why they are a jack of all trades. That says it all jack of all trades master of non lol. The only thing they have going for them is excellent mileage 45k plus . Compared to there summer counterparts they have poor wet and dry traction and compared to there winter counterparts they have poor snow/slush/ice traction.

Now a streetable track tire is very different from a summer or max performance tire and that's why they suck in wet weather.

Depending on the year corvette it could had
**Mich pilot A/S not an ideal tire for that car for wet or dry weather but it had a 45k warranty and it was a Y rated tire.
**Mich pilot sport cup or cup 2 great tire but it's a streetable track tire and is made for dry street conditions and track but it can get you to and from track on wet roads if it started raining ok.
**Mich PSS or new PS4 best tire for that car and best handling for daily driving use and wet weather it's a max performance summer tire.

If mileage matters to you or you in area were it doesn't snow but could dip below 32f you have some days it could be 14-25degrees for a month straight but no snow a all weather tire will do. If your on a budget and need mileage all weather is fine.

If traction and safety matter to you and mileage isn't a issue then a dedicated summer tire is the way to go and if you have cold weather a dedicated snow tire for winter is way to go. Ditch your all season tires.

I on the other hand only have a few days a year it dips below 32deg and if it's still above 20deg I just drive cautiously as summer tires suck even in cold dry weather. That 1 snow day I stay home I don't live in Michigan anymore and no reason to be on snowy roads.

Sorry about the long rant but I saw the same summer tire logic in article on jalopnik and one other car magazine and it's completely false.

[georgere]

Don't do this. Very bad idea. If you do drive in rain, you will not be able to say "never seen snow or rain" when you list the car for sale.

But seriously this is extremely fun car and especially in snow or rain. It is fun but safe, all the nannies BMW has put in there will not make a fool out of the driver, provided the driver is not fool enough to turn off the safety while not knowing what to do...

[Matteo88]

Originally Posted by Railgun

Uh yeah.

In heavy rain, there have been multiple occasions where there was significantly reduced initial bite. It goes away quickly but it's disconcerting when you don't expect it.

Also, MPSS sucks more than any other tire I've driven in anything more than normal rain.

whoa... my experience with MPSS (~5 years) and MPS4S (1 year) is the complete opposite. had these on my genesis coupe 245/35 front and 275/35 rear (section width is important because as it goes up you'd expect more hydroplaning, and gen coupe only weighs a bit less than F80/F82). i find the thick circumferential pipes do a good job of displacing the water. obviously speed is a factor. as for normal wet grip i've found both to be excellent particularly stopping.

[nicknaz]

In my F80 I drove fast on the a-bahn in the rain and did a DE st Spa in the rain and it was fine (stock PSS)

Just use common sense, keep nannies on, build up the speed in small increments

In my 6TT on PSS I drove it in slushy weather by accident and it was ok, and I daily drive the car on cup2

I think others who have issues with PSS or cup2 are either driving too fast with standing water around or using too low of a tread

[Slips]

I find the M3 on MPSS pretty rubbish in wet conditions. Probably the worst tyre I’ve driven on in wet cold conditions. Car is perfectly driveable but you can’t use even half the power without spinning up. It’s more the tyres than than the car.

[allinon72]

Originally Posted by Slips

I find the M3 on MPSS pretty rubbish in wet conditions. Probably the worst tyre I’ve driven on in wet cold conditions. Car is perfectly driveable but you can’t use even half the power without spinning up. It’s more the tyres than than the car.

I'm not sure what you expect out of a summer performance tire.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by CattleCorn

So I am looking at getting an F80, but was wondering what they are like driving in the rain. Does it slide around a lot or hydroplane more than other cars? Just nervous and want to hear your experiences. Thanks in advance.

I've had mine about two weeks now, and in the rain it wags the tail a little in places where the xdrive cars didn't, but nothing to worry about. It's a fun wag, and as others mentioned, actually very controlled. Only happens from a dig. Haven't had any hydroplaning issues in heavy rain.

I wouldn't worry about it all, as the chassis (with the proper rubber) is fantastically balanced. You'll be fine.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by allinon72

I'm not sure what you expect out of a summer performance tire.

Throw some wider rears on. 295 or 305. Conti extremes or MPS4S.

Plus, as was mentioned, this is to be expected in the cold wet to some extent. If you push the car in those conditions, even with good rubber, prepare to be sideways.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Throw some wider rears on. 295 or 305. Conti extremes or MPS4S.

Plus, as was mentioned, this is to be expected in the cold wet to some extent. If you push the car in those conditions, even with good rubber, prepare to be sideways.

Right.

It's a 420whp rwd car with a ton of low end torque. Of course it will get sideways in the rain if you aren't careful with the throttle.

[khanyam4]

common sense will always prevail.

[Nosewheelie]

Had the car for 2 weeks now, drive mostly in sports+ throttle and car is stage 2 Dinan. First week had a lot of traction control lights but just got home from 60 mile drive in the rain and zero issues at 80+ on the highway and on side roads.

Just need to learn to be smooth on the throttle.

My rear tires (275) have about 10K miles on them and I do notice in really deep standing water the car gets squirmy, if I back it down to posted limit - no issues.

I find fresh PSS tires are great in the rain from my '01, best all around tire I have driven on.

[trackm4]

Originally Posted by CattleCorn

So I am looking at getting an F80, but was wondering what they are like driving in the rain. Does it slide around a lot or hydroplane more than other cars? Just nervous and want to hear your experiences. Thanks in advance.

.. you'll immediately spin and crash!

[Darth One]

Turn on the wipers...?


Oh and don't be one of those people who flick their hazards on. Hate those people.

[Matteo88]

just swapped my PS4S back on the genny on sat and loving them to bits again. F80 gets here tomorrow but i'll only get to drive that to my parents place for storage until i can sell the gen because only have 2 parking spaces at condo one for me and one for wife.

[Ian1973]

Originally Posted by G35POPPEDMYCHERRY

im kind of shook to go 80 but an comfortable at 70

You are kidding right?

No offense to the OP, but I have never in my life ever thought I wonder what my car is going to be like in the rain. Besides, it's a function of tires more than any chassis geometry.

In my experience the Michelins are single handily the best wet traction tire I have ever used. I have gone to speeds I won't say here on them and wasn't concerned a bit or had any type of issue.

[Ian1973]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

Uh no

Uh yeah they absolutely do take a few seconds to shed the water off the surface and grab. A few seconds is a ton of time when you are doing 90mph on the highway and all of a sudden people ahead of you slam their brakes on.

[Ian1973]

Originally Posted by stormlv

Yeah, that's also what I heard from multiple people.

Concerning the steel brakes, like *any* cold brakes, you'll have reduced friction in the first hundreds of ms, after brake application.

You need to be aware of this, that's all...

That's even more important in the winter, in very low temperatures, where the different wheels will start "biting" at different moments and will attempt to induce a turn of the vehicle.

Definitely not like other vehicles. I have had a ton of cars in my life, even another M3 and the lack of grab is completely unique to the F8x.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by Ian1973

Uh yeah they absolutely do take a few seconds to shed the water off the surface and grab. A few seconds is a ton of time when you are doing 90mph on the highway and all of a sudden people ahead of you slam their brakes on.

At the risk of providing a common sense answer... perhaps it is not wise to travel at 90mph in the rain and in traffic?

[Ian1973]

Then I'd be flat out run down as everyone else is. I'll admit to driving a touch faster than the average, but overtaking is ever so slight. Sounds like NY people are a touch more aggressive than Florida people. lol