Tires Plane in Rain

2717 Views 11 Replies 10 Participants Last post by m2pc, Jul 19, 2004

athompso

Discussion Starter · Oct 15, 2001

I have a 2001 MDX with Touring Package that is equipped with Michelin Cross Terrain tires and have encountered a good bit of tire planing in rainy conditions. I do not recall having any such problems when I had my RX300 and wondered if the problem was the Michelin tires. Is anyone else having this problem? Would a different tire, with perhaps wider tread or different tread, solve this problem? Or is this something I just have to live with?

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TheWorm

· #2 · Oct 15, 2001

No problem with hydroplaning in our Touring/MichelenCT's. What's your tire pressure? Should be 32.

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athompso

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 16, 2001

My tire pressure is 35---would the difference between 32 and 35 really cause planing? I have been surprised at the amount I have experienced.

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TheWorm

· #4 · Oct 16, 2001

I'm not certain (for 3psi)...One of our resident physicists will have to check in...I would guess that the lower psi will increase the contact patch on the tire (reducing potential for hydroplaning), but at the same time it reduces the "weight" psi of the car to the ground (increasing potential for hydroplaning)...Give it a try and see...I bet your ride in general is smoother and less "jiggly"... be sure and let us know!

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MoDX

· #5 · Oct 17, 2001

Dont reduce tire pressure to reduce hydroplaning, it will INCREASE the chance of hydroplaning. Here's a bit of an explanation, w/o any math.

Hydroplaning occurs when a wedge of water develops between the tire and road surface. Increasing the pressure rounds the profile of the tire by decreasing the deflection of the tire. This results in a smaller contact patch - narrower and shorter. It also helps keep the grooves in the tread open so they can channel the water out from under the tire. Reduced deflection, a smaller contact patch and open grooves reduce hydroplaning.

Hope this helps.

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A2MDXer

· #6 · Oct 17, 2001

We had stiff winds and 2 inches of rain yesterday in Michigan and I had the MDX out on a 100 mile roundtrip. I never experienced any hydro-planing, only the jerks of wind shifts. I felt more comfortable with the MDX in these conditions than with my previous cars.

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mystMDX

· #7 · Oct 17, 2001

A2MDXer said:
We had stiff winds and 2 inches of rain yesterday in Michigan and I had the MDX out on a 100 mile roundtrip. I never experienced any hydro-planing, only the jerks of wind shifts. I felt more comfortable with the MDX in these conditions than with my previous cars.

I drove under the same conditions yesterday in MI also about 100 miles round trip with the same heavy rains and winds with no hydro-planing.
I too felt very comfortable and secure driving with the Cross-Terrain Michelins.

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MDXLuvr

· #8 · Oct 17, 2001

no problems here

Drove to Houston during a bad storm in the 'X. Heck, some of the high school football games were canceled. No problems with hyroplaning. we were doing 65-70 mph most of the time.

Luv my 'X(MDX that is)

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DKZ

· #9 · Jul 1, 2004

We are having the same problem. See our post titled "Tires are Hydroplaning ".

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catzx6

· #10 · Jul 4, 2004

TheWorm said:
...One of our resident physicists will have to check in...

Not a physicist, but the math for hydroplaning is:

9 times the square root of the tire pressure. Lowering tire pressure will make you hydroplane at a lower speed.

For 32 psi, it's 51 mph, and for 35 psi, it's 53 mph. That is for a completely saturated contact patch. Grooved highways, and tires with plenty of tread will allow a higher speed before the tire hydroplanes, since water is channeled away. Deep puddles will causes the contact patch to saturate, and you WILL hydroplane. Not might, will.

Hope this helps.