Sliding incident

[Al Powell]

Joel said:

...Took the last turn before the residence halls, and with the a=
mount of speed that I had, the tires just skidded, right wheel towards the =
6-8" high sidewalk.  Hit hard, actually went up on the sidewalk.  I did mak=
e it into my parking space, somehow (thank you, quattro).  Bad news: lower =
control arm, probably subframe both bent.  It is headed to the shop for wha=
t I'm sure are expensive repairs.

Joel, tires certainly do differ in their wet grip. My wife's 1990 200 came
with Goodyear Eagle GA tires (if memory serves) that were nasty on wet
roads. Some Bridgestones may indeed be great in the dry but not so good on
wet surfaces.

However, it's also worth pointing that we're in mid-summer, and on these hot
days a lot of oil rises to the surface of roads.  After a few days of high
temps, when you get a rain it's very much like driving on a skid pad. This
is a good reminder to take it easy any time it rains in summer. You're going
from high traction (hot tires on hot, sticky road) to low (road surface oily
and wet at the same time).

I won't volunteer all the moments that helped me learn this, but I will say
"I feel yo pain"....more than you know.

************************
Al Powell
Fort Collins, CO
apowell at gocougs.wsu.edu
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