There are some driving experiences more scary than losing control of your car. While many car drivers are scared of icy road conditions for just this reason, rain-soaked roads can be the worst thing because of hydroplaning.
It is one of the most dangerous created by wet driving conditions regulating losing control of your steering and braking capabilities.
In this blog post, we are going to talk about cause and effect of hydroplaning. We will also share some tips to prevent hydroplaning in your car. If you are interested in knowing more about hydroplaning then keep reading.
When Does Hydroplaning Happen?
Hydroplaning happens when your tyres lose contact with the road surface and instead ride on a layer of water on top of the road surface. This can be dangerous since it reduces your vehicle's ability to grip on the road resulting in difficulty for drivers to maintain proper control over their vehicle.
What Makes Your Car Hydroplane?
Different factors can cause your car to hydroplane anything can affect the tyre traction such as.
Water depth: When there is more water present on the road than normal, it can stop the tyre’s ability to displace water and maintain contact with the road surface. Due to this, the tyres may not lose grip and the vehicle may hydroplane.
Tyre Tread Depth: The tyre tread drains the water away from the tyre’s surface. If your tyres are worn, bald or have minimal tread, they are not able to displace water which results in increasing the likelihood of hydroplaning.
Driving speed: When you drive at high speeds, especially over 40 mph, your tyres may be unable to displace water too quickly. This could lead to loss of grip and hydroplaning.
Tyre pressure: Maintaining proper inflation tyres is crucial to maintaining better traction on the road. If tyre pressure is too low or too high, it can affect the contact between the tyres and the road surface resulting in increasing the risk of hydroplaning.
Vehicle weight: Heavy vehicles such as trucks and SUVs are less likely to hydroplane because their extra weight presses the tyres down onto the road surface. In simple words, light vehicles such as cars and bikes are more prone to hydroplaning compared to heavier vehicles.
Road conditions: Roads that are damaged such as poor drainage, ruts, potholes or grooves can allow water to collect and increase the risk of hydroplaning. The mixture of high road temperature, light rain and oil residue on the road can create slippery driving conditions.
Driving habits: Bad habits such as hard braking or sharp trunks in wet road conditions can disrupt the car’s inertia and can loss of traction on the road.
How To Stop Hydroplaning?
● Ease off the accelerator: Slowly take your foot off the accelerator and try to avoid braking. Applying hard braking in these conditions can cause skidding of the tyres.
● Follow the glide: Don’t grip the steering wheel too tightly, as this can cause overcorrection. Sudden actions like taking sharp turns can cause your car to skid out of control.
● Slow down: Once your car tyres in Coventry regain contact with the road surface and you are confident that your vehicle is gaining traction, apply brakes lightly to slow down your vehicle.
● Take a breath: Hydroplaning can be a scary experience. So, once you have successfully recovered your vehicle, pull over in a safe place and allow yourself some to relax and recalibrate.
How To Avoid Hydroplaning in Your Car?
To avoid hydroplaning situations while driving in rainy conditions, you should remember these tips.
Maintain More Distance Between Cars
When driving in normal conditions, it is better to leave a three or four-second gap between you and the car in front of you. In wet and rainy conditions, extend that length of time to give yourself more room to react, just in case the road starts to feel more slippery.
Stay
in The Same
Tracks of The Vehicle in Front of You
Even damp roads can create dangerous situations for drivers because even a little water is sufficient to bring oil and other residues to the road surface. This makes it more difficult for your car tyres to maintain traction on the road. By following the tracks of the vehicle in front of you, as the slippery mixture is being wicked away before your tyres get there, leaving you with a safer path.
Check Your Car tyres
As you check the safety components like the braking system, your tyres are one of your car’s most important safety features. Use tyres that are properly inflated and have good tread depth when driving in the rain. These Dunlop tyres Coventry will perform much better on wet roads than under or over-inflated tyres or worn tyres.
Slow Down
You don’t have to drive fast in the rain to create the ideal conditions for hydroplaning. Driving your car above 40 miles per hour could put you at risk and it doesn’t necessarily have to be raining. Wet roads can also create hydroplaning.
