![]() ![]() By maintaining distance, you will have more time to react and brake accordingly. For that reason, I recommend keeping a much larger distance from the vehicle in front of you. Keep Your Distanceīraking distances are much longer on wet than on dry roads. It sounds counter-intuitive, I know, but that’s the way weight transfer in cars works. When you brake and turn into a corner and oversteer occurs, then you should lightly hit the accelerator pedal. If you apply too much power, then you should ease off the gas while keeping the steering wheel turned into the corner. That’s because oversteer can occur when applying power on the rear wheels, or braking while turning. If the back end of your vehicle starts skidding (oversteer), things are a bit more complicated. While doing that, maintain the angle of the steering wheel until the vehicle gets back on track. When the front end of your front-wheel-drive vehicle starts skidding outside of the turn (understeer), gently lift off the gas. There is a way to combat this, but be sure that you remember it – you might need it someday. How to Control the Skid Once it Happensĭue to limited traction and grip in rainy conditions, your vehicle might start skidding even at lower speeds. Be gentle with the gas pedal – you won’t be going faster if you hit it hard in the rain.įinally, never turn the steering wheel abruptly in rainy conditions – it may also introduce sliding. Moreover, applying too much power to the driven wheels can also introduce skidding, especially if you’re mid-corner. Of course, you should hit the brakes hard in case of an emergency. However, it’s still safer to brake gently, at least when possible. ![]() Now, sure, the issue is mitigated in modern cars, thanks to ABS systems. If you brake too hard, your vehicle might start skidding. And by anything, I mean the brakes, gas pedal, and steering wheel. Never apply too much of anything in your car when it rains. That way, you’ll ensure that the tires provide you with short braking distances and safe handling. You should always drive slower on wet roads than you would on dry roads.įor example, if you usually hit 50mph on some road on sunny days, lower the speed to 35-40mph. Slow Down Immediately When It Starts RainingĪdhering to the speed limit is crucial to keep our roads safe, and that’s especially true when it rains. So, do your research before purchasing and be sure that the tires work safely on wet tarmac. Many cheap tires hit the market recently, most of which don’t work very well on wet surfaces. Here is a video to prove it:Īlso, I strongly recommend going for tires from proven and trusted manufacturers. Still don’t trust me? Research at MIRA with Goodyear tires showed that tires with 3mm tread depth have 25% shorter braking distances than tires with a 1,6mm tread depth. The less tread, the more dangerous it becomes to drive on wet surfaces. The grooves on the tire are designed literally for channeling water out of the surface. The reason? Simply put, the tread depth is not sufficient for displacing large amounts of water. Not even the highest-quality tires will provide you with enough traction when completely worn-down. I can’t stress this enough, but having good tires on your car is super-important on rainy days. Here are my 11 tips for driving in the rain. So, let’s make a joint effort and make roads safer during rainy days. Driving in the rain is no joke – 73% of the weather-related accidents happen in the rain. ![]() This lesson in physics might’ve been annoying, but I wrote it to show you the gravity of the situation. This is called hydroplaning, and it can be hazardous if encountered at higher speeds. When water mixes with grease and dirt, it creates an even more viscous film that lowers the traction even further.Īdditionally, during heavy rain, the tires might not be able to make contact with the tarmac at all. Things become much worse on roads filled with oil and dirt, or almost every street in the world. As a result of that, the rolling traction of the tires falls dramatically. So, when your tires hit wet roads, they literally roll over an unstable substance. Water is a viscous fluid, and it can change its state very rapidly (pouring water into a glass). When water hits the surface, it creates a thin film over the tarmac. We know that standing water can cause sliding from childhood, but most drivers seem to forget that when they hit the road. Why Vehicles Lose Traction on Wet Tarmac? Hence, learning to drive in the rain can be super important. In short, the tires don’t stick to wet roads well.Īnd things become even worse when the water mixes with oil and dirt. Why? Well, first of all, modern tires have a coefficient of friction of 0.7 on dry, and 0.4 on wet pavement. I’m also in a hurry most of my life, but driving fast in rainy conditions is never a good idea. Rain pours outside, and you’re safe and sound in your vehicle speeding to your next appointment. ![]()
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