Slid off the road into a ditch... crap

2001 ACR · Post by **2001 ACR** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:09 pm

So I'm driving to work and slow down from 80 to 35mph to get onto the off-ramp. The off-ramp is a hair-pin turn, and it's 34 degrees (F, not C) with a little bit of water on the road. My rear end swings out to the left, I manage to get it back on center, but then ALL of my tires lose traction and I slide off the road into a ditch on the right. What makes me really po'd is that same turn that I slid off going 35mph I can take at 60mph when it's warm outside...

Before flaming me for being an "agressive" driver, I was going slower than other cars which took the same turn and I slowed down to 35mph before taking the turn.

My question is, would things have turned out differently if I had better tires? Mine don't stick AT ALL when it's wet, I can barely get through first gear w/o spinning my tires. Any recomendations on better tires?

Fortunately, there was only minor exterior damage (some scratches from hitting a rock wall), and nothing was out of line afterwards. If I had been going faster, I would have slid off onto the left side of the road, which is 3 feet down and has tons of nasty rocks in it...

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:21 pm

Since your question is geared towards tires, I've moved you there.

The first question should be what tires do you have now?

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:25 pm

Better tires would help. Ones with a severe weather rating, even more. They should be a softer compound with lots of sipes. the sipes help grip on the wet/snow, and the softer compound helps make the cold rubber stick a little better. While the ones I have don't grip the best when it's dry, they do pretty well compared to my summer tires on wet, slippery surfaces.

If you don't have cash for better tires, charge them, and make payments. It's cheaper than a new car, or getting injured.
That's my thinking.

latief · Post by **latief** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:41 pm

occasional demons wrote:Better tires would help. Ones with a severe weather rating, even more. They should be a softer compound with lots of sipes. the sipes help grip on the wet/snow, and the softer compound helps make the cold rubber stick a little better. While the ones I have don't grip the best when it's dry, they do pretty well compared to my summer tires on wet, slippery surfaces.

If you don't have cash for better tires, charge them, and make payments. It's cheaper than a new car, or getting injured.
That's my thinking.

^^^^^ What he said....

also, mismatched tires, especially in the rear, are not usually a good idea, and i am talking from personal experience here

2001 ACR · Post by **2001 ACR** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:43 pm

Danteneon wrote:Since your question is geared towards tires, I've moved you there.

The first question should be what tires do you have now?

I have 4 Fulda Assuro's. 195/60/15's.

I know nothing about tire ratings except how to tell tire width. what does "88 H" next to the tire size mean? How do I know what the ratings on a tire are and how do I read them?

Mat00ES · Post by **Mat00ES** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:51 pm

I had something similar happen to me on an on ramp. My probelm wasn't only my tires, but I scared mysle f and hit the brakes to hard, which cause the rear tires to break loose.

2001 ACR · Post by **2001 ACR** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:56 pm

Mat00ES wrote:I had something similar happen to me on an on ramp. My probelm wasn't only my tires, but I scared mysle f and hit the brakes to hard, which cause the rear tires to break loose.

I didn't touch my brakes, thankfully, otherwise I would have had a nasty spin...

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 4:08 pm

2001 ACR wrote:I have 4 Fulda Assuro's. 195/60/15's.

I know nothing about tire ratings except how to tell tire width. what does "88 H" next to the tire size mean? How do I know what the ratings on a tire are and how do I read them?

I know nothing about that brand of tire, but I would say it's safe to assume that an upgrade may be in order.

The load index info is broken down on the Tire Rack site nicely...

How to Read Speed Rating, Load Index & Service Descriptions

Using a P195/60R15 87S tire size as our example, the 87S at the end of the size represents the tire's service description. A service description identifies the tire's load index and speed rating. Service Descriptions are required on all speed rated (except for Z-speed rated) tires manufactured since 1991.

The first two digits (87S) represent the tire's load index and are followed by a single letter (87S) identifying the tire's speed rating.

Load Index

P195/60R15 87S - The load index (87) is the tire size's assigned numerical value used to compare relative load carrying capabilities. In the case of our example the 87 identifies the tires ability to carry approximately 1,201 pounds.

