Aquaplaning causes your bike to skid on the wet roads

Its monsoon time in India and the chances of encountering Aquaplaning is more these days than any other time of the year. So I thought this would be the best time to throw some light on Aquaplaning so you have better understanding of this phenomenon.

Aquaplaning or Hydroplaning is a phenomenon which causes your motorcycle to shed traction while moving over a wet road or surface. When you move over a wet road, the water on the surface tends to accumulate in front of your tires, if the amount of water is more than what the tire can push away, then a thin film of water builds up between the tire and the road making you lose contact with the surface causing you lose control of your motorcycle and resulting in a slide or a skid.

But I would say that motorcyclists are luckier than the fellow car owners as the chances of aquaplaning in motorcycles are far less than in a car. Motorcycles have narrow tires as compared to cars and secondly they are rounded than being flat which enhances their ability to push out the water to the sides.

For those who prefer wider tires for their motorcycle just for the sake of looks, better think twice as the chances of aquaplaning would be more with wider tires.

Factors contributing to Aquaplaning:

Aquaplaning can be caused by various factors which are mentioned below and whether your motorcycle will aquaplane or not will be dependent on all of these factors:

Tires:

Tires play a major role in Aquaplaning. If you have been neglecting the tires of your motorcycle for a long time then better have a thorough check and replace them if they are worn out.

Tires play a major role in order to prevent Aquaplaning

Size of the tire: The size of the tire determines the size of the contact patch which the tire would make with the road. The longer and thinner the contact patch is, the least are the chances of hydroplaning. Wider tires which are small in diameter are more prone to Hydroplaning.

Tire tread: Everyone of us knows that worn out tires have less traction. The tread depth ensures better traction on road and therefore reducing the risk of Hydroplaning as it gives enough room for the water to make its way out.

Tire tread pattern: The tread pattern contributes significantly to the amount of water the tire can channel away. Some tread patterns are more effective in doing this job.

Tire Pressure: Adhere to the tire pressure recommendation by the manufacturer. Improper tire pressure can affect the way the tire clears the water underneath it. Check your tire pressure regularly.

Water:

Apart from the tire condition, Aquaplaning is also dependent on the amount of water on the road. Some of the factors are listed below:

Water depth: The chances of Aquaplaning increases with increase in the depth of the water. When water comes in between the tire and the road surface, it reduces the overall friction causing the tire to ride over a thin layer of water which can cause the loss of control of your motorcycle.

Water composition: The overall composition of the water like the amount of oil, dirt, salt and minerals present in it can affect its overall properties and characteristics.

Motorcycle:

Motorcycle Speed:  As you increase the speed of your motorcycle the ability of the tire to hold on to the wet surface decreases. If you continue to ride at high speed on wet roads the chances of Aquaplaning rises significantly. Therefore it is always better to ride slow and carefully on wet roads which will help you control your motorcycle better.

Motorcycle Weight: Lighter motorcycles are likely to hydroplane more than heavy motorcycles. More weight causes the tires to stay in contact with the road and clear out water more easily. However one should ensure that the tire pressure is within the recommended values from the manufacturer. More weight on properly inflated tire increase the length of the contact patch and makes it thinner thereby reducing the chances of Aquaplaning. An under-inflated tire would behave the opposite way.

Another factor which can impact Aquaplaning is the composition and type of road surface you are riding on. Since this factor is not in our control therefore we will not talk much about it.

How do you know that your motorcycle is Aquaplaning?

It is very difficult to tell when your motorcycle is aquaplaning. You might feel the front wheel of your motorcycle is not making proper road contact. You will feel that the road grip has decreased which was there under normal riding conditions and causing your motorcycle to slide in a particular direction. You might also notice a sudden audible rise in the engine rpm.

What to do in case you Hydroplane?

The most important thing to remember as soon as you realize that you are hydroplaning is that do not apply your brakes immediately. Secondly keep the handle bar straight and do not turn it. After you have taken care of these two things slow down on the throttle smoothly. In case you need to apply the brakes then do it in pumping actions. Soon, you should be back in control of your motorcycle. Don’t panic.

If you feel your front tire is losing traction then you can lean a little forward so as to add some weight towards the front. This will help clearing away the water to a greater extent.

As a precaution it is always recommended to keep an eye on the road you are riding on. If you notice that the road is wet, try not to ride fast on it. Keep your speed slow and steady till the limit you feel that your motorcycle is in your control.

If you see that the road ahead has waterlogged, then try to judge which is the shallowest side, most of the times it is the edge of the road where the water is shallowest. At this stage, ride your bike in the first gear along the corner and feel the grip of the tires as you progress.

In the end don’t forget, its slippery when wet..