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Tires Breaking loose in the Rain???

Billy3sticks

Billy3sticks

Full Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
Messages
4,344
Location
Jacksonville, FL
Just the other day I was driving down the street from my house on my way to pick up my daughter from School. "Late as usual" :E: Well, the roads were very wet due to a continious rain, but nothing out of the ordinary.

In front of me was this guy in a F@rd Exploder, obviousley lost, going slower than I wanted him to. (About 35 mph) :8: Of course my patience loosing ground by the second, I finally lost it and attempted to pass. I mashed down on the pedal and the tires broke free and started to kick right before the limited slip went into play and then both tires started singing...I mean big time.

I've re-enacted this senerio several times since then and each time the tires break free when it kicks down a gear. The fastest I've been able to do this is around 39-40mph, but most of the time it does it at about 25-30mph.

Has this happened to anyone else?..I was just curious to see how many people might have found out like I did.

Thanks and be Safe,

GoBot (Bill)
 
Torque Management is not there at that speed. You're getting full Power to the wheels as you're already rolling. You don't need to "Mash" the gas, apply it smoothly and roll the power on, I'd bet you don't break lose anymore.

JW
 
1) you don't have a limited slip, you have an Eaton G80 automatic locker.
2) the locker will not operate above 20 mph.
And I'm not surprised at the stock tires braking away when you 'mash down on the pedal' on a wet road.... I have the Goodyear's still on, and while they're the best Goodyears I've ever had, that still only puts them barely into acceptable in wet road performance (none of the other made it to acceptable).
You might want to get your tires siped, that could improve your wet road adhesion dramatically.
Alternately, you might want to use 4 Auto in the conditions you describe....
 
JW,

Your correct, there is no Torque management....I didn't realize I had that much torque coming out the back like that from a downshift :love:

I must say though...I really enjoyed it (y)...It brought me back to my earlier days when I had cars that really had some horses under the hood. Cars that when you Dropped it doen a gear either manually or automatically....It would get a little loose on you.

It was a good feeling and just wanted to share.

GoBot
 
Same thing happens to me when merging onto the tollway in the rain......rolling at 20 - 40 mph and mash it to get into travel lanes and the tires break free. I have the limited slip with a 3.73 gear. I blame the Firestone Wilderness tires. I guess it doesn't hurt that in one second your revs jump to 4 - 5 grand, kind of a horsepower/torque sweet spot.
 
Sorry Gobot, I thought you were complaining about it :rolleyes:, and I was trying to suggest fixes :-[

Mash on, my brother! ;D

I'll just go and hug another tree.....
 
As everyone noted if you're rolling and you mash it - yippie! I also found the stock Goodyears to be solid performers in the rain. If this is a problem you can get your tires siped. I'm a believer in this now it's money well spent with good ROI. Siping will cost you $25 to $65 depending on where you go and where you live. You'll have better traction in the wet and you'll get more life out of the stock rubber.
 
I've had the back end "walk" a few times when turning a corner from a standing stop. Didn't even have to "mash it" - just a normal take off. It can get "interesting" at times.
(5.3, 3.73, G80 locker, 4x4, stock Firestones)


MrJim
:B:
 
I personally love the way the nearly 50/50 weight Avalanche handles in these situations when compared to the only two other vehicles I've owned.

With my '79 volvo RWD sedan w/4-speed, I accidentally spun a circle in a wet parking lot once...very scary.

With my '95 S-10 ext cab w/ 4.3L, 5-speed, 2WD it was nearly IMPOSSIBLE to take off from a stop on wet pavement without having the rear wheels spin :rolleyes: just way too light. That was with the stock Uniroyals and the wider Dunlops that I put on.

So, the Av is just fantasic in this regard based on my experience.
 
Rich,

I totally agree....The best Vehicle I've ever owned by far...It's not the fastest, but it wasn't meant to be either.

The first time this happened, I said WOW (y)...This is incredible :D
It felt really good to have the power behind me like I did. I've never really had a problem with the Goodyears that are on them. They still give me a quiet and comfortable ride.

I took a good friend of mine for a ride and showed him and even he said Holy $#!t...He has a 2500 HD with the 6.0 and he isn't able to do that in his truck.

Needless to say: Mash on Brothers, just be safe :rolleyes:

GoBot
 
With my '95 S-10 ext cab w/ 4.3L, 5-speed, 2WD it was nearly IMPOSSIBLE to take off from a stop on wet pavement without having the rear wheels spin just way too light. That was with the stock Uniroyals and the wider Dunlops that I put on.
Click to expand...

Great googly moogly! I owned a 95 S-10 4.3 liter 5-speed X-cab p/u too! I really loved my truck and I was sad when I traded it in, but without posi and 2WD it was not the right vehicle for my move to South Dakota.

I agree that I was no fan of its wet weather performance. Side bar story. Driving to work one morning my nose got clipped by a guy in a Nissan 300 ZX who passed me on the right and came across to soon. My front clip (the plastic over parts) exploded off of the truck. I was very glad I had three years with the SCCA - done the wrong thing and I could have spun at highway speed or worse spun the Nissan around and caused a massive wreck on Beltway 8 in Houston.

Anyway my S-10 went in to get repaired. Turned out they ordered the wrong front clip and when I came to pick it up I had the SS paint to match clip. I was thrilled (much to the relief of the body shop).

