Oh My Gosh, You’re Hydroplaning!
How Can You Avoid Hydroplaning While You Drive?
What is Hydroplaning?
Hydroplaning can be terrifying and extremely dangerous for drivers. Your vehicle hydroplanes when your tires lose all traction on a wet road. Usually, hydroplaning happens at speeds above 35 miles per hour and can be made worse by water on the road mixing with the oils embedded in the road surface. When you hydroplane, your tires lift off the road and slide without traction over the surface of the water. If your car hydroplanes, you should hold tight to the steering wheel and keep it pointed in a straight forward direction. Do not slam on your brakes, but instead lift your foot from the gas and allow the car to slow until you can steer normally again.
Factors Affecting Your Odds of Hydroplaning
One of the factors which affect your odds of hydroplaning is your tire pressure. When the tire pressure pushing down on the road is equal to or less than the pressure of the water pushing up from the road, your vehicle will hydroplane. Maintaining proper tire pressure will not only help mitigate your chances of hydroplaning on a wet road, it may also improve your fuel efficiency and vehicle handling on dry roads. Tread depth is another factor affecting your chance of hydroplaning. The more tread depth you have, the less likely you are to hydroplane. More tread depth also helps with stopping distances on dry roads, so ensuring your tires have enough tread is important regardless of the weather conditions you’re driving in. If you’re worried about hydroplaning, your best course of action is to bring your vehicle to a tire services shop like Dave’s Ultimate Automotive in North Austin, TX, for a tire inspection.
Let Us Help You Stay Safe on the Road
The team at Dave’s Ultimate Automotive is ready to help you stay safe on the road in all driving conditions. Our tire specialists will inspect your tires, listen to your driving habits, and help you see how different or new tires, tire rotation, or other services can help you be safe on your daily commute. Give us a call today to make an appointment for a tire inspection, or stop by the shop to speak with our team about how we can help you be as safe as possible when you’re on the road.
