Where we are located in central Florida, we expect rain to arrive shortly after lunch and not let up til late afternoon. Before driving in these thunderstorms, it is important to remember a few things.
The reality of these rain storms is that they put down lots of water on the road surfaces in a very short time. If your driving to fast and your tires are at the wear indicators or lower, you could be in real trouble. That trouble bares the name; Hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning occurs when your tires are unable to wick the water or moisture away from their tread surface where the tire and pavement meet. As you drive, the amount of water is too much for the tires to move and eventually your vehicle is pushed up onto the water surface instead of moving the water from the path of travel. This is dangerous because as you glide on the water surface, you have little control over your vehicle!
Fortunately, there are ways to help prevent a hydroplane incident from occurring!
1. Properly Maintain Your Tires.
– Aside from keeping tire pressure to spec, if your tires are older than 5 years or have a tread depth of 4/32 inch or less (3mm), it is time to replace them for your safety and others on the road.
2. Avoid Puddles or Standing Water.
– Avoid the extra risk of encountering water if at all possible.
3. Drive Defensively.
– Slow down, let your tires do their job. Maintain enough space to stop promptly if needed!
