How fast do you drive in your RX-8 in the rain? I drive really slow in the rain. I don't understand why people drive so fast in the rain. It was raining tonight, and I was doing 55MPH on the highway. The speed limit was 60, and people were blowing past me at 65MPH+. I don't understand why people don't slow down in the rain, especially truck drivers.

 

I never understood it either. They're nuts. I've also noticed truck drivers in that region drive extremely fast, whether in the rain or not.

 

Is this a joke?

 

It's no joke. I don't know about the north but lower down, going across the nation on the 10 and the 20, truck drivers go 80+ in super "thick" heavy rain. In the west, they get heavy rain sometimes but it's not as "thick and heavy". I'm always amazed at how fast they go when I can barely see out my windshield.

 

Haha, try driving slow in a snowstorm in colorado, you will get run off the road cause people dont slow down for the snow either!

 

I drive 65+ in the rain. Unless it's raining so much that I'm hydroplaning (and I avoid driving close to that), when you have proper tires (e.g. winters in the cold) w/ the tread depth (at least 4/32nds), why not? I keep extra distance, I pay just as much attention, if not more. I make sure that my headlights are on.

How bad was the rain that you were driving 55mph in?

In your situation, (and especially in your car!), I would recommend speeding up to at least 60mph, that way there's less of a speed differential w/ the flow of traffic.

 

Hit 120 once in heavy rain.......scared the crap out of me when the car started to hydroplane down I-35 =) ...

like driving really fast into puddles to....

 

People wonder why I drive fast in the rain, I wonder why they drive slow in the rain. Easier to hit the limit of adhesion in the rain at slower speed during practice.

 

Uh yeah ok sure.

 

 

I might just be paranoid. I have good tread because the tires are fairly new, but I think the reason is that I don't trust what other people are doing. It seems like there is no flow of traffic when its raining either. I try to stay to the right, but people come barreling down in any lane and pass where ever they can. Maybe it's because I am in Louisiana, and everyone thinks their F150s, Hummers, and stuff can handle the rain since they can handle off roading.

Also, it seems like water pools on the highway here. It doesn't pool in any specific spot, just randomly. It's definately no Autobahn. I think we have really bad roads for wet weather.

 

Anyone who has driven from Texas to Louisiana knows how bad our roads are. Sometimes I fall asleep on trips coming from Dallas, and I can tell when the car crosses the state line because the roads wake you up. I-20 is awful in Louisiana, and I-49 is only a little bit better. I've seen a lot of 18-wheelers flipped over and so many people in the ditches on the sides of I-20.

 

Our roads in New England can't be much better.

I think you need more confidence, with good tires, your car can handle things just fine, even puddles here and there.

To stay safer, you should travel faster as to reduce your speed differential (the speed at which you are passed), so that you keep with the flow of traffic as much as possible. Most people have cars that probably don't handle rain as well as yours does, so if they are safe in their Corolla with worn tires, then you're OK too. Also keep as much distance as you can (the true helpful thing), and try to reduce the number of situations where you're going to be in the path of a speeding 85+ F-150 swerving between lanes.

For those who are barelling down and passing on the right, ... if only more people kept right when not passing and yielded to faster traffic, then we would've had all the really crazy speeders stay in the left lane instead of swerving left and right. Of course, in a 60mph zone, too many people driving 75mph don't think that they should yield to a higher speed vehicle, which causes the higher speed vehicle to try to find alternative ways to pass (i.e. on the right).

 

I am more of the slow down as conditions require. Going too slow will get you rear ended on an interstate.

Racing is quite interesting in the rain. Try a 1895 lbs mid engine car with Hoosiers on and autocross course.

Actually good training to learn threshold braking, car control in a slide, accelerating without losing grip.

Oh wait my 8 has that DSC and tire tread. Never mind.

 

Do you like cake? I like cake a lot. Sometimes I eat my cake too fast and my stomach hurts. Other people eat cake faster than me. I don't know why they eat cake fast, they should eat slow so they don't get stomach aches.

^
That would be why I thought it was a joke, the way it was written was odd to me.

Anyhow, I've almost always owner AWD cars and I drive about the same when it's raining as I do when it's dry unless visibility is way down. In fact I get frustrated when people slow down a lot just because it's raining a little.

 

if you are that afraid of driving at excessive speeds in the rain, I always make sure to be in the left hand lane, and let the people who are more comfortable driving fast in the rain do that. Less risk for the both of ya

 

Look in your rear view mirror. If your leaving tracks on the road you are not hydroplaining but you may still hit a puddle and lose controll. I always drive at a speed that matches the road condition. Don't worry about the idiots out there, just give them the fast lane and pray they do not take you out.

 

I think it all depends on where you live. I notice when I drive in Texas people freak out whenever it rains and drive like retards.

When I lived in Vancouver which is pretty much the rain capital of Canada, everyone drove the limit or higher when it was raining.

 

I do like to test the limits of traction when it is raining. That is all.

 

Yea, those Louisiana roads ain't very nice when they get wet. I used to live there and then....Katrina. Just pay attention to the surface of the road. Those big trucks have a shitload more of downforce and intertia in their favor. Speaking of trucks, they're good for following when it's gusty.

Anone like drafting trucks when it's windy?

 

did you mean to say "make sure to be in the [b]right[/b[ hand lane"?

 

Well, yesterday I drove 70 in the rain for almost 10 miles. I had no problems. I suppose I was just underestimating my tires and the car. It handles better in the rain than I thought I did. I think I am now more comfortable with driving in the rain.

 

i feel more comfortable driving in the rain rather than in drizzle condition. well stock tires are pretty bad in cold or rain condition though.

 

"How slow do you drive in the rain" is as stupid of a question as "How fast do you walk on slippery surfaces"

 

Lol, I love the statements: Love to test the limits, it is fine to go as fast as when dry These will be the idiots regretting it the first time they hydroplane or spin out. Shows the immaturity of the posters.