Ep 11. Car vs. Rain

In season 7, episode 11 of Mythbusters, titled Car vs. Rain, the team takes on the challenge of testing whether driving in the rain with slick tires is more dangerous than driving in the rain with worn tires. The episode opens with the Mythbusters trying to drive a car with slick tires down a wet road, only to have it spin out of control. The team then explains that the friction between the tire and the road is what keeps the car from sliding, and rain reduces this friction, which makes driving riskier.

To test the myth, the team sets up a wet track and uses a high-speed camera to track the movement of the cars as they drive through it. They first use a car with slick tires and conduct several laps, with different drivers behind the wheel, to measure the level of control and stability. They then repeat the process with a car with worn tires, after driving it around to wear the tires even further, and again take several measurements. The results are surprising, as the car with worn tires is found to have better handling and control in the wet conditions.

Next, the team tests another myth relating to driving in the rain: whether driving fast through deep water can hydroplane your car. To test this, they build a ramp and set up an array of sensors to measure the car's speed, angle, and rotation as it hits the water. They repeat the test several times with varying speeds and water depths, using both the slick and worn-tire cars. The experiment confirms that driving fast through deep water can indeed cause hydroplaning, and that the car with slick tires hydroplanes more easily than the car with worn tires.

The episode concludes with the team testing a third myth related to driving: whether driving in the rain is more dangerous than driving in the dark. They set up a test track similar to the wet track, but this time it is covered in darkness rather than rain. They repeat the same tests with the slick tires and worn tires, again measuring the level of control and stability of the cars. The results show that driving in the dark is actually more dangerous than driving in the rain, as visibility is severely limited and the driver can easily get disoriented.

Overall, Mythbusters season 7, episode 11 provides an informative and entertaining look at the science of driving in wet conditions. The team's experiments and tests help to confirm and debunk several myths related to driving in the rain, and offer valuable insights into how to stay safe on wet roads.