Car Care Tips

Tips to keep your car on the road.

Safety October 29, 2020

The Driver’s Guide to Hydroplaning

guide to hydroplaning

Have you ever seen a bug skimming on the surface of a pond? Or seen a water skier drift across a lake? It’s an impressive sight to see as they gracefully glide across the water’s surface.

But what looks graceful for a bug or a water skier is not great for your car. When your car is skimming on a thin layer of water and you lose all control, it’s a frightening feeling!

What Is Hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning, also known as aquaplaning, happens when tires ride on top of a thin layer of water and lose all contact with the road, leaving you unable to control the vehicle.

The grooves in a tire’s tread pattern are designed to channel water away so that the tire maintains a solid grip on the road. But if there’s more water than the grooves can disperse, a wedge of water will build up in front of the tire.

If the conditions are right, the car will ride up onto the water, forcing a thin layer of water between the tire and the road. As the vehicle continues forward, more water is pushed under the tire, sustaining the hydroplaning.

How to Avoid Hydroplaning

Some things that influence your chances of hydroplaning, like road conditions and the weather, are out of your control.

But there are choices you can make before you leave and while on the road to help prevent hydroplaning.

Before You Leave

The best prevention for hydroplaning happens long before you hit the road. Regular vehicle and tire maintenance will keep your car in the best condition to resist hydroplaning.

Tire Pressure

When tires are under-inflated, they sink down, increasing the width of the tire’s contact patch—the part of the tire that touches the road. Wider tires are more likely to hydroplane because the tire has to channel more water.

Over-inflated tires are also dangerous on wet pavement because they have a smaller contact patch, so your tires do not have as solid a grip on the road.

Tire Tread

All tires are designed to channel water through the tread grooves. But some tire treads are better at displacing water than others.

For example, directional tires, with their repeating “V” shape tread pattern, offer the best hydroplaning resistance. If you frequently drive in heavy rainfall, consider purchasing tires that are rated high for hydroplaning resistance.

But no matter how good your tire tread design is supposed to be at channeling water, it won’t be effective if your tread is worn down. The shallower the grooves in your tire are, the less water they displace, and the longer it takes to stop.

stopping distance

Read: How Tire Tread Depth Affects Stopping Distance

On the Road

Hydroplaning frequently occurs during heavy rain or at high speeds on wet roads, but it can happen even in light rain or at speeds as low as 35 mph. So no matter how “safe” you feel, always be alert to changing conditions and dangerous situations.

Speed

Hydroplaning is more likely to happen when you’re driving fast since your tires have to scatter water faster. When the roads are wet, it’s a good idea to slow down at least 5-10 mph below the speed limit—even if visibility is fine.

Cruise Control

You should never use cruise control in rainy or wet conditions. It may cause your car to continue trying to accelerate even when your car loses traction—a recipe for disaster. Besides, controlling your speed manually will help you be more aware of driving conditions and your vehicle’s responses.

Where You Drive

The deeper the water, the easier it is for your vehicle to hydroplane. This is why it is so important to avoid driving through standing water.

We recommend that drivers stay away from the edge of the road. Puddles are most likely to form along the sides of the road, so driving in a center lane is your best option.

Also, try to follow the tracks left by the vehicle in front of you. That car’s tires have already done some of the work of scattering water for you!

Defensive Driving

Good driving habits become even more important when you’re driving in less-than-ideal conditions.

  • Avoid sudden, aggressive acceleration and braking as well as sharp turns. Quick movements on slippery pavement are a perfect way to end up hydroplaning.
  • Don’t follow other vehicles too closely. Stay at least 5-8 seconds behind the car in front of you.
  • When the roads are wet, start braking earlier to give yourself more room to stop.
  • Turn on your headlights and windshield wipers so that you can see and be seen by others.

Read: Driving in the Rain: 10 Tips for Safe Driving

What to Do If You Hydroplane

The most important thing to remember if you’re hydroplaning is to stay calm. Panic moves, like jerking the steering wheel or slamming on the brakes, will only make things worse.

How can you tell that you’re hydroplaning? Warning signs of hydroplaning include the steering wheel feeling “light” in your hands or the engine revving because the tires have lost traction with the road.

Here’s what you should do when you start to hydroplane:

  • Gently take your foot off the gas pedal so the vehicle gradually slows down. Do not slam on the brakes!
    • If your cruise control is still on, immediately turn it off by using the “Off” or “Cancel” button—not tapping the brakes.
  • Avoid turning the wheel until your tires have regained traction. If you find yourself starting to spin, slowly turn your steering wheel in the direction you want to go.
  • Once you regain control, you may use the brakes to slow down.

Most hydroplaning situations only last a second or two. The safest strategy is to make gradual changes and wait it out.

Driving Safety Starts with Proper Vehicle Maintenance

Proper tire maintenance is essential to avoid hydroplaning. As the only part of your vehicle to be in contact with the road, your tires are crucial to driving safety.

Get your tires serviced and replaced regularly at your local Virginia Tire & Auto. Our tire experts will help you find tire issues before they become a problem.

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