With the crummy wet season here, was wondering what speed on wet pavement can you start to hydroplane? I know this is a bit of a open question but, noticed during one of my last rides in the car around 38 or so I hit a patch of water and the car seemed to shuffle around for a sec? I thought hydroplanning takes place at much higher speeds. Was this shuffle I experienced just the car hitting a different surface (water) or was it hydroplaning?

Al

With the crummy wet season here, was wondering what speed on wet pavement can you start to hydroplane? I know this is a bit of a open question but, noticed during one of my last rides in the car around 38 or so I hit a patch of water and the car seemed to shuffle around for a sec? I thought hydroplanning takes place at much higher speeds. Was this shuffle I experienced just the car hitting a different surface (water) or was it hydroplaning?

Al

depending on tire tread it can be at any speed. with race slicks on and a small puddle of water I can have the backend fly out very easily.

Just watch the deep puddles and you should be ok.

I have hit puddles of water where the car will shift to the left or right depending on physics mood.

For the physics part of it I would assume that there are several variable that come into play on this. Tire size (width), rate of speed, depth of water, and so on. Either way if you are going 40-50 and hit a sheet of water you are going to hydroplane.:willy_nilly:

good input guys, just one of the trivia questions I had!

Couple years ago on the freeway I hydroplaned a little, there wasn't really even that much water on the road, my car shifted off to the right and then the wheels caught ahold of dry pavement and caught grip luckly. Woke me up!

Couple years ago on the freeway I hydroplaned a little, there wasn't really even that much water on the road, my car shifted off to the right and then the wheels caught ahold of dry pavement and caught grip luckly. Woke me up!

Yeh, I bet that woke you up :cheers: