Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/34500
HYDROPLANING Hydroplaning occurs when the tire loses contact with the road. This can happen when the water pressure exceeds the contact pressure between the tire and the road. A tire’s contact pressure can reduce your chance of hydroplaning. The MICHELIN X One tire has higher ® ® contact pressure at the edge of the tread, which provides a wider “sweet spot” than dual tires. In the graph below, you can see that the contact pressure is slightly higher in the center and significantly higher at the shoulders over dual fitments. Note the drop in contact pressure for dual tires on the graph below. For example, the contact pressure of a dual tire is about 90 psi compared to 116 psi for a MICHELIN X One tire. This will result in the dual tire losing ® ® contact with the road at lower speed than the MICHELIN ® ® ® ® X One tire. This means if hydroplaning occurs at 60 mph for the MICHELIN X One tire, it will occur at 53 mph on the dual. Factors that increase likelihood of hydroplaning: – Excess water – Excessive speed – Low tread depth – High tire pressure – Light loads or bob-tailing In other words, if rain is pouring down and water is pooling, the truck’s speed needs to decrease in order to avoid hydroplaning. Contact Pressure Ratio = 90 ÷ 116 = 88% or 60 mph x 0.88 = 53 mph 1,000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Dual Tire 1 Michelin ® