what is hydroplaning?
Hydroplaning Basics: Why it Occurs and How You Can Avoid it. Have you ever skidded while driving on a wet road for what seemed like a split second or even longer? Even if you didnât lose complete control, you most likely experienced hydroplaning. What is Hydroplaning? The term hydroplaning is commonly used to refer to the skidding or sliding of a cars tires across a wet surface. Hydroplaning occurs when a tire encounters more water than it can scatter. Water pressure in the front of the wheel pushes water under the tire, and the tire is then separated from the road surface by a thin film of water and loses traction. The result is loss of steering, braking and power control.