p911enthusiast

Took my brand "new" '96 993 on an interstate drive for the first time a few days ago. It was raining steadily, and I felt that the car was slipping or sliding side to side when driving 60mph in a straight line. I wasn't doing anything fancy. A few times, I almost felt unsafe as though I was going to slide into another car lane. I haven't had much time to test the car in dry weather as I live in Seattle and it's been raining nearly every day.

Maybe I was just hydroplaning in the rain, but it felt more severe than I've experienced before in my non-porsche cars. Is something wrong with my car, or I am just not used to 282hp rear wheel drive non-traction control? My main driving car has been my high performance 115 hp front wheel drive four door 2003 honda civic with two kids seats in the back.

I've checked the tires and while they are not brand new, they seem to have good tread on them.

Any thoughts?
Thanks

P-daddy

Good tread? Check to see if they're down near the wear-bar. While yer at it, see when the tires were manufactured? Old rubber gets hard and doesn't perform like it should.

993/907

I don't know as much about tires as others on the board....but I believe if more than 5 years old, replace them regardless of remaining tread.
Old tires get really weird.

Gordo

Knight

If the tires check out ok, I would check out the alignment next, it sounds like your toe could be out.

Ed Hughes

Definitely the car or the tires and not an inherent issue with Porsches. P-daddy's comment on tire age could be spot on.

Terry Adams

Check the tread on the inside of all tires, but especially the rears. The outside may look ok.

If you have a lot of negative camber it can wear the inside of the tread, and that is what the car is mostly riding on with excess negative camber.

nile13

Think about it. If you are sliding in a _steady_ conditions, what difference could it possibly make how many horsepower you have?

It's all tires. A a fairly fine tuned suspension that actually lets you feel what the tires are doing. Scary, ain't it?

JLJ11

Age of the tire makes far more impact than i thought.. Had old tires on the hollow spokes i bought recently. Decent level of tread left - they looked barely used but zero grip even in the dry.. Being in Seattle u might just want to search for threads on best rain tires for 993's as im sure its had some discussion at some point.

M. Schneider

Welcome to the Rennlist and your 993 cabriolet ownership!

+ 1 agreed. Investigate all four tires. Validate the age of each tire via the 4 digit code stamped into each. Its # ww/yy; 4512 as example is this week in 2012. Are all 4 tires the correct sizes? Have an alignment by someone qualified regardless. Over the years of others ownership, who know's what the alignment is. The cheap-0 $$ dollar places won't do. A proper alignment is essential for the 993 and easier said than done. Beware of snake oil salesmanship on the alignment. Enquire in your area (no mention in avatar) as to who has history with a proper 993 alignment. ... If I recall,,, we're up to six souls outside of Zuffenhausen who can execute a proper 993 alignment.... Think a couple of hundred $.

Aventurine Green over Cashmere.... nice cabriolet . Good luck.

p911enthusiast

8 of 8 replies saying tires and alignment is the cause. I will check on the tires and have it aligned by someone who knows what they're doing. Thanks for the help.

MielsOnWheels

+993 on the tires. My car had mismatched,old tires on it when I got it. While it didn't get squirrely in a straight line like yours is, it was definitely sketchy on braking,very twitchy and the rear end would move around. After putting new Michelin Pilot Super Sports on it,all is well.

RocketJohn

my 993 in stock form, with all seasons has been crazy sticky and solid in the rain, especially up and down through the CO Canyons... I have not had it out in big rain since I've gone to PSS10s, alignment and summer tires..

gaby1088

i felt this once... i had just refueled and i forgot to put the cap on and some gas leaked onto the rear and front right hand tires... other than that im not sure, this is my first car without stability control so it caught me by surprise jaja

ca993twin

All tires are a compromise; dry performance, wet performance, noise, wear, $$$, etc. In Seattle, you may wish to choose an "all season" tire instead of a dry performance tire.

timothymoffat

As others have said, check tires 1st (depth both inner and outer, age) then alignment. Sounds like hydroplaning caused by worn and/or old tires.