Aarb6179

Just purchased a 2016 q5 with the 3.0 and low miles. On a stormy commute last night I found that I was hydroplaning at speeds and in similar conditions where my old x5 was in complete control.

We were told how much safer this awd system was and the handling in wet conditions. So far we are disappointed.

atc98092

I believe the tires and their condition are a much more important factor in that, rather than the all wheel drive part of it.

J. Patterson

Good tires are the biggest factor in preventing hydroplaning. Quattro is of little value if the front tires are not touching the pavement. AWD or FWD CAN make one aware of hydroplaning that might go unnoticed in a RWD vehicle where the front wheels are simply coasting.

superswiss

What everybody else said. Hydroplaning has absolutely nothing to do with AWD, but has everything to do with how well the tires can evict the water from under them. That's mostly a function of the tread design and depth. Your X5 simply had better tires.

I just recently changed from Pirelli P Zero on my RS5 to Michelin Pilot Super Sport and the difference is huge in the rain. I liked the P Zero in the dry, but it was quite horrible in the wet. It's the first tire I ever hydroplaned with. I've had Michelin tires on most of my previous cars, which included BMW and Audi, and they never hydroplaned on me.

MP4.2+6.0

Tire issue only as far as primary vehicle variables, assuming similar weight vehicles and tread widths. AWD or otherwise only enters in if you keep on power as you feel it in vehicle/steering wheel and the powered end is letting go--more a RWD gotcha. ESP can catch some of that if driver doesn't. For that matter, who is even to say with different pavement surfaces (concrete, open asphalt, more closed type..), any given random puddle or run off issues or many other variables beyond tires or vehicle. Honestly, net, need to slow a bit. No matter how much a driver may feel wronged or other scenarios, in CA anyway the accident type report inevitably will go down Basic Speed Law: speed unsafe for conditions. Probably about the same everywhere.

I had an SUV pass me in our Q5 in recent weeks on freeway with heavy rain and partly flooded lane at night. Poor conditions by any measure. That highway (101) is also known--for those of us who bother--as prone to flooding in fast lane. Shook my head the guy thought 70 or more was okay in a situation like that. Two minutes later I came across same vehicle dead stopped with lights pointing head on into traffic having done (at least) a complete 180 in fast lane/freeway. Looked dazed. Maybe bounced/scraped off concrete wall during spin too. To add to no fun that can get out of hand in a fraction of a second if bad, if vehicle hits a curb or other rise as it spins or slides, often enough with an SUV to "trip" it and flip completely. You would never suspect that would happened in what would seem like a minor incident and involving single vehicle only, but I see them more and more both off the road (or on it) and in the pictures in everyday news, even on very ordinary city streets.

Just being very stone cold sober here on why there is no magic to SUV's, quattro, AWD or anything else when it comes to traction and tread realities with water, speed an sometimes under-maintained roads.

BlackOptic

What they said. Not to get too nerdy... but what were the X5 tires and tread depths? What are the Q5 tires, and tread depths? Summer tires? All seasons?

ParadigmDawg

I just changed from my summer tires to Michelin Pilot Super Sport A/S3+. They are dang good tires. They may give up a little in dry conditions but not much. In wet, they are way, way better.

snagitseven

My experience with Pirelli P Zeros (and other Pirelli models I've owned) was awful to say the least. Almost any other tire will be quieter, have better wet traction, will maintain roundness and last longer. While there may be a Pirelli tire model that's decent, I will never have one mounted on any of my cars again.

tneconni

Not only is tire tread depth important, but tire pressure is a huge part of it.

The higher your tire pressure the higher the speed a tire can maintain without hydroplaning.

ex-quattro PETE

You might want to start by telling us what tires you are running and how much tread is left on each tire.