Help!!! Hydroplaning!!!

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I have owned my 2000 expedition for 2 1/2 years. About 6 months ago my husband and I were in an accident due to the vehicle hydroplaning on the interstate. Just recently, I've been having to travel frequently on the interstate, and I can not go over 45 mph without hydroplaning on wet roads. Please help with any suggestions. Thanks.
 

JUST4FUN

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hydoplaning is sometines caused by tires that need replacing bald tires can't "pump"water out of the way when this happens the truck leaves the roadsurface, no traction loss of steering
Hydroplaning can be caused by under inflated tires too where the inside amd the outside of the tire only touch the road leaving the centerof the tire to "float" causeibg toss of traction
 

Silver Ex

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Originally posted by ToniRN
I have owned my 2000 expedition for 2 1/2 years. About 6 months ago my husband and I were in an accident due to the vehicle hydroplaning on the interstate. Just recently, I've been having to travel frequently on the interstate, and I can not go over 45 mph without hydroplaning on wet roads. Please help with any suggestions. Thanks.

No question, you definately need to replace your tires.

If you're doing a lot of interstate driving, look at the Firestone Destination LE. If you do get snow down your way, look into the Firestone Destination AT. They both have a 50,000 mile guarantee and have some of the best ratings for overall performance on the market. Look on tirerack.com for the reviews. I am going to be putting a set of ATs on my '98 soon. A friend of mine has a set on his 2001 F150 Supercrew and he swears he'll never buy another tire but the Destinations again.

Good luck!
 
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smo0othride

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Hydroplaning can also be caused by having more tread left on your front tires then your back. Make sure the rear tires are the ones with the most tread left on them.
 

JUST4FUN

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Originally posted by smo0othride
Hydroplaning can also be caused by having more tread left on your front tires then your back. Make sure the rear tires are the ones with the most tread left on them.

I disagree,your telling me that you would rather have rear wheel traction than steerabilty and braking on the front axle. Not in my book, the tires with the most tread ALWAYS go on the front.
That was the first thing I learnd in Goodyear school.
 

phjohnso

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my god - comon sense should prevail here - hyroplaning means time for new tires (good ones) don't be caught dead with thin tread!!!! If i go to get in someones vehicle I always look at the tires - if they don;t look good, I DON'T get in!!!
 

Silver Ex

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Re: Re: Help!!! Hydroplaning!!!

Originally posted by Silver Ex
No question, you definately need to replace your tires.

I recommended replacing your tires. In this case, "tires" to me means all four. If you have significant wear, that means they're aged as well. That should be another consideration. Usage is important, too. If you're doing a lot of interstate/highway driving, you really need good tires at all four points. The hydroplaning/traction issue is valid...for FOUR TIRES! You need tread up front for steering control and tread out back for traction. Its cliche, but the point "where the rubber meets the road" is one of the most important safety features, especially with our vehicles. These ocean liners on wheels need all the help they can get.

IMHO - replace 'em all! The peace of mind is worth it.

There...I'm kicking my soapbox back under the desk...
 

smo0othride

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Originally posted by JUST4FUN
I disagree,your telling me that you would rather have rear wheel traction than steerabilty and braking on the front axle. Not in my book, the tires with the most tread ALWAYS go on the front.
That was the first thing I learnd in Goodyear school.



"When tires are replaced in pairs in situations like these, the new tires should always be installed on the rear axle and the worn tires moved to the front. The reason is because new tires on the rear axle help the driver more easily maintain control on wet roads because new, deeper treaded tires are more capable of resisting hydroplaning.

Hydroplaning occurs when the tire cannot process enough water through its tread design to maintain effective contact with the road. In moderate to heavy rain, water can pool up in road ruts, depressions and pockets adjacent to pavement expansion joints. At higher speeds, the standing water often found in these pools challenge a tire's ability to resist hydroplaning.

Exactly when hydroplaning occurs is the result of a combination of elements including water depth, vehicle weight and speed, as well as tire size, air pressure, tread design and tread depth. A lightweight vehicle with wide, worn, underinflated tires will hydroplane at lower speeds in a heavy downpour than a heavyweight vehicle equipped with new, narrow, properly inflated tires in drizzling rain.

If the rear tires have more tread depth than the front tires, the front tires will begin to hydroplane and lose traction on wet roads before the rears. This will cause the vehicle to begin to understeer (the vehicle wants to continue driving straight ahead). Understeer is relatively easy to control because releasing the gas pedal will slow the vehicle and help the driver maintain control.

However, if the front tires have more tread depth than the rear tires, the rear tires will begin to hydroplane and lose traction on wet roads before the fronts. This will cause the vehicle to begin to oversteer in which the vehicle wants to spin. Oversteer is far more difficult to control, and in addition to the initial distress felt when the rear of the car starts sliding, quickly releasing the gas pedal in an attempt to slow down may actually make it more difficult for the driver to regain control, possibly causing a complete spinout."
Copied from here

If you don't think that is a reliable source do a Google search and there's a thousand more sites that say the same thing.
Personally, I keep the tires with the most tread on the front because you do get more traction on dry roads, and it hardly ever rains where I live. As far hydroplaning go's, keep the tread on the read.
 

JUST4FUN

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Ok that makes a little sence. I would think that the front
tire would cut the water for the rear tires (in a straight line like
on the freeway)
 
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