Wet traction

[GIjoe]

How new? Brand new tires can not have good rain traction for a while.

3 weeks, maybe a couple hundred miles. I didn’t realize tire break-in was still a thing but I’ll have to look into that.

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[GIjoe]

Wider tire means less pounds per square inch, plus less tread on the road. Its the tires.

I figured a larger contact patch would provide better braking but you have a point about the weight per sq inch

 

[DT444T]

This could also be caused by slippery pavement. Example: Austin Texas. Holy cow the freeways are slippery there. I broke traction in my Z car at 70mph. I have very sticky tires and they are big for such a small car.

I've had my motorcycle break traction on them, too.

Californians seem to have issue with pavement that isn't 100% dry, so I'm inclined to believe it's slippery pavement and not the tires or (necessarily) the driver.

I've never noticed a problem in my PowerBoost on the factory tires. It grips and rips in 2wd.

 

[King Luis]

3 weeks, maybe a couple hundred miles. I didn’t realize tire break-in was still a thing but I’ll have to look into that.

new tires have a oily film on them. so you need to take it easy with them for a while until the film gets scrubbed off. also, check your tire pressures as well. could affect the grip and handling. also, do you know if you actually are locking up the rears or is it just a feeling?

 

[GEN14OWNER]

FYI that is not recommended unless you have the 4A transfer case (Lariat and up). 4x4 is meant for LOOSE surfaces only (gravel, snow, dirt).

Good to know... THX!

 

[slow3v]

Good to know... THX!

You are welcome! Check the users manual, it does a great job explaining when and when not to use 4x4. I'd hate to see driveline damage occur on your new truck!

Cheers

 

[GIjoe]

new tires have a oily film on them. so you need to take it easy with them for a while until the film gets scrubbed off. also, check your tire pressures as well. could affect the grip and handling. also, do you know if you actually are locking up the rears or is it just a feeling?

I can hear them skidding which stops when I let up on the brakes

 

[GEN14OWNER]

You are welcome! Check the users manual, it does a great job explaining when and when not to use 4x4. I'd hate to see driveline damage occur on your new truck!

Cheers

lol..

Sorry, my dry sense of humor doesn’t always hit the mark.

I don’t have a “Lariat or up” I have an XLT. Now granted… with all the options I have, I guess it could be argued that I have as close to a “Lariat or up” as you can get in an XLT.

But when I put my XLT in ‘Tow/Haul Mode" while towing my trailer ON ASPHALT ( I doubt “Tow/Haul Mode” was intended just for towing Off Road) it shifts itself into Full Time 4X4.

Like I said… maybe one of the many options I ordered comes with the “4A Transfer Case”… I don’t know.

But if running my XLT in 4x4 on the highway is a problem, then you & I have exposed a major flaw in Ford’s “Tow/Haul Mode”.

You might want to do a little more research.

I have the Premium Care ESP so if you’re right, it’s Ford’s problem for the foreseeable future.

 

[Pedaldude]

3 weeks, maybe a couple hundred miles. I didn’t realize tire break-in was still a thing but I’ll have to look into that.

Scrubbing off the mould release agent from tires shouldn’t take much more than 25 miles.

I would also check the tire pressure. Though if they’ve been over inflated, you could potentially have better traction in the wet depending on what factors line up.

This could also be caused by slippery pavement. Example: Austin Texas. Holy cow the freeways are slippery there...

Californians seem to have issue with pavement that isn't 100% dry, so I'm inclined to believe it's slippery pavement and not the tires or (necessarily) the driver.

One of the reasons some roads in Texas, the Southwest and SoCal are so slippery in the rain is that they have been soaked by oil and other slippery adulterants without any opportunity for it to run off during dry weather. That first rain after a dry spell will make roads worse than ice!

It almost sounds like there’s something wrong with OP’s truck. My ABS kicks in almost too early in the dry and the one time that I drove in a heavy monsoon rain, there was no loss of traction, or tires locking up and I was driving around in an empty regular cab truck which has hundreds of pounds less weight on the rear axle and the stiffest available suspension, which should make it worse in the wet.

I also like to make periodic traction tests in inclement conditions, either stabbing the brakes harder or being silly with the throttle in locations that loss of traction would have less consequence.

 

[Snakebitten]

Tow/Haul shouldn't auto-switch to 4Hi, that's for sure.
Tow/Haul doesn't even trigger 4A in the 4A equipped trucks.
And no, there were no options to order an XLT with 4A, although it's really not a difficult upgrade for someone willing to purchase the transfer case and dash switch.

 

[Icecoldak]

4A comes in handy--just saying, would not buy any truck without it--its invaluable in any bad weather---rain or shine

 

[DMuiser]

Would’ve really liked to get 4a but my first two trucks were xl’s so this xlt 302a was a step up and the price really floored me! My biggest concern right now is the braking because I live in a hilly area and in the snow belt. I’m inside the return window right now but if I wait til the snow starts coming it may be too late. I had coopers, bfg’s and goodyear kevlars on my old trucks and didn’t have this issue. That’s why I’m not sure if it’s tire related or not. What are the chances that a tire can have poor wet traction but still have good snow traction?

I was experiencing rear slip in rain with the stock tires. I now have the Toyo at3 275/60R20 P rated on screw fx4 XLT Powerboost and I have not experienced slipping in rain. I mean if you put the hammer down rear end will kick out but these trucks have so much torque they will spin the rear on dry pavement. Toyo was a big step up from the stock hankook's.
Yesterday here we had a bad coating of black ice in the morning and lots of cars were not able to get up small hills, city busses taken off the roads and I had no problem getting to work.

 

[Snakebitten]

Live in tropical Texas coastal area. Rain slick streets are the norm all my life. Pick-up truck rear shenanigans was ordinary for decades.
But the modern pickup truck, none more modern than a high trim Powerboost, is an amazingly composed vehicle comparatively.
"Slippery Mode" is a button on the center stack. For me, even with the much maligned Pirellis, the truck has fantastic wet road composure.

 

[GIjoe]

I was experiencing rear slip in rain with the stock tires. I now have the Toyo at3 275/60R20 P rated on screw fx4 XLT Powerboost and I have not experienced slipping in rain. I mean if you put the hammer down rear end will kick out but these trucks have so much torque they will spin the rear on dry pavement. Toyo was a big step up from the stock hankook's.
Yesterday here we had a bad coating of black ice in the morning and lots of cars were not able to get up small hills, city busses taken off the roads and I had no problem getting to work.

I think the difference here is you have p rated tires where as mine are LT and probably a harder compound. I can no doubt spin my tires when it’s dry out if I punch it, but I’m a boring “slow” driver and I just shouldn’t be doing it with light throttle.

 

[DMuiser]

I think the difference here is you have p rated tires where as mine are LT and probably a harder compound. I can no doubt spin my tires when it’s dry out if I punch it, but I’m a boring “slow” driver and I just shouldn’t be doing it with light throttle.

What tire pressure you running? That could also decrease contact surface with a harder compound

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