[Fatbug57]

Ok, tomarrow I go to pick up the Elise, but it has been raining here everyday for the last 2 and calls for rain through Sat. i have only drove the car on dry road, was woundering how one handles on wet (rainy) roads? Will be driving on I-20 for most of the trip. Are they all over the road in wet weather? I would think because of weight thay would be. Give me some input please!!:shrug:

 

[LotusStig22]

Umm, I don't own a lotus (yet), so I can't give you a personal experience. However, my uncle drives it in the rain all the time and said to not go over 60-70 mph, and the standard tires are okay I think? Hope I helped a bit at least.

Cheers,
Sunny

 

[Likuid]

As long as the tires are in good condition it shouldn't be a big deal. I've never purposely driven in the rain, but have gotten caught in some freak downpoors before and I didn't see any problems, just gotta drive careful.

The only thing I could see being a potential problem is hitting a deep puddle at high speed.

 

[agirls]

There are numerous threads on this. It also rained the day I drove my car home. Just take it easy, drive the speed limit, and you'll be fine. I have A048's which a lot of people here won't drive their cars in the rain with those tires especially if they are worn. If the tires are good, not worn out, you'll be fine. I drive my car in the rain, unless it's really coming down and I'm afraid of flooding, then I take the truck.

 

[carlover]

Drove many miles in the rain. It's great, but you need good tires, just like any other car.

 

[SoCalLotusElise06]

If you have A048s and unfamiliar with the car, be careful.

 

[mrcarcrazy]

Drove many miles in the rain. It's great, but you need good tires, just like any other car.

+1

 

[Abe]

FWIW, a few years ago when I actually retailed Lotus; I drove in an autocross event that LCU had in Orange County. It was raining cats and dogs (seriously) and the car everyone drove had A048's but believe it or not, the only one to spin out was the instructor and rightfully so as he was really pushing the car. Bottomline, as long the tires aren't worn, you should be fine with A048's and if you have AD07's....just :shift:

 

[LotusStig22]

There are numerous threads on this. It also rained the day I drove my car home. Just take it easy, drive the speed limit, and you'll be fine. I have A048's which a lot of people here won't drive their cars in the rain with those tires especially if they are worn. If the tires are good, not worn out, you'll be fine. I drive my car in the rain, unless it's really coming down and I'm afraid of flooding, then I take the truck.

So the optimal solution, get a Lotus for nice days, and a Truck or Boat (Or in Jeremy Clarkson's case, a Toybota Hilux Boat) for anything else. rotfl

Although I'm sure they have tires that would do much better in rain, if you don't mind compromising a bit of performance for some, idk, non-flooding.

 

[SoCalLotusElise06]

BTW, make sure your insurance is in order....

 

[Flash G]

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[Zen Dude]

I don't know about others ...and I've heard wildly ranging opinions about driving our Loti in the rain. :shrug:

About a year ago I put the first 1000 miles on my new Elise driving the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles between Orange County and Sylmar (about 75 miles one way). Standard Yokohama A048’s all around.

That week we had record rainfalls every day. I mean it was HEAVY. -eek-

I loved it!!

…and one day I made record time from Orange County to my house. :evil:

My personal mantra is “don’t do anything sudden or dramatic” …nice and gentle movements, accelerations, braking …and keep your eyes on everything around you …and ahead of you …and behind.

I was still getting used to how the car handled but wasn’t afraid of doing some seriously spirited driving that week. …okay, someone slap me for being a bad boy. :no:

…but I thought the car handled superbly in the rain. No leaks, the defroster worked great, and a great wiper. Sure I was hydroplaning here and there but as long as I wasn’t doing anything sudden during the loss of contact it didn’t bother me. :up:

Now I’m not encouraging this type of behavior. …but I wasn’t the least bit worried about the car doing something unusual. I’ve come to find that the car will do pretty much whatever you make it do. …you just have to know it’s range. :shift:

Enjoy!!!

- zen

 

[Fatbug57]

OK, the insurance remake is not making me fill any better!!! The car is a 72D with 1200mi on it and I am sure the tires have not been replaced. I think it has AO48 LTS tires and just how long do you get out of them, I would thind at least 8000mi or so. Anyway thanks for all the response. I will post pics when I get it to the house.

For all those who rased me about shippin it, insted of driving the 4.5hr, This is why, never seems to go my way!!

 

[tvacc]

You will be fine. Just dont press it till you know the car. I have driven thousands of miles on A048s on my Seven and Elans...

Until you get down to the wear bars then you are usually fine unless it is a real downpour with standing water.

I once was in my Seven on the A048s and they were really worn...down past the wear bars...almost slicks with a few spots where the cord was showing.

I was on my way back from the Glen. It started to rain and all of sudden the car back end moved like someone picked it up and threw me into the weeds...

I drove the rest of the way home at 30mph ......gave me quite a shake up.

 

[SweetDaddyD]

I think on Top Gear they went around the test track in the wet just faster than a Gallardo did in the dry. It's a car. It has tires. It's fine. 44K miles- driven in lots of rain. Did road trips in the rain. Heck, ran the dragon in the rain- at much higher than legal speeds. Don't worry about it. If it has good tires your are fine. If you feel it floating around, slow down a couple MPH.

 

[Fatbug57]

Thanks for all the support!! I am not new to the mid-eng. cars. I have owned several MR2's and have two of them now. i have no problem driving eather car in the rain, was just worried about how lite the car was aND HYDRO. on the roads in the rain.

Tvacc, is your Seven a org or does it have a rotery in it? I have a friend in oen of the car clubs that has a kit with a turboed RX7 motor and took a ride in it!!! The only thin I can say is HOLY SH*T, that thing was like a rat on acid. I don't think any V8 I have owned can even come close, and it handled like,like,like hell I can't think of anything that has come close!! Thanks

 

[bueno]

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+1 :up: rotfl

Seriously though, it seems like we're the care takers for those whom wish not to bother with this function....why? :shrug:

And not to go off topic, driving in the rain with only 1200 miles on the A048 tires IS FINE!

 

[Fatbug57]

Just a thought, but how hard is it to put a Elise on a trailer? I have a 20ft ex-wide, but that thing is about 2ft or so off the ground. I know I can't load my Bug on it because it sets to low. The only way I have been able to load it was to put the trailer in a ditch. I only have a set of 4ft ramps.

 

[def]

I've done it only once... to an autocross, snapped a pict after the autocross with my phone even since its a rare occasion! If you have another car, there's really no reason to drive it. Not just worries about hyrdoplaning, etc, but other drivers suck at driving in the rain.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just be careful since you're unfamiliar with the car. Take turns slow (dont slam the brakes while turning!) and avoid too high of speeds on the freeway..


Oh and luckily mine doesn't leak

 

[agirls]

So the optimal solution, get a Lotus for nice days, and a Truck or Boat (Or in Jeremy Clarkson's case, a Toybota Hilux Boat) for anything else. rotfl

Although I'm sure they have tires that would do much better in rain, if you don't mind compromising a bit of performance for some, idk, non-flooding.

No, I drive my Lotus when it's raining instead of the motorcycle unless it is flooding, then I take the truck. I have the truck because I have land and horses. Unfortunately, the Lotus doesn't do well in dirt roads, weeds, or hauling bales of hay.