[danbrew]

So I completed a 750 miles journey yesterday and today in my new 2SS. Overnighted in Bowling Green (believe it or not, a coincidence with the CamaroFest - didn't have time to do any events, but did say hello to some CamaroFest dudes at breakfast). Yesterday was just fine - today it rained a good bit of the way from Bowling Green to about 50 miles south of Nashville.


I'm not too concerned about "summer tires" as I really only plan on having fun in the Camaro in hot weather - and am in the process of moving from Illinois to SC.


Now many of you probably already know this, but the tires aren't that sticky with a LOT of rain. I could feel the car hydroplaning a bit when it was coming down cats and dogs. I actually pulled off 65 a few times today when it was really bad. Just watched the wx app on my phone and dodged the really bad parts of the storm.


I definitely didn't push the car and most folks on the interstate were going between 40-50 mph. I stayed within those limits - but still had a few moments where I really had to watch the speed and pay attention.

[mdhopt36]

Yup.
Made me opt for a set of AS; non run-flats. Don't like that squirrely tendency.

[crosive]

mine tend to get a little hairy around here since we have new pavement and fresh lines. Some of the merging lines are wider than others, I'd say about 75% of the tire width. If I hit those lines when it's raining my car will lose it's footing a bit, especially if I'm accelerating to get on the freeway.

[gpskinzhut]

Was on a trip to MA from TN and hit some big rain through Virginia. I was getting passed by 18-wheelers. Couldn't throttle up almost at all without the tail shifting or car darting to the lane boundaries, regardless of lane. This was with my 2-3k on the car at the time. Horrible in the rain. Luckily it doesn't see much of that, and the GY's ran outta life at 10k anyway.

[Sev]

Took my 16 2SS on a roadtrip to WA a few months after taking delivery. On the way home, hit some heavy rain in OR. Car would hydroplane at 60+ mph. Just slowed way down, and kept to the right lane. First car I've had with "summer only" tires, and quickly learned GM meant it.

[Roostie]

Depending upon the design of the tread, summer tires can be superior wet performers. Whatever part of the rubber meets the road and a summer tire, it's going to be grippier than an all-season tire. If the tread design is good at evacuating water, then it won't hydroplane any worse than any other kind of tire.

The OEM Goodyear summer tires on the Camaro don't seem to have much tread depth in the water channels for heavy rain.

[Zack46]

When driving in heavy rain It helps to put the car in snow/ice driving mode.

[VinnAY]

My Supercar3's hydroplaned on me recently and being new in this car it too me by total surprise doing ~70 when it skipped around. Didn't think to try s/i mode though.

[Bad Anvil Garage]

It can get hairy in heavy rain, especially in a 1LE with the barely treaded Supercar 3 GY, so I slow down quite a bit in the rain. Since it's a DD for me, I'll probably move to the Michelin PS4 when it's time to replace tires.

[redcoats1976]

really hadnt had any problem with the tires on my 2015 RS.with 34,000 miles on them no hydroplaning to speak of,but one of my previous cars was a 66 pontiac with a modded big block and i learned to go a little easier in the rain with that one.possibly im more cautious than some others in wet weather due to that.

[Lazerbrainz2k3]

Originally Posted by Zack46

When driving in heavy rain It helps to put the car in snow/ice driving mode.

I don't know about going so far as putting it in that mode, but certainly driving somewhat like you would on snow and/or ice has gotten me through heavy rain without any drama so far. Then again I'm in the mid-Atlantic; if you don't live somewhere that gives you much experience with snow/ice, then the mode would probably be a big help.

Originally Posted by redcoats1976

really hadnt had any problem with the tires on my 2015 RS.with 34,000 miles on them no hydroplaning to speak of,but one of my previous cars was a 66 pontiac with a modded big block and i learned to go a little easier in the rain with that one.possibly im more cautious than some others in wet weather due to that.

If they're the OE tires, those are probably all seasons anyway which are a big help, but the RS even with A/S tires certainly still has enough power to get you in trouble in bad weather if you don't respect it!

[Need4Camaro]

I'll just put it this way, my 4th Gen F-Body handles 5x better in the rain with 19" wheels and 275" wide tires on the rear than my stock 2SS ... ... thats not a good thing.

In heavy rain I can still maintain 65 MPH comfortably in the 4th Gen. In the SS I will end up in a ditch if I go above 50 in heavy rain.

On the flip side, my old 6th Gen 3.6L V6 easily outperforms BOTH in the rain.

Originally Posted by redcoats1976

really hadnt had any problem with the tires on my 2015 RS.with 34,000 miles on them no hydroplaning to speak of,but one of my previous cars was a 66 pontiac with a modded big block and i learned to go a little easier in the rain with that one.possibly im more cautious than some others in wet weather due to that.

It has nothing to do with the BB experience despite the heavy torque and the 5th Gen RS is an altogether different chassis, suspension, tire setup than a 6th Gen SS... test drive a 6th Gen SS in the rain...you will quickly find out what we mean

[redcoats1976]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

I'll just put it this way, my 4th Gen F-Body handles 5x better in the rain with 19" wheels and 275" wide tires on the rear than my stock 2SS ... ... thats not a good thing.

In heavy rain I can still maintain 65 MPH comfortably in the 4th Gen. In the SS I will end up in a ditch if I go above 50 in heavy rain.

On the flip side, my old 6th Gen 3.6L V6 easily outperforms BOTH in the rain.




It has nothing to do with the BB experience despite the heavy torque and the 5th Gen RS is an altogether different chassis, suspension, tire setup than a 6th Gen SS... test drive a 6th Gen SS in the rain...you will quickly find out what we mean

hmmm...that sounds like a step backwards as far as i can see.think ill stick with my (paid for)2015 RS.florida rainstorms can be frog stranglers.

[gpskinzhut]

Originally Posted by redcoats1976

hmmm...that sounds like a step backwards as far as i can see.think ill stick with my (paid for)2015 RS.florida rainstorms can be frog stranglers.

Not really. It's just tire choice is all. Change out the F1's with something more well-rounded and the wet surface manners fall into line.