To prevent hydroplaning, what should you ensure about your tires?

To prevent hydroplaning, ensuring that your tires are inflated to the correct pressure is crucial. Proper tire inflation helps maintain the optimal contact surface between the tires and the road, allowing for effective water displacement during wet conditions. When tires are under-inflated, they can become more prone to losing traction and buoying on a layer of water, leading to hydroplaning. On the other hand, over-inflated tires may reduce the contact area, making it difficult to gain proper traction as well.

While brand uniformity and having new tires might contribute to overall tire performance, they are not direct solutions to prevent hydroplaning. Snow chains are specifically designed for snowy or icy conditions and do not address issues related to hydroplaning in wet conditions. Therefore, maintaining the correct tire pressure is a key factor in enhancing safety while driving in the rain and minimizing the risk of hydroplaning.