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Why Does A Car Skid Whilst Cornering?

Amidst heavy rain, snow and ice that eventually turns into thick slush and slippery surfaces, the roads inevitably become hazardous to be driven on. Thus, your chances of skidding around corners is much higher. Here’s how you can keep safe in harsh weather conditions.

You’ve probably heard many times that it’s best to brake before cornering, this rings truer when cornering in wet to snowy weather. Fundamentally, when a driver uses the brakes, the vehicle is simply forcing the wheels to slow down or come to a halt. Thus, the friction created between the tyres and the road surface aims to keep the wheel in place.

Weather Conditions

During icy and wet weather conditions, drivers will notice that there is less traction between the tyres and the road surface, this subsequently makes way for loss of control (handling and steering are put at risk).

With there being little to no traction, tyres become inefficient and are unable to perform their job. In the same way, torrential rainfall can cause aquaplaning. Aquaplaning (also known as hydroplaning) is simply is when a barrier of water builds up between tyres and the road, which results in reduced grip and traction of the vehicle. 

Speeding

Regardless of the weather being bright and beautiful or dull and dreary, your car will still have the potential to skid if you’re driving too fast. When driving at speed, it’s vital that you gently brake when approaching a corner. If speed isn’t reduced, your vehicle may be in jeopardy of skidding.

Nonetheless, when it is raining and conditions make the road surface wet, the faster you’re travelling on a slippery road, the more chances you will have to slip and skid. This will potentially cause accidents and make way for life-threatening injuries to yourself and those around you. 

Concentration is an important factor to take into account when driving in dangerous conditions. Slow down and focus on your driving so that you are safe from harm’s way. Likewise, when in the process of skidding, gently move your foot off the accelerator as you steer into its direction. Do not press firmly on the brake or accelerator, as doing so can make a skid worse.

Deteriorating Tyres

One of the biggest factors of skidding, especially around corners is having tyres that aren’t looked after. If you aren’t maintaining the health of your tyres, they have the high likeliness to lose their tread, becoming bald and losing overall grip and traction.

A loss of tread, when braking very harshly, will almost undoubtedly cause accidents. It’s vital that you regularly check your tyres for injuries to the tyres. From cuts and bulges to punctures or debris from road surfaces. The health of your tyres is an utmost necessity to check frequently.

The importance of high-quality tyres is essential in ensuring your safety when driving and prevention of skidding. Having high-quality tyres that are equipped with the latest tyre technology will lessen your chances of skidding by a significant amount.

If you’re looking for high-quality tyres for superb traction in the wet, we recommend tyres such as the Continental ContiPremiumContact 5. If you’re looking for excellent handling and braking, Dunlop Sport BlueResponse and the Bridgestone Turanza T001 are great choices.

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