Correct tyre pressure and good tyre condition are two of the main contributors to road safety during wet weather. Moderately heavy and often sudden downpours experienced in local thunderstorms place extreme demands on a tyre in the wet. The contact patch of each tyre, which is about the size of the palm of one’s hand, must be able to clear away water effectively to remain in contact with the surface of the road.

The tread pattern on a tyre enables water to be cleared away via dispersion. As the tyre moves along the surface, standing water is channeled into the grooves of the tread and expelled, while remaining surface moisture is mopped up by smaller slits in the tread blocks known as sipes.
But if a tyre encounters more water than it is capable of dispersing, it loses contact with the road surface and is unable to transmit braking, steering or acceleration forces. This condition is known as aquaplaning or hydroplaning, and can result in complete loss of control of the vehicle.

A brand-new tyre with maximum tread depth is best able to resist aquaplaning. However, as a tyre wears and the tread grooves become shallower, aquaplaning resistance declines. A tyre worn even to the legal limit may not be able to disperse the amount of water found on roads during a typical rainstorm – this could result in the vehicle going into an unrecoverable skid.
Thus reducing speed is also important in wet weather. Even with brand new tyres, if a motorist is driving too fast for the amount of water on the road, the tyres may reach the limits of their capability to disperse water and begin to aquaplane. The streets are busier as more people drive to avoid the rain and the roads become slippery. There’s the water itself, but the rain also brings oil and other slippery muck to the surface.

Aquaplaning is not the only danger on wet roads, with traction also being reduced. A brief rain shower which wets the road surface without leaving standing water on the road can increase braking distances by a third to a half, or more. Roads which are heavily contaminated with oil or diesel may be even more slippery in wet weather.
Motorists are advised to ensure that their tyres have adequate tread depth for water dispersion during rainy weather, and that their tyre pressures are correctly set to give the optimum traction in wet or dry spells. Drivers need extra time and distance to maintain safety in wet weather. Properly-inflated tyres, in good condition, will help ensure there’s control when a driver needs it.

A quality tyre such as Bridgestone’s Turanza T001 features wide main grooves for water evacuation, minimizing aquaplaning; and an exclusive Nano Pro-Tech™ tread compound delivering unparalleled performance on wet roads.





It’s no surprise that in the wet weather there are in-fact more accidents, but there are some simple things you can do to avoid getting into trouble.
To get your vehicle ready for driving in wet weather make sure you have good tyre tread (at least 1.5mm deep across the whole tyre width). The deeper the tread the less likely the car is to skid or aquaplane. And then check your air pressure for adequate inflation by referring to the numbers specified by the vehicle manufacturer.

Ensure you also take note of these handy wet weather pointers:

WET WEATHER SAFETY TIPS

  • Turn on demisters
    Both front and rear to keep your windows clear.
  • Avoid cruise control
    If the car aquaplanes, your wheels can reach an excessive speed when not in contact with the road. This has the result of propelling your car forward when the wheels touch down again.
  • Turn on your headlights
    Even in light rain and during the daytime – to help you see, and be seen. Avoid high beams which will reflect back towards you, reducing visibility.
  • Keep a sharp lookout for pedestrians
    Ordinarily-attentive people may become distracted by opening an umbrella or rushing to get out of the wet, and they may find it harder to hear your approach over the sound of the rain.
  • Give yourself more travel time
    This will allow you to drive at a slower, safe pace and cope with the probability of heavy traffic.
  • Leave extra room
    Increase your stopping distance. Make sure if the vehicle in front of you comes to a sudden stop, you have enough space to brake to a stop without skidding.
  • Avoid Sudden Movements
    Be gentle and progressive when steering, accelerating and braking on wet roads. Do not accelerate quickly after stopping. Apply gentle pressure to your accelerator to avoid skidding.
  • Slow down
    When water mixes with the oil and dirt on the road it can create slick conditions that encourage skidding.
  • Drive in the tracks of the car in front
    Following another car’s tracks on wet roads can reduce the amount of water between the road and your car tyres.
  • Be wary of floods
    Take extra care when driving on a road or bridge that has been recently flooded. It may be damaged, still drying out or contain debris. If you must drive through a larger puddle, do so slowly and then gently apply the brakes to dry out the pads.





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LINKS:
Bridgestone Australia - https://www.bridgestonetyres.com.au/
Bridgestone Australia Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BridgestoneAU