PA auto dealers know know well the dangers of hydroplaning. Hydroplaning is one of the most common causes of accidents, and is something that can lead to accidents, injury, or even death.
To know what hydroplaning is, it’s important first to understand something about how tires are designed to work on roads with water on them.
The dips or grooves in the tire tread are used to help remove water from underneath a tire. This means that a tire can still have a high degree of friction with the surface of the road, even when it’s wet outside. Hydroplaning occurs when a moving tire can’t get rid of all of the water underneath the tire. Water builds up pressure in front of the tire, and it forces water in a wedge shape to be forced under the front end of the wheel. This causes the tire to lift up from the road, creating the hydroplaning phenomenon.
The immediate result of hydroplaning is a loss of control of your vehicle. You can’t control the vehicle while it is hydroplaning, and have to wait until the hydroplaning stops. When a car hydroplanes, it can feel like the steering is loose. Small steering corrections won’t be followed. To get out of the hydroplane, keep your steering wheel straight and apply gentle pressure to the brakes as you gently ease off of the accelerator.
Hydroplaning is more likely the faster you go. In addition, if your tires have worn treads or are underinflated, your risk for hydroplaning is higher, as well.
A new Honda from your local Honda dealer will have nice new tires that are much less prone to hydroplaning than older, more worn tires.