Re: quattro+rain

[Don Hoefer <hoefer@cary.eng.pko.dec.com>]

Andre (walker7@ix.netcom.com),

This has bounced twice.  I will send it to the list.  I hope that you
get it.  It should certainly elicit a few comments also!  Other
opinions are always appreciated.

>since you seem to be a resident expert on hydroplaning perhaps you 
could answer a related question.  are the goodyear aquatreads good for 
handling/preventing hydroplaning?  would a q+aquatread combo be the 
best medicine for hydroplaning?<

IMHO, (having been appointed an expert only Saturday) it would be very
good medicine, but it may not be the best.  Someone out there must
know what tire is the "best" rain tire.  My wife had aquatreds on her
'89 Pontiac Sunbird.  They were good performers in braking and
cornering on dry roads with good braking and fair cornering on wet
roads.  In fact, I was impressed with the wet braking.  I was never
able to really give them a workout because the suspension just was not
up to it and I did not drive the car often.  The only time that I
hydro-planed with them was in about six inches of water at 50 MPH.  My
wife never hydro-planed with them either as she had several times with
the origional Goodyear tires.  I expect that the tread pattern is very
good, but that the rubber is hard because it is a mass non-performance
market tire.  The tread wear was very good.  If someone makes a soft
performance tire with a good tread pattern and that hydrophilic rubber
that I haven't heard about for several years, then that would be
killer!  Perhaps the Eagle Aquatred fits this bill?  At $100 plus per
tire it would be a pricy experiment for my current financial situation
although I would love to try them.  By the way, the trade-in value of
my wife's Pontiac (we now have a mini-van) last year was improved
simply because it had Aquatreds on it.  The dealer was very happy to
get a used car with them, many other people must think that they are
very good even though some people I talk to have a low opinion of
Goodyear tires in general.  So confusing!  Look at Car and Driver or
other magazines for performance tire tests and see if you can glean
any more light on the subject.

Good luck!
Don Hoefer
'82 Coupe