Avoid Hydroplaning Through tire & driver education

WHAT IS HYDROPLANING?

Hydroplaning happens when your vehicle's tires skim over a thin layer of water on the road surface, causing a loss of traction. This greatly diminishes your ability to steer and brake, making it difficult to control the vehicle.

Avoid Hydroplaning Through tire & driver education

Avoid Hydroplaning Through tire & driver education

WHAT IS HYDROPLANING?

Hydroplaning happens when the tires on your vehicle lose their grip on a road surface and instead travel on a film of water sitting on top of the road. Hydroplaning dramatically reduces a driver's ability to steer and brake.

WHAT CAUSES HYDROPLANING?

Hydroplaning is caused by a combination of road conditions, vehicle speed, tread depth and vehicle weight. Let's take a closer look at these four factors.

ALIGMENT-GRAPHIC

ROAD CONDITIONS

The risk of hydroplaning increases as the depth of water on the road exceeds 1/10th of an inch. Factors such as the intensity of the rainfall, the type of road surface, and the effectiveness of drainage systems all contribute to the likelihood of hydroplaning. Essentially, deeper standing water elevates the risk of your vehicle losing traction and hydroplaning.

VEHICLE SPEED

Tires require time to channel water away from the tread and maintain contact with the road. At higher speeds, this process is less effective. Depending on the tread depth, design of the tires, and the amount of standing water, hydroplaning can happen at speeds as low as 35 mph.

TREAD DEPTH

Among the various factors affecting hydroplaning resistance, a tire’s tread depth is crucial. Even high-quality tires provide minimal protection against hydroplaning when the tread wears down to 2/32 of an inch or less. Therefore, it is essential to replace worn tires promptly to maintain safety on wet roads.

VEHICLE WEIGHT

Between two vehicles with the same tire size and type, the heavier vehicle is better at resisting hydroplaning. This is because the increased weight creates more force to push water away from beneath the tire, helping to maintain traction.

WHAT CAUSES HYDROPLANING?

Hydroplaning is caused by a combination of road conditions, vehicle speed, tread depth and vehicle weight. Let's take a closer look at these four factors.

The risk of hydroplaning increases as the depth of water on the road exceeds 1/10th of an inch. Factors such as the intensity of the rainfall, the type of road surface, and the effectiveness of drainage systems all contribute to the likelihood of hydroplaning. Essentially, deeper standing water elevates the risk of your vehicle losing traction and hydroplaning.

Tires require time to channel water away from the tread and maintain contact with the road. At higher speeds, this process is less effective. Depending on the tread depth, design of the tires, and the amount of standing water, hydroplaning can happen at speeds as low as 35 mph.

Among the various factors affecting hydroplaning resistance, a tire’s tread depth is crucial. Even high-quality tires provide minimal protection against hydroplaning when the tread wears down to 2/32 of an inch or less. Therefore, it is essential to replace worn tires promptly to maintain safety on wet roads.

Between two vehicles with the same tire size and type, the heavier vehicle is better at resisting hydroplaning. This is because the increased weight creates more force to push water away from beneath the tire, helping to maintain traction.

HOW DANGEROUS IS HYDROPLANING?

Hydroplaning poses a significant risk to drivers, potentially leading to loss of control and accidents. In the U.S., 70% of weather-related crashes occur on wet roads, with 46% happening during rainfall. Additionally, wet pavement is responsible for 78% of weather- related injuries and 76% of weather-related fatalities.

HOW DANGEROUS IS HYDROPLANING?

Hydroplaning is one of many serious hazards for drivers. It can result in a motorist losing control of a car and crashing.
Seventy percent of weather-related crashes in the U.S. happen on wet pavement, and 46% occur during rainfall. Worse yet, wet pavement is blamed for 78% of weather-related crash injuries and 76% of weather-related crash deaths.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY VEHICLE IS HYDROPLANING?

Here are four tips if your vehicle starts to hydroplane.

Keep a clear head and try not to panic. Overreacting will cause the situation to worsen.

Hold the steering wheel steady. Moving the steering wheel too much one way or the other while hydroplaning could cause your car to further lose traction and spin out of control.

Don't slam on the brakes, Instead, take your foot off the accelerator and let your vehicle slow down. If you need to, and your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes, you can lightly apply the brakes to help your tires regain traction.

Avoid coming to a complete stop after you've gained control of the car. If you need a few moments to regain your composure, be sure to pull safely onto the shoulder or off the road entirely. Remember that approaching motorists also may be dealing with hydroplaning.

HOW CAN I PREVENT HYDROPLANING?

Preventing hydroplaning is possible with some proactive measures. Here are a few tips:

  • Slow Down: Reduce your speed by 5-10 mph or more in wet conditions or when you encounter standing water.
  • Avoid Cruise Control: Turn off cruise control on wet roads to maintain better manual control and focus on driving.
  • Steer Clear of Water: Try to avoid driving through puddles and standing water whenever possible.
  • Correct Steering: If your vehicle starts to slide, steer in the direction you want to go rather than opposite the slide.
  • Check Your Tires: Inspect your tires monthly to ensure the tread depth is at least 2/32 of an inch. You can use a penny to check; if Lincoln's head is fully visible, it's time for new tires.
  • Follow Tracks: Drive in the tracks left by vehicles in front of you on slick roads, as these areas have less water.
  • Increase Following Distance: Allow more space between your vehicle and the one ahead, extending your following distance from the usual 2-3 seconds to 3-4 seconds or more in the rain.
  • Maintain Proper Tire Inflation: Keep your tires properly inflated according to your vehicle’s manufacturer specifications to reduce the risk of hydroplaning.
  • Rotate and Balance Tires: Regularly rotate your tires, typically every 5,000 miles, and balance them as needed, usually every 6,000 miles, to enhance tire performance and extend tread life.
HOW CAN I PREVENT HYDROPLANING?

It may not seem like it, but there's plenty you can do to avoid hydroplaning. Here are some suggestions.

  • Slow down. If the roads are wet, reduce your speed by 5-10 mph or more if you see standing water.

  • Don't use cruise control when roads are wet. Instead, rely on manual control so you're intently paying attention to the road

  • Steer clear of puddles and standing water. If possible, avoid driving through water that has pooled on the road

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  • Make the right turn. You may be inclined to turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction of where your car is sliding. However, that's move. Instead, turn the wheel toward the direction that you're sliding.

  • Inspect your tires. Take a look at your tires at least once a month to ensure the tread depth is at least 2/32nd of an inch. You may have hea easy way to check tread depth — just take a penny and place it in one of the tire's grooves with Abe Lincoln's head facing the base of the tread doesn't cover any part of Lincoln's head, the tire is at or below 2/32nd of an inch and should be replaced.

  • Track vehicles in front of you. If cars ahead of you leave tracks on a slick road, try to drive in those tracks. Those tracks mean some water on already been dispersed.

  • Maintain a safe distance. Even without hydroplaning, stopping distances increase dramatically in the rain. Increase your following distance usual 2 or 3 seconds to 3 or 4 seconds or more to allow for this.

  • Properly inflate your tires. Underinflated or overinflated tires can increase your chance of hydroplaning. Check your tire pressure often and match your vehicle manufacturer's recommendations.

  • Get your tires rotated and balanced regularly. Tire rotation helps extend the tread life of your tires. It's typically recommended that rotation every 5,000 miles. Among other benefits, balancing the tires can help decrease tread wear. A standard recommendation for tire balancing is to 6,000 miles.

TIRES DESIGNED TO MINIMIZE HYDROPLANING

Tire tread patterns are designed to match various vehicle needs and driver preferences, resulting in different performance characteristics:

Touring Tires: These are built for ride comfort, reduced noise, and all-season traction. Their tread patterns include features like slots and sipes to enhance grip in snowy and wet conditions.

Performance Tires: Designed for optimal control during cornering, acceleration, and braking, performance tires come in "Summer" and "All-Season" varieties. Both types are engineered to resist hydroplaning, but only All-Season tires are suitable for freezing temperatures.

Hydroplaning can be alarming, but with the right preparation, including choosing the appropriate tires and practicing defensive driving, you can navigate these situations safely. Visit a Bridgestone tire dealer to explore tire options that can help minimize hydroplaning risks.

TIRES DESIGNED TO MINIMIZE HYDROPLANING

Tire tread patterns vary greatly because tires are designed to deliver performance that aligns with a vehicle's needs and owner’s priorities. Examples include:

Touring tires, which emphasize ride comfort, minimal noise and all-season traction, are designed with tread patterns with additional features called slots and sipes to help provide traction in snowy and wet conditions.

Tire tread patterns vary greatly because tires are designed to deliver performance that aligns with a vehicle's needs and owner’s priorities. Examples include:

Touring tires, which emphasize ride comfort, minimal noise and all-season traction, are designed with tread patterns with additional features called slots and sipes to help provide traction in snowy and wet conditions.

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