Summertime is maybe the best time of the year to drive, as the weather tends to be great and the roads are perfect condition to drive on. The main challenging conditions to drive in tend to be during the thunderstorms, when you have very heavy rain. When you have this type of heavy summer rain, the water tends to accumulate on the road surface causing a challenge for car to drive, as the tires will need to remove the water so that the car tires will remain in contact with the road surface.
When the tires have to fight with removing the excess water then you might end up in a situation where the tires are not able to push away the water and ultimately losing contact with the road surface. If this happens, then you lose control over your vehicle, which can cause accidents. The loss of contact will remain until the speed is reduced and contact can be regained. This happens as the vehicle is basically floating on top of the water layer it will lose speed and regain control, however if the driver panics and turns the steering wheel, the wheels might be turning when the contact is made and it can cause the car to jump sideways and potentially crash into cars on the side of it or the railing. The best ways to counteract aquaplaning is to get a good set of all-season tires that are good at preventing aquaplaning, and then you should just take your foot of the gas pedal and try to remain calm until the contact is reestablished.
The risk for aquaplaning increases with low tread depth, so if you have a tread depth of less than 5/32 inches then your risk of experiencing it increases. Using tires that have been developed to reduce the risk of aquaplaning further reduces the likelihood. These tires have incorporated a tread design that can speed up the movement of water in the grooves as well as its ability to channel water through the grooves to the sides to ensure effective removement of water.
You need to make sure that you have good all-season tires or tires that are meant to be used during the summer season and you need to make sure that they are in good condition. Good condition means that they are free from any damages caused by hitting curbs or potholes and that the tread depth is acceptable. If the tires have so called DSI, which is Driving Safety Indicator, which indicated the remaining tread depth in millimeter, so when you reach the number 4 it is time to change to new tires.
The tire pressure also needs to be in the correct level as low tire pressure causes the tires to wear faster than intended and your car will consume more fuel than intended. It is also less safe to drive with low tire pressure as the vehicle is more difficult to control and braking distance is increased. Checking the tire pressure regularly is important to ensure that you have the correct pressure.
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