Tires can help prevent hydroplaning and it is therefore important to invest in good quality tires. There has been a lot of advances in tire technologies in recent years, especially many that help reduce the risk of hydroplaning. Both all-weather tires and all-season tires have tread patterns with grooves to help evacuate water to prevent hydroplaning, which happens when the water pressure in the front of the wheel pushes water under the tire, separating the tire from the road and thereby loosing traction.
The Nokian eNTYRE 2.0 all-season tires have polished lateral and inside grooves giving the ultimate protection against aqua planing. This is because the design of the new lateral grooves allows them to store more water from between the tire and the road and accelerates its flow from the main grooves. Allowing the tires to disperse more water.
The Nokian WR G4 all-weather tires uses the new innovative “Blade Grooves” to protect from hydroplaning. These “Blade Grooves” efficiently route rain, snow and slush away from the contact surface. It should be noted that hydroplaning can occur with both water (aquaplaning) as well as slush (slushplaning). In addition, they are equipped with the new “Coanda technology” that with its curved, ramp-like design of the tread blocks on the inner shoulder guides and accelerates the flow of water from the longitudinal grooves into the transverse grooves. These slushplaning prevention properties are retained even as the tires wear down.
Since aquaplaning or hydroplaning happens when a layer of water builds up between the wheel of the car and the road surface, leading to a loss of traction that prevents the car from responding to control inputs. To prevent hydroplaning, it is important to always have good quality tires with adequate tread that are properly inflated. Make sure to also rotate tires and replace if the tread is below 4 millimeters. New tires have a groove depth of over 8 millimeters, though often more than 9 millimeters. It is also important to slow down when roads are wet, this is because the faster you drive the harder it is for the tires to disperse the water. Avoid puddles and standing water, turn off cruise control, drive in lower gears, avoid hard braking, don’t do sharp or quick turns. If after all precautions your car still ends up hydroplaning then you need to take your foot of the brake, steer in the same direction as you are heading and do not under any circumstances slam on the brakes.
Both all-season tires and all-weather tires have features to protect from hydroplaning and as long as the tires are in good shape with at least 4mm of tread and properly inflated then the risk of hydroplaning it greatly reduced. It is however important to stay prudent when driving in rain. Always slow down, avoid puddles, keep your eyes on the road, avoid drastic turns or hard braking and if possible, drive in a lower gear.
For more information regarding all-season tires, visit: https://www.nokiantires.com