Also, I refused, yes, refused delivery on the stock skinny Uniroyal tires. I had them put on some meaty Firestones. At the end of the day when I traded it in I had an S-10 SS by options right up to the front clip in appearance and the tire size I selected. The only thing it didn't have was the SS rear end. Gads I loved that 4.3 liter V-6!
 
With the stock goodyears I could get it a little loose in rain on turns. Wasn't hard but I had to try and do it, it never happened on its own.

Now with the Michelin Cross Terrain's it takes a lot of work to break it loose. Have never been able to break in loose in rain either trying or accidental.

I've only had it slip a little bit once when I was parked at a light going uphill and it was snowing and there was 3" of unplowed snow on the ground. It spun a little until I turned traction control off. Once off the tires dug through the snow to the pavement and I was on my way without any problems.

I've driven through 8" of untreated snow in my Z66 and have not had any problems with these tires.

David
 
Chief,


That was one of Chevy's finest achievment...the 4.3...What a motor (y)

I'm sure anyone who owned a car or truck with that power plant was always more than satisfied.

GoBot
 
RichUF said:
With my '95 S-10 ext cab w/ 4.3L, 5-speed, 2WD it was nearly IMPOSSIBLE to take off from a stop on wet pavement without having the rear wheels spin :rolleyes: just way too light. That was with the stock Uniroyals and the wider Dunlops that I put on.
Click to expand...

I had a 2000 Sonoma (S-10), 4.3L 2WD Automatic and I agree totally. That truck is not safe to drive in FL with all the rain. I'd have to go about 20mph on the freeway offramps to keep from spinning out. I can't even remember how many times I went down the freeway on ramps sideways and totally out of control.

I also had problems with the anti-lock brakes kicking on at low speeds. It'd be bone dry out and I'd be going 20mph trying to stop at a stop sign and the anti-lock brake light would come on and the truck would go right through the sign.

Happened several times and made several trips to the dealership. Never got repaired totally. Traded it in for the AV though so it's not my problem now. :)

David
 
I really liked my S-10, save the exciting wet-road behavior. It was a nice little truck. It got totalled by a drunk driver (no not me, I got hit) :8: Would still be driving it otherwise as I wasn't quite ready for Av purchase.

Things happen for a reason :)
 
It might be fun... Ok, it's fun as hell! >:D
But, it is not safe, you could slide into another car or worse yet If you need to get out of the way of something you can't... So, in the rain at speeds under 50mph I always keep my baby in Auto 4wd mode. It works great and I can move in a hurry if needed.
 
Aries said:
It might be fun... Ok, it's fun as hell! >:D
But, it is not safe, you could slide into another car or worse yet If you need to get out of the way of something you can't... So, in the rain at speeds under 50mph I always keep my baby in Auto 4wd mode. It works great and I can move in a hurry if needed.
Click to expand...


Aries,


I coudn't agree with you more (y). When I do get a "little" crazy, I make sure that no one else is around that could be affected....BTW, let me ask you this: When your in Auto 4 wheel drive, do you notice that the tires seem to struggle when making sharp turns?

I've had to keep mine in 2 wheel drive to avoid this :E:

GoBot
 
Not happening on my Z66 with traction control.....when they start to spin....it cuts power.....which is a good thing sometimes...hehehe
 
When in Auto 4wd only the front hubs are locked, the tranfer case is not locked into gear until it detects slipage in the rear. So when you go around corner it should not be any different then in 2wd, at least mine isn't. If you are 4wd high, then yes you would have a hard time turning because the front wheels want to go at the same speed as the rear wheels since we don't have a mid differentral like a Subaru or an AWD car of truck. This is my understanding of how it works, correct if I am wrong.?.?.?
 
Aries,


It seems fine on the striaght away, it's only when I attempt a sharp turn do I get the struggle. I may want to have it checked. Infact my dealer even told me to keep it in 4 Auto, but mine might be acting up.

Otherwise, it doesn't hurt to keep it in 2 wheel. Hopefully it's nothing bad.

GoBot
 
Sounds to me like the transfer case is not disengaging after it locks... I would take it to be looked at too. If you want to feel hard to steeer, put it in 4wd low and its realy gets tough. This is not good for you drive train though, I only found out messing around since this is my first 4x4!!! I have gone to the beach to have fun and DAMN that is fun!!! Nothing better then a 4wd drift in the dirt... >:D

:love: :B: ;D
I LOVE MY AVALANCHE!!!
 
Yeah, that's what it sounds like to me :E:....I'e never owned an auto 4 wheel drive vehicle, but I've owned 4 other 4 wheel drive trucks.

The most fun you can have is in the MUD :cool:

GoBot
 
Mud is fun... BUT! Way too much clean up for me. I like 4wheeling in the woods and camping.
 
Aries said:
Mud is fun... BUT! Way too much clean up for me. I like 4wheeling in the woods and camping.
Click to expand...


I totally agree with the clean up part....In fact, I'm a full time Hunter/Sportsman and a part time employee. (Don't I wish) :C: I Love the woods and will never be tired of driving off road and spending time with the family in the woods.
 
I agree that the 4.3 Liter V-6 was a GREAT engine. Bummer that it is looked upon as a was - wish it was still around in the new Colorado. When I do the math I take a guess that the 4.3 liter V-6 was based on the 5.7 liter V-8, with two cylinders cut off.

I really enjoyed my S-10, didn't give me any real problems. The brakes wore our very premature and I was impacted by the windshield wiper controller recall. That was a fun one - if the controller got wet (say when it was raining) the wipers would stop working.
 
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