V6 Amarok Handling on Wet Roads

[Ozsko]

My money is on the diff. There must be a figure in NM/Ft LBS that the rear wheels break the lock at unless it is similar to a detroit locker where that is not the case.

[V6 Rok]

My money is on the diff. There must be a figure in NM/Ft LBS that the rear wheels break the lock at unless it is similar to a detroit locker where that is not the case.

It's my understanding that it's a proper mechanical diff lock that is engaged/disengaged via an electrically operated solenoid. I'm familar with Detroit lockers, dangerous things IMO and no way they'd fit one to a modern car.
I'll jack up the rear tomorrow and spin the wheels. I'm expecting it to be an open diff until the diff lock button get's pushed.

[Transporter]

Having driven cars with permanently locked diffs, .

If it does turn out to just be how it is I'll be very disappointed as the even with all the tech in the Amarok it's nowhere near as safe on a wet road as any ute I've owned in the last 30 years !

I’d be checking wheel alignment.
Because, unless there is something very seriously wrong with your Amarok, there is no other 4x4 Ute that you had in the past that would be safer or handled better in dry or wet than Amarok.
Mine is only 2013 2.0L and I can’t make that statement, the V6 handless even better.

How was your test Amarok, before you bought yours?

[V6 Rok]

Test Amarok was fine and drove no different to mine in dry conditions but I didn't test it in the rain and it had Michelin Primacy tyres.

I can check the alignment - any ideas where I might find the specs ?

I've had plenty of different utes over the years and none would understeer in the rain like this one, but then I've always had good tyres on them too.

[winchy]

Thanks for the replies.

Having driven cars with permanently locked diffs, I know the diff lock is not engaged. Unplugging the actuator cable would most likely show a fault code.
Not having owned an AWD car before it may well be a characteristic of AWD, but I highly doubt that is the whole problem as the scenario that creates the wet road understeer in so insignificant that those same conditions, on the very same roads with previous utes, have never created cause for concern at such slow speeds coasting into an intersection with very little throttle. If it does turn out to just be how it is I'll be very disappointed as the even with all the tech in the Amarok it's nowhere near as safe on a wet road as any ute I've owned in the last 30 years ! The fact that it handles excellent for it's size in dry conditions points me to the tyres as the main culprit.

I notice the 18 inch wheels seem to come with the Continetal Cross Contact or Michelin Primacy tyres. The Conti's have a tread wear rating of 680 which is considerably higher than other LT/AT tyres I've used before indicating a hard/long lasting compound. Can any owners with the Michelin's have a look at the tread wear number for those ?
I've owned a few cars and motorbikes that came with Conti's as original fitment and I've always preferred what ever I've replaced them with. VW recommends 29/29 without a load and I'm at 30/30 as I rarely carry any weight so can't move the load around. I'll experiment with tyre pressures a bit more next and post up results - if/when it rains again any time soon !

Michelin tread wear rating is 440. Traction rating A

[V6 Rok]

Michelin tread wear rating is 440. Traction rating A

Thanks. I suspect this is the main issue - the Conti's are just too hard for wet road grip when you add drive forces to turning forces at slow speeds. Absolutely no contest that this ute has the worst/least safe feel on wet roads at slow speeds I've ever driven while having excellent straight line grip.
Basically the Conti's are rated to last 55% longer than the Michelins at the obvious trade off of grip level that might not be noticeable if the front wheels were not driven.

[Transporter]

At slow speeds, there shouldn’t be such a big difference between straight line and turning, just because of tyres. Otherwise, those who put aggressive off road tyres on their Amarok, wouldn’t be able to drive in wet conditions at all.

The dash cams are very good diagnostic tool as well, since they record other data about when you drive, why not upload the video in here?

[V6 Rok]

At slow speeds, there shouldn’t be such a big difference between straight line and turning, just because of tyres. Otherwise, those who put aggressive off road tyres on their Amarok, wouldn’t be able to drive in wet conditions at all.

I'd disagree with that as most offroad oriented rubber is pretty soft compound that will grip better at slow speed than high speed where the poor tread pattern for road driving become an issue.

I think I need to check the alignment and try another set of wheels/tyres.

[Transporter]

I'd disagree with that as most offroad oriented rubber is pretty soft compound that will grip better at slow speed than high speed where the poor tread pattern for road driving become an issue.

I think I need to check the alignment and try another set of wheels/tyres.

Can you upload the dash cam video in here? If your dashcam has emergency button, press it and it will give your a lot of useful data as well. Do 2 videos, wet, dry.

[V6 Rok]

Can you upload the dash cam video in here? If your dashcam has emergency button, press it and it will give your a lot of useful data as well. Do 2 videos, wet, dry.

No dash cam here but am interested in what data is available ?

Honestly, the situations that have caused the understeer are such slow, low G force, turning type of situations that have never caused any thought of concern in any type of car before. The first time I put it down to new tyres on wet roads after a series of very hot days but I'm up to almost 5K now and it's the same.