Using Your Spare
Most vehicles come equipped with a temporary spare. These tyres are usually much smaller than the other tyres on your car. It is important to realise that these spares have far more limitations than a typical tyre, including speed and recommended driving distance. Some spare tyres even require the use of a special canister to inflate the tyre. You should familiarise yourself with the spare by reading the owner's manual and the sidewall of the spare. And remember, check the air pressure of the spare frequently.
Hydroplaning
Three main factors contribute to the loss of traction on wet roads known as hydroplaning:
- Vehicle speed. As speed increases, wet traction is considerably reduced.
- Water depth. The deeper the water, the sooner you will lose traction, although even thin water layers can cause a loss of traction, even at low speeds
- Tyre tread depth. As your tyres become worn, their ability to resist hydroplaning is reduced.
- Since hydroplaning can result in a complete loss of traction and vehicle control, you should always reduce speed with consideration to the traffic around you.
