RE: Hydroplaning

["Smeins, Larry" <lsmeins@ball.com>]

I have at least two problems with this guys statements about
hydroplaning.  First the units on his formula don't match.  What unit of
speed do you get from the square root of pressure?  This is not a nit
pick but a flag on the credibility of the argument and arguer.  I also
have driven with enough tires to know that tread design definitely has
an effect on hydroplaning.  I've had some very bad ones and some good
ones.

I note that this was from a letters to the editor section and is a good
example of, just because you read it that doesn't make it true.  Guys
that don't know their A** from a hole in the ground  can get their
garbage into print or onto the net.

No offense intended Gary my comments are not directed at you but the
idiot that made the statements.  I'll be interested to see what other
comments come up.

Larry

>Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 11:57:29 -0700
>From: "Gary Barry" <Gary.Barry@trw.com>
>Subject: Hydroplaning

>HI everyone.  I have been reading the archives for several years.  This
>is my first  post.  I thought that the excerpt below was interesting.

>There has been some discussion of hydroplaning as related to tires.
The
>following is taken from a letter to the editor of USAA magazine (United
>Services Automobile Association), latest issue:

>"Hydroplaning starts when two conditions are met: The speed of the car
>is at least 9 times the square root of the tire pressure and the water
>depth is greater than the tread depth of the tire.  The design of the
>tread or the profile of the tire has little or nothing to do with
>resisting hydroplaning.  And once hydroplaning has started, it can
>persist well below the onset speed."

>The writer also says that water is the real enemy and water near
>freezing (such as pooling resulting from slush) is the worst enemy.

>Gary Barry
>1986 5000CST
>1992 100CSQ