Is your car ready for rainy season?

The rainy season is upon us again, another good time to be alive but it’s also one of the most dreaded seasons for vehicle drivers, especially because the roads become so slippery, the roads become so dark, there is pressure on the vehicle headlight, the wiper blades work so hard and then there are those days when the wiper wont just work, so much frustration comes with this season. But then there is a saying that he/she who fails to plan, plans to fail.  The solution to all the challenges faced by the vehicle and the car owner is adequate preparation; this would be a 3 part series write up that would help you prepare for the dreaded season

Part 1 would deal with tires and its effect on traction.

Part 2 would cover vehicle aesthetics that aid smooth ride driving through rain.

Part 3 would tackle driver’s habit during raining season.

Part 1

Tires

For those who don’t know yet, tires are the component of the car that makes contact with the ground/pavement/tar, the tire is a very vital part of the car, well the vehicle cannot move without tires, so it is a necessity for a functioning car.

There are four different types of tire based on their tread functionality,

a.      Directional tires. (unidirectional)

b.      Symmetrical tires.

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c.       Asymmetrical tires.

d.      Directional/asymmetrical.

For the purpose of this study, we would be concentrating on the type of tire that is best suited for the rainy season, this is the type of tire that’s marked in such a way that water is from between the tire and pavement is drawn out of the centre of the tire reducing to the barest minimum the occurrence of hydroplaning while keeping a firm grip between the tire and the road. (Hydroplaning occurs when water build between the wheels of the vehicle and the road surface, leading to a loss of traction that prevents the vehicle from responding to control input).

As a car driver driving in the rain you must have seen a vehicle skidding off road, yes that’s the situation of control being lost usually caused by hydroplaning, it is a horrible situation to be in or even imagine.

The best tire for rain is the directional and directional/asymmetric tires; the tire treads are designed in such a way that water in between the tire and the pavement is eliminated to the barest minimum allowing for better traction and handling, they are also good for other seasons that we experience in Nigeria, so if you are thinking of changing your tires soon especially going into the season we advise that you invest in one of these tires for your safety and to give you smooth stress-free ride during this rainy season.