Sick of the rain and my Supra

225/60/14 Aquaflow GTX's? Really? Same tires I have. On a mostly stock Mk II (almost BPU), the hold really well. I can brake it loose a little in 2nd if I try, but as long as I drive responsible, I haven't had them fail me yet. The really wild thing is how well the handle puddles when new (they are almost impossible to hydroplane below 40 mph).

I have driven my 83 Supra in German winter weather for 3 years, now in Colorado. With the LSD and a good set of winter tires, not all seasons, real winter tires, handling is not a problem.

I actually prefer European winter tires because of the compound they use. A lot different than the winter tires in the states.

Ed
83 Supra P-Type 5 Speed

Sparky said:

225/60/14 Aquaflow GTX's? Really? Same tires I have. On a mostly stock Mk II (almost BPU), the hold really well. I can brake it loose a little in 2nd if I try, but as long as I drive responsible, I haven't had them fail me yet. The really wild thing is how well the handle puddles when new (they are almost impossible to hydroplane below 40 mph).

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I had those for a time right after I got my car. Pretty nice in the rain. But still no traction fiend. For the year after I got my Supra, everytime I shifted to 2nd I broke em loose (on purpose ). I was like a little kid in a candy store with that. The Aquaflows broke loose about the same as whatever I had before and what I have now IIRC. From then on I've been using even cheaper Grand Am GT's (ala Les Schwab) I call them my "Accidental Drift Tires." Living with Seattle's mossy streets with those was intresting.

It's true that throttle control is important and every other input be smooth, but sometimes there's nothing you can do about loosing traction. You just have to be aware at all times. I regularly practice slides when I can. To be prepared when it happens without filing its permission slip. :shock: That and it's fun as hell!

We'll see how 245/40-17---255/40-17 Hankook Ventus K04's work in the Oregon rain as soon as I get them.

I just got an 85 Supra the other day...and I do have to say its been kinda crazy getting used to this whole rear wheel drive setup. Before that I drove an 82 honda accord. It was pretty hard to get it to lose traction no matter what I did and it (obviously) tended towards understeer. I've already done a full 180 in the supra, completely by accident. I am &*%#ing lucky that I didn't hit anything.:shock: I really have to find someplace big and flat (and empty and free of cops) where I can get used to driving this car in the rain. For now I'm taking corners like an old lady (slow and completely off the throttle), cause I really do not want to do something stupid and mess up my car or worse hurt someone in an accident.
It is a great car though, and other than the fact that I am not completely used to handling it in the rain, I really love it. It will just take some getting used to.

-John

ChanSecodina said:

I just got an 85 Supra the other day...and I do have to say its been kinda crazy getting used to this whole rear wheel drive setup.
-John

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I guess i am on the other end of the spectrum, I have never driven a front wheel drive(other than short term rental) and my 84 Ptype is one of the easiest driving cars I have owned.
I must qualify that statement by saying my first vehicle(in 1977) was a 1950 chevrolet truck with a 370hp 350, muncie m22, and 4.11 rearend. If you could drive that without breaking the rearend loose you can drive anything(almost).
I would not like the supra if it was automatic trans, I think it would tend to give the driver less "traction control"

ChanSecodina said:

I just got an 85 Supra the other day...and I do have to say its been kinda crazy getting used to this whole rear wheel drive setup. Before that I drove an 82 honda accord. It was pretty hard to get it to lose traction no matter what I did and it (obviously) tended towards understeer. I've already done a full 180 in the supra, completely by accident. I am &*%#ing lucky that I didn't hit anything.:shock: I really have to find someplace big and flat (and empty and free of cops) where I can get used to driving this car in the rain. For now I'm taking corners like an old lady (slow and completely off the throttle), cause I really do not want to do something stupid and mess up my car or worse hurt someone in an accident.
It is a great car though, and other than the fact that I am not completely used to handling it in the rain, I really love it. It will just take some getting used to.

-John

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my advice is to go find a big parking lot, home depots or loews are great, and talk to the manager...then call the cops and let them know the manager oked it, and that your just trying to brush up on your winter defensive driving, could they please let officers in the area know.

most of the time, if you approach it properly and respectfully, you can find a place and time to do it.

my advice, learn to drive stick on a light pickup truck. not too much power to go nuts in, but still fun. plus u get used to RWD that way and learn to drive stick at the same time without wrecking the tranny too bad since its not that much weight

The car I learned how to drive on was a 1982 honda accord 5spd. I learned how to double-clutch downshifts on that car.
Anyways, I went to an empty park&ride parking lot today (it being saturday and all) and got a little practice in. Just pretty much seeing how sharp I can turn and how much throttle I can give it before I completely swing the back end out. I would say now that I am getting used to the handling its not so bad. I just can't drive like an idiot anymore in the rain like I did in the honda. Oh well.
Thanks for the advice dogstar but I think the cops/store managers must be a lot more reasonable up their in Canada then they are down here.

-John

dogstar said:

my advice is to go find a big parking lot, home depots or loews are great, and talk to the manager...then call the cops and let them know the manager oked it, and that your just trying to brush up on your winter defensive driving, could they please let officers in the area know.

most of the time, if you approach it properly and respectfully, you can find a place and time to do it.

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As a good friend once said, "its easier to ask for forgivness then permisision". I can't imagine any manager saying yes to a request like that. Just find an obscure parking lot with no one in it in a somewhat remote area sometime late at night and get a feel for your car, just don't hang around too long.

lol, i dunno, ive never had a problem doing it, done it many a time... the worst place in town to do it though, is the zoo... just ask chavez about that night we went down there to play in the gravel... i think the cops took a whopping 15 seconds getting down the hill to take a look.

i find home depot seems to be good, most of their staff dont care, and someones liable to say yes.

good enough for me.

the home depot lots are great for it, unfortuantly they are well aware of that here. They all have a night security guy sitting in a car on the lot all night. I've found a few great ones in the lower mainland though. Unforutantly the only decent one where I live now is pretty small.