Advice on Porsche handling on Wet,Snow and icey mornings.

[Gotta996]

Not sure where most of you guys/gals are based in Scotland but the rain was of Biblical proportions this morning, i thought i may need to start building an Ark[].

Anyway, it was like a monsoon on my way to work from Renfrew to East Kilbride - i tip-toed along the motorway as the boy-racers in there Corsas and Punto 1litres glanced gleefily as they sped passed me, i took roundabouts like a learner driver and gave every large puddle a wide berth, so i was glad to get into work in one peice. One of the reasons i guess that i am now paranoid in the wet is a visit to Knockhill a few weeks past left me questioning my cars handling in the wet.

So the question is - as this is my first winter in a 911,i would like an idea of how good or bad they are in the Wet,Snow and on Frosty-Icey mornings - Any advice on do's and dont's or horror stories of a 911's handling at this time of year. I have access to another car but i dont want to put the 911 into hibernation over winter as i have heard a number of people do.

I have read publications over the years of how a 911 is an all weather/all season sports car and even more so with the 4WD models but what is the general consensus?

 

[Mark Elder]

Biblical was exactly my thoughts too! Nearly drowned between house and car...

The "average" driver of most cars carrys on relentlessly despite huge changes in road-tyre friction levels as the weather changes. Let the Corsas have it, pass them in the ditch. They are simply not thinking.

I've only got one more winter than you (with several surprises), but I also did a day on a skid pan (and other fun things) back in October. All I can say is that the skid pan and last winter taught me to completely change driving style in the wet.

I don't put car away for winter - but on wet roads I do put brain into a different setting. I think the difference in "other" cars is that you simply don't try to do the quick stuff in them, so you never realise how much loss of grip there is in the wet.

 

[968er]

You should live in the east, the sun is shining[]

A couple of things to check. What condition are your tyres and when was the last time you had a proper alignement done?

If going by your username that you have a 996 then you should have no problems as long as your are not stupid and remember that you have a bit of horsepower under your right foot. The 993 was always a bit skittish on the motorway if there was a lot of water lying and when that was the case I just drove slower![]

 

[Gotta996]

ORIGINAL: 968er

You should live in the east, the sun is shining[]

A couple of things to check. What condition are your tyres and when was the last time you had a proper alignement done?

If going by your username that you have a 996 then you should have no problems as long as your are not stupid and remember that you have a bit of horsepower under your right foot. The 993 was always a bit skittish on the motorway if there was a lot of water lying and when that was the case I just drove slower![]

The rears only have a few K on them, i had them checked after my wet knockhill day just incase that was the reason my car was all over the place. Wheel alignment was done 6k miles ago.

I may also look into doing the skid-pan thing, anything that makes me a better driver would be handy. Looks like the short term measure is to drive slower.

 

[kitchens]

It is still stooting it down in E_K
Just slow down and avoid the deep stuff ,would not recomment taking it out in deep snow with these wide rears you will be all over the place,
as to the skid pan done all that stuff but in the end you will do what we all do is hold on to the wheel with grim death and hope we end up facing the right way,once hit diesel at a roundabout at 20 mph and done a full 360 and no ammout of skill would have helped
Slow down and drive to the conditions

 

[lauris]

Anything with wide tyres and lots of power will be tricky in the wet. 4 wheel drive will help significantly especially in the snow ! tread depth will affect aquaplaning , the less depth of tread, the less area the water has to ingress into when travelling through puddles !
wet roads are much safer than damp greasy ones !

see you thu ! ps,, have you sent me your menu choice yet


cheers
scott.

 

[Mark Elder]

How to drive in the wet - Herr Rohrl - watch what he does with the wheel (even on some of the straights...)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=E93ag4Rp-Gg
The wet road starts about 20 seconds in.
I'm not trying it in my car[&:]

 

[richardheeley]

Speaking from experience. Don't lift off abruptly when unexpectedly running onto a section of road with less friction (eg. with lots of standing water). I did once and very nearly swapped ends. Smooth driving inputs are far less likely to cause the kind of dramatic weight transfer that will upset a car - easier to preach than to practice I admit!

 

[John H]

ORIGINAL: marke2

The "average" driver of most cars carrys on relentlessly despite huge changes in road-tyre friction levels as the weather changes. Let the Corsas have it, pass them in the ditch. They are simply not thinking.

Got it in one. It is not you who are going too slow or too carefully, it all the other idiots who are going too fast.

The average modern car insulates its driver from what is going on about them, especially those young enough who have never driven anything else, they simply have no knowledge that the conditions have changed. These cretins drive at the same speeds be it dry or wet, light or dark, clear or foggy. This is why the roads jam up with accidents every morning there is some ice or fog. Brain dead stupidity.

Go slow in your 911 when you feel it is right, let the rest of the morons drive into oblivion.

[]

 

[Rotorhead]

If you live somewhere that suffers bad winters, then you should switch to approved winter tyres. These make more deifference than 4wd.

Plenty of SUVs can't cope when the weather is bad because they run on high performance road tyres.

 

[Mike58]

Just keep it super smooth and you will be OK.Imagine a little baby duckling, under the accel and brake pedals, try not to squash it by ultra anticipating traffic and road conditions thereby keeping the little creature alive. ( also works with testicle image)
Mike

 

[Gotta996]

ORIGINAL: Mike58

Just keep it super smooth and you will be OK.Imagine a little baby duckling, under the accel and brake pedals, try not to squash it by ultra anticipating traffic and road conditions thereby keeping the little creature alive. ( also works with testicle image)
Mike

Totally understand what you are getting at by visulising the testicle image!

Looks like the way i crawled into work today is the only option over the coming winter months.

 

[GreigM]

first rule is keep the PSM on!

2nd rule is fat tyres aquaplane easy, so take it easy in standing water.

3rd rule is in snow, leave the 911 at home.

Apart from that the C4S should be a pretty competent wet weather car - unless the PSM light is flashing constantly its probably got more grip than you imaging - be careful of not gripping the steering wheel too tight - a 911 can feel light in the front end and it can feel deceptively like you're losing grip when in reality you have plenty

 

[TJW964]

ORIGINAL: GreigM
first rule is keep the PSM on!
2nd rule is fat tyres aquaplane easy, so take it easy in standing water.
3rd rule is in snow, leave the 911 at home.

Agree with Rule 3.
I always leave mine at home in the snow. Just not worth the risk.
As for the rain. I had similar experience coming back from the Ring on last visit.
It was in France and max speed (safely) was 40mph.

Shame really cos I had 167 earlier on the Autobahn. On GPS not speedo!
Looks good as fastest speed recorded.

As for the wet, let them all go! Who cares who gets there first. Getting there alive is best.

Cheers
Trevor

 

[mik_ok]

Just do THIS

(Ignore the first 60secs or so....)

 

[gordon]

Thats the way to do it ..... nice &snow [][][]

 

[gordon]

K/Hill HOT HATCH this Sunday why not take it on with the nutters