Your vehicle's grip on the road depends on a small area of contact where the tires meet the road surface, called the tire's footprint. The amount of water on the road, your speed and the condition of your tires affect footprint traction.

• With only one-twelfth of an inch of water between your tires and the road, each of your tires has to displace one gallon of water per second. Good tread allows water to escape from under the tires. Proper inflation also increases traction. Low tire pressure allows the tread to squeeze together, reducing the tire's ability to wipe or channel away water. Tires specifically designed for wet weather traction allow more water to escape, keeping the footprint in contact with the road surface.
• Look and listen for signs of hydroplaning: standing water, raindrops bubbling on the road or a sloshing sound from your tires.
• Choose a speed consistent with the amount of water on the road. At 30 mph or less, properly inflated tires with good tread will maintain contact. Even a brand-new tire will lose some footprint contact at speeds as low as 35 mph. At 60 mph, water may separate the tire from the road and cause hydroplaning.
• To reduce chances of hydroplaning slow down, avoid hard braking or turning sharply, drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you and increase your following distance.

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