BERLIN: In heavy rain and on wet roads, the threat of aquaplaning can pose a real danger. Cars can suddenly start to slip and slide along the road surface and cannot be steered to safety, since the tyres no longer divert all the water passing through their treads.
In the event of aquaplaning, a major German safety inspection agency advises drivers not to touch the steering wheel, take their foot off the gas or, in cars with anti-lock brakes, not brake too cautiously or tentatively. Only when the wheels re-establish proper traction on the road should the driver start steering again.
When there's a continuous film of water on the road surface, drivers should exercise extreme caution. Loud water sounds in the wheel arches or along the underbody can indicate a high potential for aquaplaning, as can spinning tyres or a jerking steering wheel.
In general, the inspection agency advises drivers to brake lightly here and there in wet conditions, as this can help dry off the brake coatings and discs. In case of emergency, the tyres will then be able to grip the road more quickly. Modern and more expensive car models often take this step automatically.
The deeper the treads in a car's tyres, the better they can cope with potential aquaplaning. A new tyre with a tread seven or more millimetres deep will still be able to divert water at around 80kph, whereas a 3-millimetre tread will only be effective up to 70kph. At a bare minimum depth of 1.6 millimetres, the tyres will lose traction at just 50kph.
