How does BRZ handle at the limit in the rain?

[tez2013]

I've done several track days in the car and so far it's been very predictable at the limit. Doing a track day this Friday and they are forecasting some serious showers.

Anyone has any first-hand experience in pushing this car in the rain? How predictable is it? When it starts to slide, is it progressive / easy to catch as in the dry? Higher hp cars I've tracked have proved to be quite a handful mainly due to the rear jumping out due to being aggressive with the go pedal... not expecting this to be a problem due to relatively low power level here. Any thoughts, comments or suggestions are welcome! BTW, the car is completely stock, down to the tires.

:happy0180:

[5th 86]

Does it not rain where you live? And are there no empty parking lots so you can find out for yourself?

[bkblitzed]

Originally Posted by 5th 86

Does it not rain where you live? And are there no empty parking lots so you can find out for yourself?

an empty parking lot is a lot more different than a track..

[5th 86]

Agreed but if you find a big nuff lot and you go mess around its not that far off from autocross but that is still different then track, but least you have an idea. I have been up to 100km in he rain messing around in a lot to find out what the cars like with he nannys off at the limits, but that was more to see how much fun i could have going sideways then trying to be fast. To me it seemed like in the rain it slides easier but easier to regain control, in the dry the tire are more of an on/off switch you have lots of grip but when it goes its harder to catch if it goes really bad. So far the funnest is snow tires with what feels like 60% the grip of the primacy you can start going sideways and keep it going in full control and pull out or stop the slide when you want. Almost makes me wanna run on winters all the time, drove about 2 months on winters in >+15C, only shitty thing is when you heat up winters grip levels really drop off.

[5th 86]

Sry for being off topic abit

[Symmetrical]

Not really going to answer your question, but I've driven in the rain in other cars and I can tell you it's mostly going to be your throttle input.

[37]

On stock tires it's arguably dangerous at 8/10ths+ in the rain. With good summer tires (and not some shitty tire built purely for show cars) the BRZ does great on the track at 8/10ths and above, even on stock suspension. Rain-specific gumballs are ideal. For street driving it's safer to leave the TCS on but for track you'll do better with TCS off unless you're new to track driving or still learning the car.

I've run Mid Ohio and Gingerman Raceway in the wet thanks to the great weather we get around here.

[tez2013]

Originally Posted by modifier

On stock tires it's arguably dangerous at 8/10ths+ in the rain. With good summer tires (and not some shitty tire built purely for show cars) the BRZ does great on the track at 8/10ths and above, even on stock suspension. Rain-specific gumballs are ideal. For street driving it's safer to leave the TCS on but for track you'll do better with TCS off unless you're new to track driving or still learning the car.

I've run Mid Ohio and Gingerman Raceway in the wet thanks to the great weather we get around here.

Good to know, thanks for the feedback!

[MaximaZero]

I'll echo the 8/10s comment. It rained a little bit last week and I was able to break traction to the rears accelerating out of a turn even with TCS on.

[TimR]

I jump on the bandwagon as well. I did a lapping session at Blackhawk Farms in the wet with Pilot Super Sport tires. The car did great running a rain line, however I did not feel comfortable pushing the car to the limit. I noticed the breakaway was much more sudden, so much so that I actually left the nannies on. The car was still fairly neutral, but when the front would wash out and if I suddenly lifted I got much quicker rotation then I was used too. Overall I have been very impressed with the behavior of the car at high speed track stuff.

[37]

Originally Posted by TimR

I did a lapping session at Blackhawk Farms in the wet with Pilot Super Sport tires. The car did great running a rain line, however I did not feel comfortable pushing the car to the limit.

It's been five or more years since I last drove "Backyard" Farms but if it's still as sketchy as it was back then, you did the right thing by not pushing too hard there. It's one thing when you're in a fully-caged race sedan with rain tires, proper safety gear, and racing on someone else's dime but completely different in your personally-owned street car. No shame in that.

[Diode Dynamics]

A lot of it depends on what tires you are running. I have heard the stock tires are not great in poor weather conditions. However, most high-quality summer tires aren't going to be stellar in the rain either.

-Nick C.

[Ganthrithor]

The stock tyres should be illegal. They go from being perfectly grippy for normal driving in the dry to being utterly worthless (or the most fun you've ever had, depending on your viewpoint) in the wet. And wet is a relative term: the ground doesn't need to be wet (as in covered in a depth of standing water) so much as "not dry." The dampness resulting from a heavy fog will do. You'll be spinning wheels in third gear at half throttle.

It sure is fun, but I the stability control system must be really good for them to be able to put these tyres on a car without it turning into a huge liability problem. They are treacherously slippery in any kind of moisture. Lots of fun with VSC off, though!

Originally Posted by Diode Dynamics

However, most high-quality summer tires aren't going to be stellar in the rain either.

Incorrect. Good summer tyres are just fine in the wet. Slicks are not good in the wet. Something like a Star Spec (can't comment the new generation, but the old ones were great) will grip just fine in the rain.

[TimR]

Originally Posted by modifier

It's been five or more years since I last drove "Backyard" Farms but if it's still as sketchy as it was back then, you did the right thing by not pushing too hard there. It's one thing when you're in a fully-caged race sedan with rain tires, proper safety gear, and racing on someone else's dime but completely different in your personally-owned street car. No shame in that.

They have made some improvements - it had been 4 or 5 years since I had been there. However the runoff hasn't changed, so discretion is the better part of valor in said personally owned street car!