boxster in the wet?

[rick3000]

The only time I have lost control of my Boxster is in a blizzard, and of the two or three times it happened I was either driving to fast for the conditions, or shifting and the sudden change in RPM caused the rear wheels to slide out.

I would say 20MPH is too fast in a roundabout in heavy rain, and just about any car would have a problem at 20MPH in a roundabout in snow (I know the speed warning at the roundabout near me is 10MPH).
So while it could be your tires, I would experiment with different driving styles before I spent any money on new tires.

[JayDee25]

Originally Posted by rick3000

I would say 20MPH is too fast in a roundabout in heavy rain, and just about any car would have a problem at 20MPH in a roundabout in snow (I know the speed warning at the roundabout near me is 10MPH).
So while it could be your tires, I would experiment with different driving styles before I spent any money on new tires.

Thats the thing, it had been raining lightly but had stopped and there wasn't any standing water, only a wet surface. Its a large enough roundabout too with 2 lanes and Ive never had this problem in any of my previous cars which were rear wheel drive.

[mikefocke]

Brings up the oils, sits at the surface, tires pick it up and you are on ball bearings. Plus there is extra oil shaken off cars onto the road surface at stops and roundabouts (circles in the US).

A mist or just-beginning light rain can be really a problem on corners or curves or even just stopping, especially on surfaces where there are painted markings.

I've has 3 different tire brands/tread-pattern tires on my Boxsters. All were excellent in the rain. On the other hand, being summer tires, they were all deadly in the cold (below about 4C at the road surface).

[JTP]

My 2000 S has 18" worn out Kumho Ecsta MX tires and performed very well in the rain during a recent 2000 mile trip with many miles in the rain. Highway cruising at 80+, it felt stable. Rear end broke loose during U-turns sometimes but that was expected. It felt as good in the rain as my GTI with PS1s.

[Samson]

Originally Posted by JayDee25

I just bought a second hand boxster and what an amazing car! It grips like hell in the dry, but I've found that it breaks away in the wet - the back end slides out at speeds as low as 20mph through bends and roundabouts.

Has anyone else experienced this problem or do I just have really terrible tires? Running Clear HP 166 all round.

I've never heard of Clear, but apparently these guys have:
http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/Clear-Hp166-Cheap-Nasty-t257919.html

If that's any indication of their quality, new tires might be a good move.

[JayDee25]

Originally Posted by Samson

I've never heard of Clear, but apparently these guys have:
http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/Clear-Hp166-Cheap-Nasty-t257919.html

If that's any indication of their quality, new tires might be a good move.

Yes I saw that, which is why Im so concerned. I really don't want to smash up car because of cheap tires. I went to the local tire dealer and priced up some Pirelli's... €1,000 for a set

He also said they were cheap Chinese tires that shouldn't be put on a car such as a Porsche.

[mptoledo]

check out sumitomo III(not II). I have been pleasantly suprised and they are cheap. $700 USD installed. they have great write ups in all the car magazines. The grip in the wet is as good as my pilots. I have about 2500k miles on them and they seem like a winner.

[rick3000]

That shouldn't be happening in light rain, or on a damp road. I agree with everyone else, it's most likely because the previous owner bough cheap tires. You can easily get a great set for around $700.