CapnFinVark
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- Jun 25, 2007
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My wife is the recent (proud) owner of a new (to us) 04 Liberty Renegade. All is wonderful except she has noticed (and I've confirmed) an incredible tendency for the tires to slip in the rain.
I'm not talking about just the rear-wheel acceleration slip - I somewhat expected that with the 2 wheel rear-wheel drive. Actual braking performance is horrid once it rains - but great other times.
The tires are the Wrangler SR-A's and unfortunately the vitriol of the Internet leads me to either conclude these tires have the worst traction since man invented the rock wheel, or people love to rip on perfectly fine tires (50% of posts and they are fine (50% of posts :-(
Honestly, I am scared to let her drive this in the rain. The car doesn't have ABS of course - but the tires seem to cut through water fine (i.e. in 1/4" of water they cut through fine - no obvious hydroplaning. Also - on SOME road surfaces they are fine in whet - but on 50% of the surfaces between here and her work they slip. They behave like the actual part contacting the road is oiled and slipping on the actual roadway.
I've had a local tire shop I trust say they are hesitant to sell me new ones because the tread is great and their private tire review service gives these tires 70% good wet ratings.
I have had other people recommend a tire like the Michelin LTX M/S though - saying it would grab better (of course it's more $$).
Basically - if $600 of tires will improve this issue - I will do it for her in a heartbeat - but I'm wondering if others have had similar experience and solved them with tires - and if so which - or if this is just ultimately the 2-wheel rear drive killing me?
I should note that she only bought the car for looks and room - we will likely NEVER off-road with it so I'm basically after the safest wet-road highway tires I can get.
Thanks for any advice!
I'm not talking about just the rear-wheel acceleration slip - I somewhat expected that with the 2 wheel rear-wheel drive. Actual braking performance is horrid once it rains - but great other times.
The tires are the Wrangler SR-A's and unfortunately the vitriol of the Internet leads me to either conclude these tires have the worst traction since man invented the rock wheel, or people love to rip on perfectly fine tires (50% of posts and they are fine (50% of posts :-(
Honestly, I am scared to let her drive this in the rain. The car doesn't have ABS of course - but the tires seem to cut through water fine (i.e. in 1/4" of water they cut through fine - no obvious hydroplaning. Also - on SOME road surfaces they are fine in whet - but on 50% of the surfaces between here and her work they slip. They behave like the actual part contacting the road is oiled and slipping on the actual roadway.
I've had a local tire shop I trust say they are hesitant to sell me new ones because the tread is great and their private tire review service gives these tires 70% good wet ratings.
I have had other people recommend a tire like the Michelin LTX M/S though - saying it would grab better (of course it's more $$).
Basically - if $600 of tires will improve this issue - I will do it for her in a heartbeat - but I'm wondering if others have had similar experience and solved them with tires - and if so which - or if this is just ultimately the 2-wheel rear drive killing me?
I should note that she only bought the car for looks and room - we will likely NEVER off-road with it so I'm basically after the safest wet-road highway tires I can get.
Thanks for any advice!
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