Summertime clouds can produce some pouring rain that will quickly form large puddles or flood the roadway. Here are some tips for you to help prevent having an accident while driving in the rain.
Make sure your tires have enough tread.
Most states have laws requiring that you have at least 2/32″ of tread on your tires. Less than that amount of tread can cause problems with slick roads and hydroplaning when it has been raining. To check the tread depth on your tires, insert a penny in the tire tread. If the top of Lincoln’s head is covered, you have enough tread.
Check the tire pressure.
Tires need to be properly inflated. If they have too much air or too little, it will affect the way they handle on the road. If it rains and creates large puddles or ponding on the road, you may lose control of your car. It is very easy to check the air pressure in your tires. Get a digital tire pressure gauge and check the pressure every time you fill up with gas. Or, get a Tire Pressure Monitoring System that will tell you at a glance what the pressure is in each tire. Either way, you will know if you need to add air to your tires.
Get the tires rotated.
My husband has the tires rotated every time we get the oil changed. The service tech at the dealership will take the tires off of your car, and put them back on in a different spot on your car. Even tire wear is desirable to extend the useful life of a set of tires. Having even tire wear can help your car hold the road while driving in the rain.
Slow down while driving in the rain!
When the rain pours down, slow down. Taking time to be careful on rainy days and nights can save you a lot of time. Those few minutes you saved by speeding down the road will be lost if you hydroplane and wreck your car. It is harder to stop your car on a rain slicked highway. Be proactive by just slowing down while driving in the rain, and get where you are going just a bit late.
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