The higher the tire's load index number, the greater its load carrying capacity.

89 = 1,279 pounds
88 = 1,235 pounds
87 = 1,201 pounds
86 = 1,168 pounds
85 = 1,135 pounds

A tire with a higher load index than that of the Original Equipment tire indicates an increase in load capacity. A tire with a load index equal to that of the Original Equipment tire indicates an equivalent load capacity. A tire with a lower load index than the Original Equipment tire indicates the tire does not equal the load capacity of the original.

Typically, the load indexes of the tires used on passenger cars and light trucks range from 70 to 110.

And as far as the speed rating info goes...

Beginning in 1991, the speed symbol denoting a fixed maximum speed capability of new tires must be shown only in the speed rating portion of the tire's service description, such as 225/50R16 89S. The most common tire speed rating symbols, maximum speeds and typical applications are shown below:

M 81 mph 130 km/h
N 87 mph 140km/h Temporary Spare Tires
P 93 mph 150 km/h
Q 99 mph 160 km/h Studless & Studdable Winter Tires
R 106 mph 170 km/h H.D. Light Truck Tires
S 112 mph 180 km/h Family Sedans & Vans
T 118 mph 190 km/h Family Sedans & Vans
U 124 mph 200 km/h
H 130 mph 210 km/h Sport Sedans & Coupes
V 149 mph 240 km/h Sport Sedans, Coupes & Sports Cars

When Z-speed rated tires were first introduced, they were thought to reflect the highest tire speed rating that would ever be required, in excess of 240 km/h or 149 mph. While Z-speed rated tires are capable of speeds in excess of 149 mph, how far above 149 mph was not identified. That ultimately caused the automotive industry to add W- and Y-speed ratings to identify the tires that meet the needs of new vehicles that have extremely high top-speed capabilities.

W 168 mph 270 km/h Exotic Sports Cars
Y 186 mph 300 km/h Exotic Sports Cars

While a Z-speed rating still often appears in the tire size designation of these tires, such as 225/50ZR16 91W, the Z in the size signifies a maximum speed capability in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h; the W in the service description indicates the tire's 168 mph, 270 km/h maximum speed.

225/50ZR16 in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h
205/45ZR17 88W 168 mph, 270 km/h
285/35ZR19 99Y 186 mph, 300 km/h

Most recently, when the Y-speed rating indicated in a service description is enclosed in parentheses, such as 285/35ZR19 (99Y), the top speed of the tire has been tested in excess of 186 mph, 300 km/h indicated by the service description as shown below:

285/35ZR19 99Y 186 mph, 300 km/h
285/35ZR19 (99Y) in excess of 186 mph, 300 km/h

As vehicles have increased their top speeds into Autobahn-only ranges, the tire speed ratings have evolved to better identify the tires capability, allowing drivers to match the speed of their tires with the top speed of their vehicle.

bone-yard-racing · Post by **bone-yard-racing** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 5:00 pm

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1. ... artIndex=0

Hooiser wets would be cool

Seriously I love my Toyo Peroxies FZ4 they arent too bad in snow either

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:28 pm

Shiiiit I thought H rated tires were good to 148MPH. Time to get different ones.

Also, if you can't help but spin your tires, learn to drive.

gilly02le · Post by **gilly02le** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:37 am

can't go that fast so what are you worried about.

2001 ACR · Post by **2001 ACR** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:54 pm

Swordfish2Cowboy wrote:Shiiiit I thought H rated tires were good to 148MPH. Time to get different ones.

Also, if you can't help but spin your tires, learn to drive.

I can't help but spin my tires when its COLD and WET! It's not just me, my wife, who is NOT an aggressive driver has the same problem. I just read some reviews online of the tires and they have a terrible winter traction rating from dozens of reviewers...

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:25 pm

Damn that sucks. I did something similar when I was a teenager, but my rear tires were bald. Now I'm OCD about my tires, I have to check them before I drive every day.

mopar4life · Post by **mopar4life** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:12 pm

Get you some Buckshots. My 4wd never spins....wait you have a Neon.....hmmm, do they make a 205 Buckshot?

Panhead · Post by **Panhead** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:34 pm