Lose Control For No Reason

[denverpete]

Originally Posted by rock88hard

I am not interested in lighting up the tires. That was to help describe my issue for those with enough courtesy to help (which i really appreciate mnboxster and bigislandboxster) It was raining again today and believe it or not, I had to take it back out... back out to get the **************** scared out of myself again (a moth to the flame). So if it is oil maybe it's coming from the car itself?

I am getting a safety inspection tomorrow. When I find out what is going on I will post here to help anyone else who may have this problem. BTW I know it has 200 hp, i said i didn't have an owners manual. I didn't say I was without a brain. But thanks for you smart ass remark anyway pete.

Hmmm. I guess I offended you, if so, I apologise.

You will note however that you mentioned you couldn't "smoke the things". And, you wouldn't be the first new Boxster owner to post here that the car doesn't really have the ability to do burn outs. I was serious, actually, about the Mustang. From experience I can say that the new ones can really light up the tires!

The oil that MN and BIB were referring to is on the highway not from your car. If it hasn't rained in awhile, the oil from the asphalt and other cars can create a bit of a slick when it first rains (prior to getting washed away). This is particularly true if the weather is really hot prior to the rainstorm. Arizona is notorious for this.

As MN and BIB mentioned, you most definately were hydroplaning. Check out Tire Rack online. You can view the differing characteristics of the tires (cornering, road noise, wet weather, longevity) along with reviews (usually not that helpful).

As to the cars that were flying along while you couldn't - again that could be old tires, or simply that the Boxster has much fatter tires than most cars. While this gives you a huge advantage in dry weather, it's most definately a disadvantage in wet weather. The large surface area of the tire actually pushes the water (or snow) in front of it. With a larger area, you have a better chance of "lift off" into hydroplaning. It also makes it more dangerous to turn since water (or snow) can build up on the inside of the tire and cause you to go into a straight skid. Skinny tires are actually much better in the rain and snow.

At the risk of being called a smart ass again (or worse), I will leave you with this bit of advice if you find yourself hydroplaning again: Completely let off the accelerator, do not use the brakes, and try to maintain a straight line. As your speed bleeds, the vehicle will eventually find a speed where it can again channel water under the tires and you will regain control.

I'm glad you're safe....

[arenared]

Rock88,

First, congrats on your Boxster.

A few words on your car/condition. The rears are wider than the front and therefore displace more water in the wet and more likely to hydroplane. Rears also wear about 2X the fronts, so keep an eye on rear treadwear which is pretty short. Next, the Boxster is mid-engine and does have a rear weight bias. This may be very different than other cars you may be used to. The rear weight bias will tend to fishtail more like a pendulum once you exceed its limits. Also because of the low polar moment of inertia (mid-engine), the car turns and spins fast. If you exceed the cars limits, you have to be on your toes, so to speak. Another thing compared to other cars you may have driven is that the Boxster's tires are wide and very low profile. That makes them especially sensitive to tire pressure and alignment. Rear toe is especially critical for stability in a Boxster.

Make sure you have decent tread left for the conditions you plan on driving in. Then, make sure you get a good alignment. Forget Sears, Speedy Lube, etc., and possibly the dealer. The factory alignments specs are very wide. If you can afford it, I would recommend going to a race-type shop that specializes in Porsches and knows Boxsters. If you tell them the type of driving you do, they can guide you with the specific alignment that you should run. You will probably have to pay $100 more, but it will be worth it. Because alignment is so critical, that is something you need to check fairly regularly (along with your tires).

Originally Posted by arenared

Rock88,

First, congrats on your Boxster.

A few words on your car/condition. The rears are wider than the front and therefore displace more water in the wet and more likely to hydroplane. Rears also wear about 2X the fronts, so keep an eye on rear treadwear which is pretty short. Next, the Boxster is mid-engine and does have a rear weight bias. This may be very different than other cars you may be used to. The rear weight bias will tend to fishtail more like a pendulum once you exceed its limits. Also because of the low polar moment of inertia (mid-engine), the car turns and spins fast. If you exceed the cars limits, you have to be on your toes, so to speak. Another thing compared to other cars you may have driven is that the Boxster's tires are wide and very low profile. That makes them especially sensitive to tire pressure and alignment. Rear toe is especially critical for stability in a Boxster.

Make sure you have decent tread left for the conditions you plan on driving in. Then, make sure you get a good alignment. Forget Sears, Speedy Lube, etc., and possibly the dealer. The factory alignments specs are very wide. If you can afford it, I would recommend going to a race-type shop that specializes in Porsches and knows Boxsters. If you tell them the type of driving you do, they can guide you with the specific alignment that you should run. You will probably have to pay $100 more, but it will be worth it. Because alignment is so critical, that is something you need to check fairly regularly (along with your tires).

Lots of good advice here! With regards to tire pressure, I can definitely echo that comment. On my big-a$$ 19's a 1/2 pound pressure difference makes a huge effect on the rears. Buy a good digital tire gage from the auto parts store.