tire testing.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...cleId=117050#6

Nice article.

 

For some strange reason many 350Z owners are adverse to driving in the rain. This is a cool photo.

 

I agree, I like driving in the rain, at appropriate speeds.

 

I've never driven my Z in the rain before so I'm a little anxious. When I had a 96 Mustang I was being extra cautious in the rain so I approached a 10 mph 90 left turn very slowly but my car did a 180 on the freeway onramp. Luckily there was no one around. I'll be a little more confident on the Z with TCS on plus I just got some new tires.

 

Dunlop must be wondering why all their tires are feathering

 

 

You'll be fine. I had a 97' COBRA, all spins and slides in the wet untill I swapped to SP8000s 275 wide, then just a little slip; but the Z on the other hand will be great in the rain.

 

even the base model?

 

Yes, I have a Base model (also from the Bay area) and you'll be fine. Just as long as you use common sense and don't do something stupid like floor it around a corner, you will be fine. My tires are almost bald (27k on stock Potenzas) and I still drive in the rain, lol (okay okay, maybe not the smartest thing to do, but I'm changing them really soon).

 

One of the commonest causes of a snap spin is backing off suddenly in the middle of a turn. When you do this, weight transfers forward and unloads the rear, causing what's called "trailing throttle oversteer" - in other words, the 4ss flies out behind you and you're steering in your rearview mirror.

You have to learn how much you can cook it, and don't chicken out in the middle - your car's better than you are and you'll probably be fine (although you'll smack the front if you're wrong)

 

 

Exactly.