Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Aquaplaning - anyone else had hairy moments??

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced aquaplaning in the M3W and if the debate over Avons/Blockleys might have some bearing here?

Twice i have had unnerving experiences on the motorway in the wet.

The first time was on the way to have my comfort kit fitted. It was clear i was going to get wet so i wore my old motorbike full face helmet and was solo in the car. Making good progress in the fast lane in light drizzle, there was an intense patch of rain and the front end wandered off on its own. Managed to keep it all together and proceeded with less vigor, and needing a change of underwear.

The second time was last weekend on the way up to Waddesdon on the Saturday. Now with the comfort kit fitted and with passenger. A downpour on the M40 led to some standing water and after the experience last time i had time to slow progress down to 55mph before hitting the water, still the front end squirmed enough to make my passenger comment but not as bad as before. It was only she who needed the change of underwear this time!

Both times no brakes were used and i am still on the original Avons at the front. Both times, the standing water encountered would have been no issue for my 4 wheeled car or my motorbikes.

Has anyone else had this happen and has anyone had before and after experience with a change to Blockleys?

Steve , I've driven quite a lot in wet conditions and not had the problem . Infact I have on occasions thought that the narrowness of the tyres helped cut through the water . I've just had the original Avons replaced with the same again as they seemed fine to me , but now I'm beginning to wish I'd changed to the Blockleys as everyone seems to like them !
It'll be interesting to hear other peoples opinions about acquaplaning .
Hugh

Steve
I have driven through heavy rain on dual carriageways in the dark, not pleasant but did not have any issues. As HJP I would have thought narrow tyres would cut through water better than wide rubber bands. I assume your pressures & tread condition were fine.

Tim

I will check my pressures again, good point; definitely plenty of tread to play with though. I too would have thought the narrow tyres would cut through the water.

Perhaps it is the back end squirming that i am feeling, not the front? Difficult to tell.

Steve,

I think you solved the issue in your fourth paragraph where you chose to slow down while driving in wet conditions!

The combination of a light vehicle and traveling too fast is a recipe for disaster. There's only one variable in that equation, speed.

Clearly if its going to squirm about in small amounts of standing water then slowing down is the only option. Obviously driving too fast for the conditions is a mugs game. However UK motorways on/in normal two or four wheel transport are not normally a problem in the wet and this is something i have not experienced regularly before on/in previous forms of transport.

It is not unusual in the UK to be travelling above 50 in the wet and there has to be a balance in going much slower on our motorways or you will have a lorry up your arse. Especially in something as small as the M3W.

Preferably, i'd like to identify why it squirms around in the wet quite so easily and improve it.

Hi Steve, I too was out last weekend in monsoon type conditions, didn't know what to expect so dropped speed to 55-60 with no problem. I am running 25psi back and front with std. Avon's
Next mod is a bilge pump I think.

Redneck
On my wet dark drive I was doing upto 60 mph which I considered enough & other traffic was passing me. My most scary drive was on a scooter at about 15 mph. In Britain they have this cheap skate method of road maintenance where they spray hot tar & then spread chippings. In this circumstance they had gone bonkers with the chippings which were about an inch thick. My wheels were squirming at any greater speed & I felt as if I would fall off.

Tim.

Sounds like the next option would be to find tires with the biggest grooves in the tread that will fit on the 3W and hope for the best.

But then you will sacrifice dry weather traction that will be another issue to ponder. Why does my car squirm and track poorly in the summer?

There isn't the same level of tire options as for regular car tires, after all these are motorcycle tires being forced to perform in an upright car environment. Add to that poor suspension design and you're not going to get modern day performance out of the 3w

It's what happens when function follows form. It's a cool looking vintage style vehicle with vintage style limitations. I think if more owners would take that into account they would be disappointed less often

Tire pressures are really important when determining dynamic hydroplaning speeds. In aircraft, the rule of thumb is 9 times the square root of tire pressure (psi) yields the dynamic hydroplaning speed in knots. This is why fast jets carry tire pressures of around 225 psi.

Thus, a tire pressure of 25 psi gives a dynamic hydroplaning speed of about 45 knots or 51 mph, and 36 psi yields 54 knots or about 62 mph. Low tire pressures and a rainy day are not a good combination.

Allen
'69 4/4