Hydroplaning: Avoiding a Serious Road Hazard, Even During Winter

Hydroplaning: Avoiding a Serious Road Hazard, Even During Winter

For the most part, winter thus far in the Bucks County area hasn’t been very wintery, and so we turn our mind to other topics not related to low temperatures, snow and ice.

Just because there hasn’t been significant snow fall (knock on wood,) doesn’t mean that there are no hidden hazards on the road. Freezing temperatures turn daytime rainfall into black ice. More importantly, standing rain on the road also presents a familiar foe: hydroplaning.

Many have heard the term hydroplaning but don’t necessarily know what it means.

What is Hydroplaning?

In a nutshell, the tread pattern in your tires is designed to channel water from under your tire to the outside and back of your tire. Therefore, tread patterns give you better traction when it’s raining or wet.

Without good tread depth, there is simply no place for the water to go at higher speeds except under your tire, practically lifting your tire off the road. At that point, your car simply can not respond to braking or steering since you need contact with the road to do either.

To get traction again, you simply have to wait it out until there is no water between your tires and the ground. By then, however, anything can happen.  Check out this video about hydroplaning.  It includes some useful tips and important information!

What to Do if You’re Hydroplaning

If you ever find yourself hydroplaning, the key tip is to not over-steer.  Psychologically, it is hard to do this. If you do, and your wheels are pointing way off from the direction the car is going, the car will lurch and you can continue to lose control, overcorrect and end up in an even worse position.

How to Prevent Hydroplaning

The key is to not hydroplane in the first place. Here are some tips to ensure you maintain full control of your vehicle.

Maintain a safe speed

As the video below demonstrates, the faster you go, the less control you will have while hydroplaning. If conditions are wet, proceed with caution so that if you do lose control, you have more time to hopefully regain control and react accordingly.

Do not brake suddenly

Sudden braking simply allows the laws of physics and momentum to take over – Your treads can’t do what they are designed to do if so much weight has to be stopped suddenly.

Avoid puddles

If possible, avoid known problem areas or avoid puddles as much as you can while staying in your lane. If you notice a patch of standing water or flooded road, it’s simply not worth plowing through it.

Avoid using cruise control

During rainy conditions, it is recommended that you not use cruise control. Instead, use all your senses to ‘feel’ the road and how it is responding to road conditions.

Tires

The newer the tire and the deeper the tread pattern, the more traction your car will have during adverse weather conditions. Driving on bald tires is simply not worth it and even minimal rain can drastically reduce your ability to control your car.

If you have experienced hydroplaning with increased frequency, check the treads on your tires or have your cars inspected by a mechanic. They will be able to tell you how much life is left in your tires and advise you on whether it is time to look at a new set.

BBack Car Care will be more than happy to inspect the condition on your tires during any visit to our shop. We’ll keep you informed on any and all upcoming repairs and replacements to consider for a future visit. We also offer on the spot tire sales and service, including mounting, balancing, alignments, setting air pressure and even storage for those with winter and summer sets.

Need new tires or not sure if you are ready for new tires? Request an appointment online of give our service desk a call today.