Drive slow in the rain, nuff said

 

I agree 100%, but in this case.. I wasn't speeding, or drivng too fast..

 

Racer, I agree with all your comments regarding tread block etc.

What I'm saying about the rubber compound is that in the winter tires they are far more resistant to hardening in the cold weather. Yes, all rubber gets harder in colder weather, but winter tires far less so.

Last fall (before the snow but temperature was around freezing), I went to a parking lot and had a blast doing drifts, doughnuts etc. on my S02's. I went back the next day on my Blizzaks and it took FAR more effort to break the tires loose. Still managed though

 

Now I'm confused. From a complete stop, you fishtailed into oncoming traffic when making a right turn in the rain. Admirably, you accepted full responsibility for driver error.

Are you now saying that you made no error? I certainly don't understand how "My bad" is consistent with "I wasn't ... driving too fast," when, by definition, you were driving too fast or (same thing, really) trying to drive fast too quickly, by giving too much throttle in the rain around a corner.

 

There are basically two choices in a single-car accident (and I count this that way, because nobody else was involved in you spinning into the wrong lane). Either mechanical failure (some part of the car actually broke) or driver error. Unless you discover that there was some mechanical failure, the overwhelming probability is that yes, it was driver error.

 

[QUOTE=Colin,Sep 27 2005, 09:36 PM] VSA is more than just traction control (as others have mentioned).

 

Don't get me wrong, I hate driver aids like VSA and like most of us, I would prefer the VSA to be VERY PASSIVE indeed! However, I believe it would have helped out in this particular case.

 

How can ABS predict brake lock-up? Do your tires not have to skid before the wheel speed sensors know there is a problem?

Now, there are yaw sensors right? I don't know about S2000, but some systems do have them. If the sensors notice that magical lateral G-force and react BEFORE wheel slippage, then I'd say that's more like a life jacket.

I drove a Lexus LS430 recently. With it's stability program running, the car prevented me from fishtailing in a slow (and wet) corner -as was said before, physics would win...at 100mph, you will more than likely lose control-. If, however, the system can react quickly enough, it will HELP.

 

Yaw sensors do not measure G-forces.

Yaw sensors are basically gyroscopes and sense the rate at which the car is rotating. Accelerometers measure the rate at which the car is accelerating (either laterally or fore/aft). Wheel speed sensors measure the angular velocity of the wheel. Steering wheel position sensor and measures the steering wheel position (duh). Ditto for the throttle lever position sensor.

All of these can be used by the computers to try and figure out what you intended the car to do and whether the car is going to do it without help. Then the computers can apply the brakes and/or throttle or reduce the brakes and/or throttle as necessary.

This is a much more "active" system than ABS, which only compares the vehicle speed and the tire speed in order to keep the tire from locking up. And no, the tires do not have to skid before the ABS kicks in. When they start to rotate slower than the car is moving, that's when ABS comes in. They do not have to completely lock up. The Helm manual actually has a fairly detailed explanation of how the ABS system works on the S2000.

 

No not from a complete stop. I made the turn and was driving for about 5 seconds.

Don't get me wrong. I still do take responsibility for the accident. So then yes, I agree once again... I was driving too fast ((too fast too quickly))