Poor wet weather handling

[HarryPotter]

You're looking for safety info on a 20+ year old car? It has abs on 86+ models, airbags on 90? and up? And that's about it. You probably won't get killed in a collision they aren't made of plastic.

[bmwstephen]

how did you come upon this thread?

One of the main topics I search in any e30 car forums is how safe the e30 is since there's not a whle lot of information about it compared to modern cars. I neglected the date of this thread when I made my comment.

[BustaRhymes325i]

idk what OP is talking about. mine is dead nuts on in the rain..?

[tjts1]

Does anyone elses e30 handle like a pile in the rain? Even after an alignment and new tires I dont feel confident on the freeway during rain. The car feels like its all over the place. Car is lowered too.

Idk what else to do.

Get an open diff.

[bimmer_E30]

i do 80+ down the interstate on the rain on completly smooth bald rear tires. don't see how anyone has problems with tires with good tread.

because u drive a 318i

I love my Yoko's Spec A-2

[PannikAttk]

What are your alignment specs? It is likely you changed your toe quite a bit when you lowered the car. Similarly, did you take all the weight off your rear tires by lowering the car more in the front?

How is the rest of your suspension? Perhaps your problems are a culmination of smaller issues (tire choice, struts, bushings, tie rods...)

Before going out and wasting money on tires...listen to what these dudes are saying. Address suspension issues first and then worry about tires.

My car has blown shocks and was lowered by the PO on cut springs of some sort (H&R race from what I can tell). I have en extreme front rake where the front is a good 1.5" lower than the rear and I've gone through two front sets of used tires in the past 8 weeks with regular driving (about 100 miles per week).

If your alignment is out of whack, the car will feel like an elephant on rollerskates when it's on a wet highway at 40mph. It's also highly unsafe and very dangerous.

So my advice is to check out the suspension as the two gentlemen above have indicated and THEN worry about new tires. If your current tires are badly worn, get some used ones in the meantime.

I just ordered a set of these to start addressing my issues...bushings are next!

http://www.raceperformancemodified.com/BMW_E30_GAZ_Height_Adjustable_Coilover_Kits.asp

[E30>???]

i have shitty federals, i thought id have problems driving with all the rain lately here S.fl but it grips nice. does this means there might be other factors other than tires, btw my car is far from lowered more like a monster truck.

[daniel]

Falken ziex 912's. handles rain in norcal freeways really well despite the roads themelves having little to no asphalt on them. Falken really did a good job updating the 512's to the 912's

edit: woops, didnt realize this thread was so old. but I guess this is good info regardless

how did you come upon this thread?

[Ryan...]

How is the rest of your suspension? Perhaps your problems are a culmination of smaller issues (tire choice, struts, bushings, tie rods...)

[xwill112x]

i do 80+ down the interstate on the rain on completly smooth bald rear tires. don't see how anyone has problems with tires with good tread.

[bmwstephen]

Falken ziex 912's. handles rain in norcal freeways really well despite the roads themelves having little to no asphalt on them. Falken really did a good job updating the 512's to the 912's

edit: woops, didnt realize this thread was so old. but I guess this is good info regardless

[wolfgangstbd]

falkens can be pretty decent tires.. what falkens do you have just with basic ziex512's on my brothers car its pretty hard to have problems in the rain honestly

[Sean]

Does anyone elses e30 handle like a pile in the rain? Even after an alignment and new tires I dont feel confident on the freeway during rain. The car feels like its all over the place. Car is lowered too.

Idk what else to do.

Stop trying to spin the tires, maybe?

I can spin out in the rain with really good tires if I am not smart about it. (I have Bridgestone GeForce Sports) There's no way you can have traction equal to that in the dry - physics does not allow such a thing! Just don't overdrive your tires and you'll be fine...

[DarkWing6]

BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW-2 FTW

YES! I love these tires. These are the ones I ran at the track on a wet day. They were great. You will not regret purchasing these.

[Kruzen]

yeah, these tires are fantastic in the rain. hell, they're fantastic in the dry too!

Honestly the first time i've felt comfortable in wet weather in my car since i've owned it.