In the wet, your tyres are doing one critical job: clearing water so the rubber can still touch the road. When water can't escape fast enough, the tyre floats, that's aquaplaning, and you lose steering and braking entirely. Tread depth and pressure are what stand between you and that moment.
How tyres fight aquaplaning
The grooves in your tread pump water out from under the contact patch. Deep tread shifts a lot of water; worn tread shifts little. That's why wet braking deteriorates steadily as tyres wear, well before the legal 1.6mm. It's also why wet grip is the tyre-label rating that matters most.
Signs you're aquaplaning
- The steering suddenly feels light and vague.
- The engine note rises as the wheels spin up.
- The back of the car drifts slightly.
If it happens, don't brake hard or swerve, ease off the accelerator and hold the wheel straight until grip returns.
Staying safe in heavy rain
- Slow down, stopping distances at least double in the wet.
- Increase your following distance to at least four seconds.
- Keep pressures correct, under-inflation hurts water clearance.
- Check tread regularly with the 20p test.
Worried about wet grip?
If your tread's getting low before the wet season, replace early. We fit high wet-grip tyres at your home or work across London and Birmingham. Book a fit.
