What causes a hydroplaning skid?

What causes a hydroplaning skid?

• A. Tires gripping dry asphalt
• B. Tires riding up on top of a thin layer of water on a wet roadway
• C. Underinflated tires on dry pavement
• D. Worn tread on a gravel road

Answer: (B)

Hydroplaning happens when a thin sheet of water builds between the tire and the road, so the tire loses contact with the surface and rides on the water instead of gripping the pavement. As speed increases or water can't be pushed out from under the tread quickly enough, the tire can no longer touch the road, causing a loss of traction and making braking or steering difficult. That is exactly what the option describes: tires riding up on top of a thin layer of water on a wet roadway. On dry asphalt, tires grip normally; underinflated tires on dry pavement reduce handling but don’t involve a water film causing hydroplaning; and worn tread on a gravel road affects traction in different ways and doesn’t define hydroplaning on a wet road.

Hydroplaning happens when a thin sheet of water builds between the tire and the road, so the tire loses contact with the surface and rides on the water instead of gripping the pavement. As speed increases or water can't be pushed out from under the tread quickly enough, the tire can no longer touch the road, causing a loss of traction and making braking or steering difficult. That is exactly what the option describes: tires riding up on top of a thin layer of water on a wet roadway. On dry asphalt, tires grip normally; underinflated tires on dry pavement reduce handling but don’t involve a water film causing hydroplaning; and worn tread on a gravel road affects traction in different ways and doesn’t define hydroplaning on a wet road.