...with all that TORQUE? My '97 ext cab with the early 5.4L is a handfull. I have the 3.55ls and good tread still, but taking off can be tricky. I have to leave real slow and accelerate slow also. If I give it even a moderate increase it will get loose in 2nd! I was just curious guys. It's been raining here off and on for 3 days, but I haven't seen the local L's. By the way, there is a white one around that has a hood with a "big block" style scoop. It looks like the hood Sal was considering a while back but the scoop is made into the hood-not a bolt on.It looks rather menacing, and suits the L better than the cobra style. Anyone know the guy?

 

Not really a problem with the mongo wheels/tires that come with the L, as long as you are not stomping on the gas constantly.

 

KnightS:

To be honest, the Lightning is a really good driver in the rain in my experience. The wide tires seem to grip quite well and as long as I don't get on the throttle too heavy I can still take off just about as if there was no rain.

On the other hand, and I see you live in Covington, as a northern transplant, I have learned that Georgians really don't know how to drive in the rain. I really minimize my driving when it rains to as little as possible.

Bill

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99.5 Lightning
Build #247
PSP Chip/Filter
Bassani full system
White/normal options
Tamiya 1/10 scale Bolt
Several old trucks/cars
Thunder & Lightning
Rag Doll Cats
E-mail MOSTOYSINC@AOL.com
Kennesaw, Ga. (Atlanta)

 

I have to say I am very impressed with the L's rain capabilitys. no more spin than My front wheel drive Olds Aurora! the tires do well in the wet, as long as it's not floored. LS

 

Bill, this is by no means meant as taking a shot at your statement, so please don't interpret it that way, but I always thought the larger the tire's contact patch with the wet surface, the worse a vehicle will handle. Thus, the wide "aqua channels" in high performance all-season tires that push water away from the contact patch...

 

The webmaster's right here. That said, these trucks do have great traction, partially a function of the vehicle's weight and partly because the Goodyear F1's do have twin aqua channels in them. Still, when I switched to my Potenzas I was amazed at the increase in wet traction (softer tire compound and race-derived tread pattern).

[This message has been edited by Nathan (edited 08-01-2000).]

 

My lightning gets awesome traction in the rain!!!Thats because it has never left the house in the rain.i learned with my 99 how much just a little rain can corode and dirty the undercarriage of my truck.actually Ive been caught in the rain twice unexpeted and the Lightning is awesome in the rain considering the size tires and power!! The neighbores were really pissed at me though.....When I got home coming home from a booze cruise last Saturday night it started to rain.Soon as I got home around 11 PM ,I washed the whole underside of the lightning with my hose to make sure none of the dirty water dried on the axle or any of the undernieth.Youd be suprised at the amound of noise a simple garden hose makes when people are sleeping.People must think I am a freak!.Oh well,When i have it 20 years from now and it still looks great,That will be the reason.Also the tips are a breeze to keep clean if you do not drive in the rain!!When you guys see my pic of my lightning and the condition,you will see what I mean.Im a freak i know but I love and appriciate this truck 10 times more than my 99.I learned alot of dos and donts with my 99

 

How about the Snow? I just got my L. earlier this month and I am not looking forward to the Chi town typical winter.

 

Hey Steve:

I think we are talking about maybe two different things here. That the Lightning will "handle" in the wet on the stock tires is one thing. It really won't take the twisties too well if you use any power at all.

On the other hand, the typical 5.4 engined trucks with tall 16 inch tires and a narrow tread patch will possibly have a harder time taking off from a dead start on wet pavement than a Lightning, for example with a bigger "patch".

There is also something that was not mentioned, and this is similar to trying to drive in snowy conditions, and that is that I am scared to death with the L when I hit a patch of road with a good bit of running water on it. The old "aquaplaning" problem.
In that situation, I shut Moby down real fast as the vehicle can get into a really nasty situation really fast.

My experience with SAAB and Volvo in the Rallye scene taught me a lot about tires and in a general sense, the narrower the tire the better when you were in dense snow, slick ice and heavy rain.

Still, regarding the normal rain we see in the Atlanta area allows me to change my driving style very little with the larger, fatter tires that the Lightnings have.

Honestly, the Escorts that Pat and I had a few years back were much worse in normal rain conditions if you tried to get going fast from a standing start.

Not sure if I solved anything here, but it's input anyway.

Bill

 

Goodyear is known for making a pretty good rain tire and the one on the L is pretty good. You can drive 70-80 and have good control. Compared to the Firestone Firehawks that were on the Gen 1 L which were garbage in the rain, had to be driven with both hands firmly on the wheel and were unsafe in the rain at anything over 50 mph. Yes, there are better rain tires but mosstly not in 18". Overall the f1's get a high "rain" rating from me.
noelvm



[This message has been edited by noelvm (edited 08-01-2000).]

 

Hmm, I wouldn't know about this one, it hasn't rained here since I bought my truck in May

 

I was heading down to the airport Sunday night to pick up my wife. Right about where 400 hits 85, the torrential downpour began. Of course, everyone immediately forgot how to drive...

Well, I'm coming around the sort of blind downhill sweeping right hander, just before Turner Field and I feel the truck wanting to take the corner before I wanted to. Of course, I didn't want to aggravate the situation, so I let the truck take itself through the corner, no brakes, no gas, no steering, etc. It made it through fine (felt scary), but I got to watch a Jeep Cherokee get completely sideways and "float" across all four lanes of traffic...YIKES! I don't think anyone hit them, but considering that we were all going around 50mph, I think they were lucky.

The point? (sorry, it's off topic) If my truck still had the stock General's, Christine (wife) may still be at the airport. The Dunlops did an admirable job...

Steve

 

Snow isn't a problem as long as you have studded tires, and do not catch the anti-lock brake system off guard. Weight in the bed doesn't hurt either.

 

Nathan
So you are saying that the Potenzas handle better in the rain then the F1`s?

 

BlkSVTTruck

You can do as I did. I got a set of 97+ Ford F-150 wheels with all season tires from the Classified area on this site for Winter use. There are some good prices if you shop a while.