25 replies to this topic

[Dan]

No, other car's don't feel the rain as much. They generally weigh 3 times as much as a Mini and have far less driver feedback anyhow. It doesn't take much weather interference to start pushing a lightweight, brick shaped car around and because the controls are all very direct you feel every twitch.

It could be worse, you could be in a Hilman Imp. A car that needs a bag of sand in the front to keep the steering wheels on the tarmac even in the dry doesn't do well in heavy rain.

[ryan22_lgm]

Right i am just going to try to avoid the heavy heavy rain now and keep out of the massive puddles around where i am!

[miniyellowmini]

Minis just hate rain! solved the distributor problem with fancy electronic ignition. Your driving along the roads like a river its so heavy doing about 40mph feels like the cars going to be pulled off to the side by the water if you go any quicker. Then it seems like modern cars don't feel the water at all and are overtaking me! Mental i just cant understand it! Are all minis weird in the rain ? or is it just a classic car thing?

Do modern cars not feel the puddles and water crossing the road? (cant really remember from my driving lessons)

Sorry for the rant i just cant see why people drive so dangerously in such bad conditions and i am supposed to be a 'boy racer' :| :@

I would imagine it's all Minis, it is in mine anyway. The effect rain has on handling is defintley more noticable in the Mini, probably the same with most classic cars. Where I can happily hammer it down the motorway at 70-80 in the pouring rain in my bmw and hardly notice the difference.

Just take your time and go at a speed you feel comfortable with. Just let the nutters overtake, better to have them in front of you than behind!

[samsfern]

I like my modern car

[Cooperman]

The key seems to be the tyres. In heavy rain and in a light car you need a narrow tyre with a deep tread. So many of us run a close pattern 165 section tyre which, with the lack of downforce onto the slim treads, allows the tyre to aquaplane.
The old Dunlop 145 section tyres were OK in the wet, and the SP Sport with deepe treads and those funny 'aquajets' were also good.
As for 175 section tyres with close pattern treads, well that is aquaplaning just looking to happen.
In terms of tyres for the Mini we've achieved a triumph of appearance and style over wet performance.

[samsfern]

The key seems to be the tyres. In heavy rain and in a light car you need a narrow tyre with a deep tread. So many of us run a close pattern 165 section tyre which, with the lack of downforce onto the slim treads, allows the tyre to aquaplane.
The old Dunlop 145 section tyres were OK in the wet, and the SP Sport with deepe treads and those funny 'aquajets' were also good.
As for 175 section tyres with close pattern treads, well that is aquaplaning just looking to happen.
In terms of tyres for the Mini we've achieved a triumph of appearance and style over wet performance.

So very true!

[PSBuckshot]

I like driving in the rain because its slippy and I have a heated windscreen so all is well!

[villa3]

10Inch 41/2 j wheels with decent tyres are the best for wet,later minis with fat tyres can be well scary.

[ryan22_lgm]

i have 10x 6 wellers with yoko tyres (the ones with more thread) so i guess that dosent help lol

[cooperdan]

I just see it as learning curve, being more aware, a challenge

[Mini_Magic]

Mine drives fine in the rain, but maybe that's because I'm use to driving light FWD cars.

As Dan said, it's pretty much due to the lack of weight and direct controls that make the rain more noticeable.