Saturday, July 16, 2011

What Is Hydroplaning Tires?

By Ron Haugen




Tires provide a simple action for a vehicle - they help the vehicle to move. This action has plenty of bearing on the safety of our driving and the efficiency with which we drive. This is why we focus on the various issues that can affect the tires on vehicles as they are driven. Hydroplaning is one serious issue that all should completely understand and work to avoid. But what is hydroplaning tires, and what can we do to combat the action?

Understanding Hydroplaning

Hydroplaning involves water that is on the road, water that usually comes from (or during) a heavy rain storm. The road may be completely flooded, or divots and tracks in the road may retain water that the other areas of the road do not. When a car drives through a small puddle after these storms, it simply displaces the water and stays in contact with the road. But when a car drives over a large section of water, hydroplaning can occur. Hydroplaning is when the water on the road forms a barrier between the the road and the tire. The tire is not actually touching the ground, and is instead resting on the water. This is possible due to the fast movement of the tires and the depth of the water.

Hydroplaning can cause serious issues with the control of the vehicle. When the car is hydroplaning, the tires that are currently on the water (as opposed to the road) are inoperable. While they still move, they cannot be controlled - the tires cannot accelerate, slow dow, or be directed. The danger comes when multiple tires suffer from hydroplaning. If the two tires that are responsible for steering hydroplane, or if all four tires hydroplane, the entire vehicle is not able to stop or be directed. The driver will lose complete control of the vehicle.

Your Tires and Their Susceptibility to Hydroplaning

While the standing water on the road is one cause of hydroplaning, the tires on your vehicle are another. If your tires are under-inflated or overinflated, they will not have complete contact with the road. The lack of traction will allow the barrier to form, causing the hydroplaning action.

The tread of the tire is also an important aspect of the issue of hydroplaning. The stronger and deeper the tread on your tires, the less likely your vehicle is to hydroplane. The treads help to break up the water that is on the road, giving you traction and reducing the ability of the water to form the barrier that causes the issue.

What is Hydroplaning tires?

So what is hydroplaning tires? When some people refer to hydroplaning tires, they are talking about tires that are made for wet weather conditions. These tires feature deep grooves and treads that have been designed with standing water in mind. Their goal is to provide an ultimate level of traction on the road, keeping the tires from hydroplaning and keeping the driver in full control of their vehicle on the road. If you drive in wet conditions on a regular basis, you should consider replacing your tires with these tires.

If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to http://www.westsideautopros.com.




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Haugen


http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Is-Hydroplaning-Tires?&id=6418589

No comments:

Post a Comment