Unfortunately, summertime brings a lot of rain. The Met Office estimates that the UK summertime brings an average of up to 300mm of rain, which is more than enough to produce aquaplaning. This article will explain aquaplaning, explain how to drive over water safely, and—perhaps most importantly—discuss which summer Dunlop Tyres Liverpool are most suited for handling it.
What is Aquaplaning?
When a lot of water forms a layer between the tyres and the water, it's referred to as hydroplaning or aquaplaning. The water layer makes it difficult to have direct grip or control on the road, which can be problematic when driving.
So how can you determine whether your car is aquaplaning? The vast majority of feedback your car gives you about handling, performance, and the driver experience has to do with how well your tyres are making contact with the pavement. This contact area gets smaller the faster you drive, for example. This also applies to tyres that have worn down to a thinner tread. When this happens, the automobile responds incorrectly to your input, making it feel like it's skating on ice and impossible to manage.
Similar sensations are produced by aquaplaning because the water layer shields the tougher road surface from direct touch. If the tyre is not in direct contact with the road, even the highest automobile performance tyre is not going to be very useful.
The weight of your car can usually push enough water out of the way while you're driving on a wet road. However, aquaplaning occurs when there is too much water for your wheels to push away forcefully. As an alternative, it accumulates underneath, creating pressure that raises your car.
In other words, how much water must be on the road for aquaplaning to be dangerous? There is no one correct answer because it depends on a number of variables, including the type of automobile and the tyres chosen. But according to at least one research, it only requires 2.54 mm, or a tenth of an inch, for every thirty feet or more. You also need to think about the surroundings, such whether or not there are any grasslands or drainage systems nearby for the water to wash off of
What factors affect traction on a wet surface?
Characteristics of a particular tyre model
There is a large range of tread patterns available nowadays. While some manufacturers stick to the symmetrical design, others like asymmetric tread, while still others favour directional tread. When on damp surfaces, they all act differently.
Insufficient tyre pressure
A wedge of water is created in front of a moving tyre on a wet road. Hydrodynamic pressure is produced when the tread presses up against the water in front of the contact surface. The tyre lifts off the road when this pressure rises above the pressure inside the tyres, which stops the rubber from repelling water.
Tyre impression pattern
On a wet road, as was previously explained, a wedge of water forms in front of the rolling tyre. Before the pressure it puts on the contact surface's leading edge is more than the pressure in the tyres, it needs to be evenly distributed sideways. It is well known that a circular form experiences less resistance than a flat one.
Watercrafts typically feature a V-shaped or simply rounded bow for this reason. Analogously, with tyres, the more rounded the contact zone is, the more water dissipates, the lower the hydrodynamic pressure, and the faster aquaplaning happens.
Tyre width
The higher the likelihood, the higher the chance of aquaplaning
- Because there are more tyre grooves per unit area and the tread pattern is more worn,
- Nonetheless, the tyre air pressure has to be reduced due to the road's water layer and travel pace.
These factors are all connected to the volume of water that has to be forced out of the tread.
Ways to control aquaplaning
If you find yourself aquaplaning, it's critical to maintain your composure. While most aquaplaning incidents last only a few seconds at most, reacting incorrectly might exacerbate the situation.
Avoid braking or accelerating at any costs. This won't have the desired effect since the layer of water between the tyres and the ground prevents them from being linked.
The tyres won't be able to break against the road, therefore braking and acceleration will be ineffective for the same reason. Actually, as a faster speed makes the tyre glide over the water rather than pushing it away, you are more likely to experience aquaplaning at greater speeds.
Instead, you should let go of the pedal and let your car slow down on its own. When the tyres "sink" and make contact with the ground, you'll regain some control. It should not take long for the tyres to come into touch with the ground, giving you full control once more.
Selecting best performing tyres for aquaplaning
A significant attribute of some of the top summer tyres is their ability to grip wet conditions. You can readily locate a tyre that performs better during aquaplaning and comparable situations because it's one of the primary categories included on EU tyre labels.
As we've previously discussed, the proper tread pattern or tread design is essential for the most effective Cheap Tyres Liverpool for aquaplaning. In order for the grooves to effectively redirect or expel water away from the vehicle, there must also be a sufficient tread depth—at least 3 to 4 mm.