A Guide to Tyre Safety and Aquaplaning

Summertime driving on dry roads almost eliminates the need for the driver to think about the tyres. It's a whole different ballgame when a summer downpour or a thunderstorm breaks and fills the road's grooves. Feeling the risk of aquaplaning when steering makes it difficult to handle the vehicle, particularly if the tyres are worn out or in bad condition. Using fresh tyres is the most effective strategy to avoid aquaplaning. The possibility of aquaplaning persists even with brand-new Car Tyres Northampton, but it is still manageable if you modify your pace to suit the road conditions.

Aquaplaning: What Is It?

The phenomenon known as hydroplaning, or aquaplaning, occurs when your automobile behaves like an unhappy water skier. A layer of water accumulates between your tyres and the road when your tyres come into contact with more water than they can push away. Your automobile may lose traction as a result, which might impair your control over it. It's quite slippery, just try guiding a hockey puck on ice! 

Why Is It Important for You to Care?

Everyone wants to go from point A to point B securely, right? The secret to keeping yourself and your loved ones safe during heavy downpours is to recognise and avoid aquaplaning. Furthermore, understanding is half the fight won!

Risk of Aquaplaning:

LOST FEEL

It is crucial to have tyres with the right groove depth and weather-appropriate characteristics for traffic safety reasons.  When there is an abundance of water on the road and the vehicle speed beyond a particular threshold, the tire's tread pattern is unable to force water out from beneath the tyre. There will be no longer be any sensation or grip between the tyre and the road.

Less than four millimetres of tread causes the tyres' wet grip and aquaplaning characteristics to basically worsen; the danger of aquaplaning, in particular, increases significantly. It also means that the automobile will slide less and have a longer stopping distance. 

LOST CONTACT AREA 

The contact area between the tyre and the road is significantly reduced when driving speed increases and tyre wears out. The contact area of a summer tyre with varying groove depths when travelling at different speeds on a road with three millimetres of water thickness is depicted in the image below. In comparison to a stopped vehicle, the contact area of a car with worn-out tyres (thread 1.6 mm) travelling at 125 km/h is only 6%.

HOW TO PREVENT AQUAPLANING?

Drivers can lower their risk of aquaplaning by controlling two key groups of parameters. The first is driving behaviour: when the road is wet, it is crucial to slow down since the quicker a car goes, the more difficult it is for the tyres to disperse water. This is particularly true in parts of the road where there are deeper water patches or puddles.

It is advisable to steer clear of cruise control during a downpour since it might cause a sudden surge in power when a car begins to aquaplane, making the issue worse instead of better.

To prevent aquaplaning when driving in the rain, you should do the following:

• Make travel plans: Before you go, check the weather reports because there can be warnings for certain weather conditions in your location. Real-time information on road conditions and weather are also displayed by several sat navs and sat nav apps.

• Apply a light brake: In wet circumstances, abrupt braking can lead to a loss of traction and skidding, as well as reduced control.

• Maintain a consistent speed when driving since, particularly in inclement weather and the winter, driving too quickly increases the risk of losing control of the vehicle.

• Recognise your stopping distances: Make careful to keep a greater space from the car in front of you while stopping because in rainy circumstances stopping distances might double.

• Avoid big puddles whenever you can: Above all, if there's a big body of water on the road, attempt to avoid it if it's safe to do so.

Tyre Advice to Keep You Safe!

• Tread Depth: Make sure there is enough tread depth on your tyres. Your best ally while aquaplaning is a worn-out tyre. The water dispersion improves with deeper tread.

• Tyre Pressure: Maintain the recommended tyre pressure. The way that over- or under-inflated tyres respond to water on the road might vary.

• Speed: When it's raining, it's best to go slowly and steadily. It becomes more difficult for your tyres to distribute water as you accelerate.

• Avert Puddles: It may seem evident, yet there are instances when puddles are simply inevitable. Recall that your tyres may potentially aquaplane on these little lakes.

Selecting the Proper Tyres

Not every tyre is made equally. Some are better than others in handling damp situations because of their special design. We can assist you in selecting the ideal tyre for wet roads since we are believers in the wonders of contemporary tyre technology.

Remind yourself that you can conquer this the next time the skies part! You can drive safely on wet roads if you have the appropriate information and Pirelli Tyres Northampton. And hey, we're here to help if you ever feel overwhelmed.