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As an average everyday driver, we often tend to overlook the immense importance of our car tyres and the extraordinary amount of work they perform during every trip. Our car tyres not only have to deal with the rough roads, and continuous acceleration & braking, but also the water on wet roads, in order to try and maintain good enough grip.

On average a tyre in good condition clears a bucket of water every 7 seconds during heavy rains. In case your car tyres are unable to do so, your car is at a higher risk of aquaplaning.

What is Hydroplaning or Aquaplaning?

When one or more of your car tyres are unable to disperse the water on the road effectively, a layer of water forms between the road and the tyres. This means that the car tyres are no longer in direct contact with the road as they are essentially lifted off the surface. This phenomenon is known as aquaplaning or hydroplaning. The complete loss of control as the car loses power, braking and steering control, can result in some fatal accidents.

You may encounter this situation at any moment while driving on a wet road and you will notice some or all of the following:

1. The steering wheel becomes light due to the loss of friction.
2. Tyres start spinning much faster with higher revs and noise from the engine.
3. The car may start fishtailing as the rear wheels begin to drift from side to side due to loss of traction.

How to avoid Aquaplaning?

As dangerous as it sounds, aquaplaning can be prevented through a couple of simple yet very important steps that you can take.

1. Regularly check the tyre pressure- Car tyres have recommended pressure levels that we must stick to. Car tyres that are over or under-inflated are at a higher risk of aquaplaning on wet roads.

2. Watch your speed- The faster a car is going, the more water has to be dispersed by its tyres every second, thus increasing the risk of aquaplaning in case the tyres are unable to do so. Rains also affect the overall visibility of the drivers and the car’s braking. It is thus essential that you slow down during such conditions.

3. Check your tyre tread- The tread of your car tyre is responsible for dispersing the water on the road. Thus naturally, a worn tyre with less tread depth will not disperse water as well as a tyre with a good tread depth. It is usually recommended that you change your car tyres once the tread depth has reached 3mm.

4. Turn off cruise control- Cruise control tries to maintain the speed of your car regardless of the weather or road conditions. This can be dangerous if it is raining and you should have full control of your car in order to slow down depending on the situation.

What to do if Aquaplaning occurs?

There is a higher probability of your car aquaplaning on a highway due to the overall higher speed. The same reason also makes it considerably more dangerous.  Despite having taken the precautionary steps listed above, if you still get caught in an aquaplaning situation, here is what you should do in order to avoid or minimize any kind of harm.

1. The first, and most important thing is to remain calm in this situation which will allow you to think clearly and avoid any rash decisions and actions.

2. Do not slam the brakes.

3. Slowly let go of the accelerator.

4. Do not turn your steering wheel suddenly. Turn it slowly to follow the slide of the car.

5. Turn off cruise control if it is not already.

6. Push the brakes ever so slowly, till you feel the car tyres regaining some traction.

Avoid Aquaplaning with Tempe Tyres

Aquaplaning can be a scary experience, one that you would want to avoid always. To minimize the chances of it happening you should make sure to follow the tips mentioned above and make sure that your car tyres are in good shape. Our experts at Tempe Tyres can assist you with the latter with a thorough inspection of your tyres and recommendations that will best suit your car and travel needs.

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