Nokian warns on the risks of aquaplaning

Motorists should check their tyres before the holiday season in order to increase safety and comfort and maximise peace of mind.

When it rains in summer, water collects in the ruts in the road surface, creating a risk of aquaplaning. Tyres should have at least 4 mm tread depth in order to reduce the risk of aquaplaning, according to Nokian Tyres.

According to a test by Nokian Tyres, a car driving on a straight road in the rain with new summer tyres will aquaplane at a speed of approximately 80 km/h. Old tyres with half the groove depth aquaplane at 60 km/h.

Other tests conducted by Nokian Tyres show that the braking distances of new and worn tyres on wet surfaces differ significantly. When driving at a speed of 80 km/h, the braking distance of new tyres, with 8 mm of tread remaining, was approximately 22 metres. When using older tyres, with 4 mm of tread remaining, the braking distance increases by over four metres at the same speed.

To enable motorists to check the tread depth of their tyres more effectively, Nokian Tyres has invented an innovation that increases safety - namely, the Driving Safety Indicator with aquaplaning alert.

The Driving Safety Indicator on the Nokian summer tyres shows the driver the groove depth as a simple figure from 8 to 3. An aquaplaning alert within this warns of the danger of aquaplaning with a drop symbol. It disappears when there are only four millimetres of remaining tread, alerting the driver of the increased risk. No other tyre manufacturer has these innovations.

However, if your car aquaplanes, you will lose control of it. If this happens, never attempt to brake. "With manual transmission, press the clutch all the way down. With automatic transmission, lift your foot off the accelerator. Do not turn the wheel before your tyres contact the road again," Matti Morri, Technical Customer Service Manager for Nokian Tyres, advises.