Wet Weather Tyres
And so autumn seems to be poking its head around the corner and giving us plenty of rain already… So we hope all you drivers are being extra careful driving in the wet weather and checking your tyres are up to scratch for slippy roads, pot holes and puddles!
Reduced tread depth can greatly affect the performance of your tyres on wet roads, increasing stopping distance and reducing grip – especially on corners. If you’ve ever skidded or aquaplaned in a car, you’ll know it’s pretty terrifying (and extremely dangerous to you and other drivers) but it’s pretty simple to avoid by making sure your tyres are in good condition.
The legal minimum for tyre tread depth is 1.6mm, but stopping distances in the wet increase rather dramatically at tread depths of 3mm or less. So check your tread – if it’s 3mm or below, we’d recommend getting your tyres replaced to be on the safe side. Also check your tyre pressure, as this can also affect the performance of your tyres and needlessly speed up tread wear.
But the most important thing you can do when driving in wet weather is to keep your distance from the car in front and check your speed. For some of us, that driving test was a long long time ago, but the rules still apply – stopping distances on wet roads can double, so be careful out there.