Aquaplaning — also called hydroplaning — occurs when a layer of water builds up between your tyres and the road surface, breaking the contact that allows steering and braking to work. The result is a sudden, alarming loss of control that can happen with very little warning.
Given Glasgow's rainfall levels, aquaplaning is a genuine concern for local drivers. Understanding its causes and how to react is essential knowledge for anyone driving in Scotland.
What Causes Aquaplaning?
The primary factors are speed, water depth and tyre condition. Modern tyre tread is specifically designed to channel water away from the contact patch — the tread grooves are essentially drainage channels that displace water as the tyre rolls.
As tread depth decreases, the tyre's ability to channel water is reduced. A tyre with 3mm of tread displaces significantly more water per second than one at 1.6mm, meaning the latter is far more vulnerable to aquaplaning.
How to Respond if You Aquaplane
If your vehicle starts to aquaplane, resist the instinct to brake hard or make sudden steering inputs. Ease off the throttle smoothly, keep the steering straight and allow the car to decelerate naturally until the tyres regain contact with the road.
Modern stability control systems help manage aquaplaning, but they cannot compensate for severely worn tyres. Prevention through tyre maintenance is always preferable to managing a loss of control.
Protecting Yourself with the Right Tyres in Glasgow
Tyres with high wet grip ratings and adequate tread depth are your best defence against aquaplaning. Glasgow Mobile Tyre Fitters can supply tyres with A and B wet grip ratings for all vehicle types across the city.
If your tread depth is below 3mm, we strongly recommend replacement before driving in heavy rain. Contact us for a free tyre assessment and same-day fitting anywhere in Glasgow.
Glasgow Mobile Tyre Fitters provide fast, professional mobile tyre fitting across all Glasgow postcodes. Call us or book online — same-day service available.