2021 Gladiator Rubicon Hydroplaning Issues - Milestar Patagonia A/T R Suspected Culprit

[that dood]

Greetings - New Gladiator owner and new to the forum. Much appreciate some advice here. Ive purchased a 2021 Gladiator and in the rain this thing is sketchy. By sketchy I mean oh crap I'm coming out of a curve and headed for a ditch sketchy. I suspect the tires. These are Milestar Patagonia A/T R 35X12.50xR20. They have about 40 or 50% tread life Im guessing. I had a set of Toyo Open Country worn so bald I shouldve have replaced the 3 months before I did on a lifted Frontier SV that performed better than these tires. Is there anything with the truck itself I should look at. I had the truck in Badlands Indiana testing it out and it performed well, that trip home in the rain was a nail biter. SO those in the know, odds are I'm right before I waste money or is there a more likely culprit?

Thanks and here is my Jeep Gladiator

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[Rahkmalla]

Out of curiosity, were your old Toyos skinnier?

Wider tires means you're putting less weight per sqin of contact, but also that water needs to be displaced further. Physics has limits. I also noticed a pretty large difference in hydroplaning when I went to 315s.

 

[Bjeepz]

Those are low tier tires, get some quality new shoes for the rig that have a healthy amount of siping for an AT and you'll be all set

 

[that dood]

Out of curiosity, were your old Toyos skinnier?

Wider tires means you're putting less weight per sqin of contact, but also that water needs to be displaced further. Physics has limits. I also noticed a pretty large difference in hydroplaning when I went to 315s.

They were narrower. 265/70-16 Stock Frontier Tiresm Maybe the answer is better tires and more weight up front, beefier bumper and a winch.

 

[that dood]

WHats youre go to? Im considering Toyo Open Country A/T III.

 

[Free2roam]

Love my falken at 3. Basically Rubicon take offs. Plus 3 peak mountain rated.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

Greetings - New Gladiator owner and new to the forum. Much appreciate some advice here. Ive purchased a 2021 Gladiator and in the rain this thing is sketchy. By sketchy I mean oh crap I'm coming out of a curve and headed for a ditch sketchy. I suspect the tires. These are Milestar Patagonia A/T R 35X12.50xR20. They have about 40 or 50% tread life Im guessing. I had a set of Toyo Open Country worn so bald I shouldve have replaced the 3 months before I did on a lifted Frontier SV that performed better than these tires. Is there anything with the truck itself I should look at. I had the truck in Badlands Indiana testing it out and it performed well, that trip home in the rain was a nail biter. SO those in the know, odds are I'm right before I waste money or is there a more likely culprit?

Thanks and here is my Jeep Gladiator

There are two things to consider when taking about hydroplaning. The tread design/depth, plus even more important is width. Wider tires with the same tread pattern will hydroplane quicker and easier than a narrow pizza cutter tire. The narrower the tire the more ground pressure per sq inch is put down, to help maintain traction and direct water out the voids in tread, designed to. Once in a situation where you can feel your vehicle starting to hydroplane, the best thing to do if it’s old with no computer control stability system is to just put it in neutral and very easily slowly steer your way through, same on ice. In any of the latest computer control safety systems just let off on the gas pedal.

 

[MPMB]

Take them to your local tire shop and have them sipe the tires (if they can do used tires). Should be about $10/tire.

I have the AT/Rs in 37/12.5 and they're not a great tire in my limited experience. I used to run 40psi and I'm now around 32-35, depending on the temp.

 

[RMWV]

Tires, Tires. Tires. I have raced in the rain at speeds over 120 mph, but only with dedicated rain tires.

 

[Bjeepz]

Take them to your local tire shop and have them sipe the tires (if they can do used tires). Should be about $10/tire.

I have the AT/Rs in 37/12.5 and they're not a great tire in my limited experience. I used to run 40psi and I'm now around 32-35, depending on the temp.

Siping will help in some situations for sure. Not sure about helping with hydroplaning. I had wiped the centre treads on a set of Toyo MT's, world of difference in wet or snow covered road performance.

 

[MPMB]

Siping will help in some situations for sure. Not sure about helping with hydroplaning. I had wiped the centre treads on a set of Toyo MT's, world of difference in wet or snow covered road performance.

I guess it depends on your definition of hydroplaning.

Growing up in rainy, wet WA, hydroplaning for us was hitting a large body of standing water at around 60mph and the vehicle suddenly tries to be a boat.

Roads slick with rain (and oil) that make you lose traction here and there wasn't called hydroplaning. Having siped tires improved wet traction up to freeway speeds.

 

[Bjeepz]

I guess it depends on your definition of hydroplaning.

Growing up in rainy, wet WA, hydroplaning for us was hitting a large body of standing water at around 60mph and the vehicle suddenly tries to be a boat.

Roads slick with rain (and oil) that make you lose traction here and there wasn't called hydroplaning. Having siped tires improved wet traction up to freeway speeds.

Agreed. Siping won't stop hydroplaning but will help greatly in standard wet slick road conditions.

I am up in Ontario Canada where we get wet cold weather too often.

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