Hydroplaning!

[dannymax]

Hahaha.Black ice on a trike?Piece o cake.REMOVE power to drive wheels.On/off ramps,elevated grades,bridges all ice over first.Rain,snow,drizzle,freezing fog.Black ice forms at 37 degrees-get off the road.Tie a shoelace to your mirror. If it starts to ice up find a safe haven.You don't know what fun is till your trailer starts to pass you-the only way to get out of a jackknife is to speed up- get your tractor ahead of your trailer.Road conditions may not allow you that luxury."Sin Loi".

37 deg...! Damn, I always thought 32 deg. That right there is a life saving piece of information...thanks Michael (ORD)!!

 

[Dante221]

I suspect...

Got caught in a wicked bad rain storm in southern Dutchess County yesterday and with no place to hide I had to ride it out. The combination of running too fast (trying to get back to the stable) and the road becoming a river caused the bike to get up on top of the water a couple times....very unsettling feeling and slammed home the fact that I'd better slow down or I may not get back to the stable at all!

Just somethin' to keep in mind.

I'd be willing to bet better tread design on the trike tires would go a long way toward

a more stable ride on rainy roads.

Dante

 

[dannymax]

I'd be willing to bet better tread design on the trike tires would go a long way toward

a more stable ride on rainy roads.

Dante

I bet yer right Dante!!

 

[Ridernut]

Hi guys, I know this is an old thread, but what I have to say is timeless on this matter. You see, I put up with serious hydroplaning for years on my trikes and had tried so many different brands of tires with no improvement that I had simply resigned myself to the notion that hydroplaning was simply an anomaly one had to deal with in using tires made for a car on such lightweight vehicle.

Long story short, a friend insisted on purchasing a set of tires for me as I was doing some work for him. He wouldn't take no for an answer. He purchased Goodyear Eagle RS all weather radials. These tires cost more than twice what I usually paid for a set.

Let me tell you they were worth twice that in comparison! I could not get those things to slip! Ever!

I will add that I ride like very aggressive. Granted it has been many years since then, I had near 15 years of trike riding as my sole transportation. This tip is one that comes from experience. I will use nothing but Goodyear all weather radials on the rear of any trike from here out. This I can not emphasize enough. Goof luck to you all and keep the rubber side down!

I'll be looking in to a pair of those. Is this the tire?

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...dewall=Blackwall&partnum=96HR5RSAV2&tab=Sizes

 

[dannymax]

Hi guys, I know this is an old thread, but what I have to say is timeless on this matter. You see, I put up with serious hydroplaning for years on my trikes and had tried so many different brands of tires with no improvement that I had simply resigned myself to the notion that hydroplaning was simply an anomaly one had to deal with in using tires made for a car on such lightweight vehicle.

Long story short, a friend insisted on purchasing a set of tires for me as I was doing some work for him. He wouldn't take no for an answer. He purchased Goodyear Eagle RS all weather radials. These tires cost more than twice what I usually paid for a set.

Let me tell you they were worth twice that in comparison! I could not get those things to slip! Ever!

I will add that I ride like very aggressive. Granted it has been many years since then, I had near 15 years of trike riding as my sole transportation. This tip is one that comes from experience. I will use nothing but Goodyear all weather radials on the rear of any trike from here out. This I can not emphasize enough. Goof luck to you all and keep the rubber side down!

Definitely going to remember this when she needs a new set of sneakers! Thanks

 

[rhino 2]

Drive reasonable and some tires will help.....But remember;

At all tires have their breaking point and will break without warning......Its just a matter of how fast you are going when you find that point, And how long a chain you'll need to get you out of the ditch ...:Shrug:.....

 

[Ridernut]

After looking again, that Goodyear tire does not show to come in the OE size for our trikes.

 

[SmartAceWoLf]

I'll be looking in to a pair of those. Is this the tire?

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...dewall=Blackwall&partnum=96HR5RSAV2&tab=Sizes

Yes that is the one. And one hell of a good price on them too!

 

[SmartAceWoLf]

After looking again, that Goodyear tire does not show to come in the OE size for our trikes.

What size would that be?

 

[MDO]

What size would that be?

On HD's 2 factory trikes, they use a 205/65R15 Dunlop Signature II tire.

 

[Ridernut]

On HD's 2 factory trikes, they use a 205/65R15 Dunlop Signature II tire.

Correct, the GY RSA only comes in a 195-60 in 15's. Shorter than the OE tire.

 

[SmartAceWoLf]

On HD's 2 factory trikes, they use a 205/65R15 Dunlop Signature II tire.

The closest replacement is 215/60/15 check out the specs here. https://tiresize.com/calculator/

 

[MDO]

The closest replacement is 215/60/15 check out the specs here. https://tiresize.com/calculator/

Thanks for the info, but I don't use Goodyear tires. Personally, I'm sticking with the stock size.

 

[dannymax]

Drive reasonable and some tires will help.....But remember;

At all tires have their breaking point and will break without warning......Its just a matter of how fast you are going when you find that point, And how long a chain you'll need to get you out of the ditch ...:Shrug:.....

Just want to finish Bob's post here...."If you are lucky enough to end up on the ditch side AND lucky enough to survive."

In my case had the bike hooked up before I got it straightened out I was going across the center line into fast moving traffic going in the opposite direction. Most likely a non-survivable outcome.

After thinking it all over I have decided the best way (for me) to address the hydroplaning issue is to NEVER put myself in that situation again. It probly won't be the last time I get caught in the rain and the next time I will slow down, slow way down if there is a lot of standing water or pull over at an underpass or some form of shelter. If no shelter is available then pull over and just stand there and be miserable because no matter how miserable that might be it still beats a full body cast....or worse.