driving in rain
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driving in rain
I live in LA and it rained pretty hard for a couple of days. I have a 2003 C230 coupe and the car felt like a bobsled on the freeway with very poor traction. I am not a timid driver but I was actually scared to keep driving in the rain. Anyone else notice this? Is it the car, or my tires (they are stock tires)? Thanks for any input.
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From: Huntington Beach, California
2002 C230 Coupe
I just put on BF Goodrich G-Force Sport the day before yesterday. (225/45-17) Those were outstanding in the rain and not once did I feel like I was going to lose control. And at $95 per tire (from Shoreline Motoring in Huntington Beach) they're a bargain. Great dry traction too! And very comfortable and quiet. I can't recommend the BFGs and Shoreline Motoring enough.
Bob
Bob
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
I love this rain, it can last all year for me. I love turning ESP off and tossing it corners, drifting in off ramps and just having a blast. Reminds of my younger days in NY when a parking lot would get covered in snow and the fun I had drifting and sliding around. What amazes me is how well the car handles in the rain with ESP off. Don't be afraid of the rain, embrace it and if you don't know how, check out http://www.advanceddrivingdynamics.com/ Sent my daughter there to learn how to drive after getting her license and having a solo spinout accident. The problem is Californians are not exposed to enough bad weather to know what to do so it has to be taught to you.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 792
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From: Las Vegas
2003 C230 K , 2001 ML320
lionelhutz,
You did not tell us what (they are stock tires)?
Do you have 16 inch tires? They were stock on the coupe without C7
Do you have 17 inch tires? They were stock on the coupe with C7
Are your tires All Season, or Ultra High performance?
Are they Continental, Pirelli, Michelin? All came on the Coupe!
Generally you get what you pay for. A $250 Michelin Pilot Sport will handle rain better than a M&S All Season $125 16 inch tire.
I drive the 405 to the 105 to 110 to 5 from Redondo Beach to Burbank in all this rain. I stay out of the fast lane and the slow lane where water drainage is worse. Mt 2003 Coupe has Michelin Pilot Sport 225/45/17 on front and 245/40/17 on the rear. Absolutely zero problems even when the water covered the freeway!
You did not tell us what (they are stock tires)?
Do you have 16 inch tires? They were stock on the coupe without C7
Do you have 17 inch tires? They were stock on the coupe with C7
Are your tires All Season, or Ultra High performance?
Are they Continental, Pirelli, Michelin? All came on the Coupe!
Generally you get what you pay for. A $250 Michelin Pilot Sport will handle rain better than a M&S All Season $125 16 inch tire.
I drive the 405 to the 105 to 110 to 5 from Redondo Beach to Burbank in all this rain. I stay out of the fast lane and the slow lane where water drainage is worse. Mt 2003 Coupe has Michelin Pilot Sport 225/45/17 on front and 245/40/17 on the rear. Absolutely zero problems even when the water covered the freeway!
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 169
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Originally Posted by Buellwinkle
I love this rain, it can last all year for me. I love turning ESP off and tossing it corners, drifting in off ramps and just having a blast. Reminds of my younger days in NY when a parking lot would get covered in snow and the fun I had drifting and sliding around. What amazes me is how well the car handles in the rain with ESP off. Don't be afraid of the rain, embrace it and if you don't know how, check out http://www.advanceddrivingdynamics.com/ Sent my daughter there to learn how to drive after getting her license and having a solo spinout accident. The problem is Californians are not exposed to enough bad weather to know what to do so it has to be taught to you.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,737
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From: San Diego, Ca
2003 Citron Green C230KMT
Originally Posted by lionelhutz
I live in LA and it rained pretty hard for a couple of days. I have a 2003 C230 coupe and the car felt like a bobsled on the freeway with very poor traction. I am not a timid driver but I was actually scared to keep driving in the rain. Anyone else notice this? Is it the car, or my tires (they are stock tires)? Thanks for any input.
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From: San Diego, Ca
2003 Citron Green C230KMT
Originally Posted by tmak26b
All the ESP button does is turn off your traction control, it doesnt make the car handle any better. It just gives you the option of spinning the tires. Of course I still see it kick in from time to time when i am trying to spin the tires taking off with the ESP on
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From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Originally Posted by tmak26b
All the ESP button does is turn off your traction control, it doesnt make the car handle any better.
. Re-read what Buellwinkle wrote if you didn't get the point.
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From: Toronto, Canada
too many to list
Originally Posted by CitronC230K_03
my 2003 coupe handles great in this LA rain. ive never had a problem once. when i first took delivery of the car in Jan 2003, it was raining alot in san diego then. poured!!! handled great then. the only thing ive done to my car is AMG sways and brakes and i doubt that made a difference in rainy driving.
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From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Originally Posted by lionelhutz
I live in LA and it rained pretty hard for a couple of days. I have a 2003 C230 coupe and the car felt like a bobsled on the freeway with very poor traction. I am not a timid driver but I was actually scared to keep driving in the rain. Anyone else notice this? Is it the car, or my tires (they are stock tires)? Thanks for any input.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2004
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thanks
Thanks everyone for the input, I'll need to check my tire treads to see what life is left in them and check my alignment as well. I thought my little car, out of the box, would perform great in the rain, but I had to let minivans pass me because my back end kept fishtailing.
