Get to know what Aquaplaning is and how to deal with it
While driving, there are bound to be problems that haunt you. Starting from external problems such as traffic jams, to internal problems such as tire problems. Apart from flat tires, there are actually other tire problems that Drivemate must be aware of, especially during the rainy season. The problem in question is aquaplaning, a problem with the tires that occurs due to contact with water. Actually, what is aquaplaning?
Get to know what aquaplaning is
Aquaplaning is a condition when a vehicle's tires lose traction due to standing water. This situation can be seen when a car is driving fast on a road full of puddles of water. When a car passes through a puddle of water, there is a possibility that the car's tires will lose their grip and start to slip.
If the driver does not understand what to do to overcome this, the impact can be fatal. Not only for the driver, this incident can also have an impact on the safety of passengers and other road users.
How does aquaplaning happen?
When Drivemate speeds on the road, the traction of the tires will keep the vehicle stable and under control. However, when a car passes through a puddle of water, the pressure from the car tires will form a layer of water that separates the tires from the road surface. This layer of water reduces the traction of the tires so that the car easily slips. Moreover, when speeding, the car will lift slightly because of the wind passing under the car. At this point, the tire has actually lost a little of its traction.
Characteristics of tires affected by aquaplaning
When driving through puddles, there are several signs that the Drivemate will or is experiencing aquaplaning. First, the sound of the vehicle engine will sound louder due to the heavy water splashing on the engine. Second, the transmission feels like it's shifting, even though it's not. Third, the speed of the vehicle suddenly becomes faster and the sides of the car feel like they are floating.
3 Ways to overcome aquaplaning
After knowing what aquaplaning is and how aquaplaning can occur, Drivemates must also know what to do if they feel the above characteristics while driving through puddles of water. Here are tips for dealing with aquaplaning that you should remember.
1. Stay focused and concentrate
When Drivemate starts to feel the signs of aquaplaning, use full concentration to regain control of the car. Don't even take it lightly or even look away when this happens. Apart from that, the next key is, stay calm and don't panic.
2. Avoid directly pressing the gas/brake pedal
When you feel the car is going too fast, don't immediately step on the brake. This can cause the car tires to slip and actually lead to disaster. Stepping on the gas pedal is also not recommended because it will actually trigger the appearance of a layer of water which makes the tires lose traction quickly.
Drivemates should reduce the car's speed by slowly releasing the accelerator pedal and then continuing to press the brake pedal smoothly and gradually.
3. Don't turn the steering wheel too fast
The last thing you have to do is keep the steering wheel straight. Turning suddenly when the car's tires don't have traction will make the vehicle's speed uncontrollable, and you could even lose control, which can have fatal consequences.
Tips to prevent aquaplaning
Well, instead of having to face Drivemate with this aquaplaning condition, it's better to immediately take precautions. In fact, aquaplaning will not happen easily if you regularly maintain the condition of your car tires.
One way is to diligently clean the tire surface. On car tires, there are grooves that function to move water to prevent a layer of water from being created which causes the tire to slip. If the tire grooves are filled with dirt, a layer of water will easily appear causing aquaplaning. For this reason, don't forget to clean your tires regularly.
That's a review of what aquaplaning is. If the cause of aquaplaning turns out to be poor quality tires, then the solution is to replace them. Choose tires with good anti-aquaplaning capabilities, such as Dunlop Direzza DZ102. In fact, one of Dunlop's newest tires is also equipped with better traction performance on dry and wet roads, so that Drivemate driving safety is more optimal.
There's no need to doubt comfort because the Dunlop Direzza DZ102 has a low noise level, making the driving experience even better. For more complete information about anti-aquaplaning tires and other superior tire products from Dunlop, just click here. Don't forget to follow Dunlop Instagram for other information about tire care and driving tips!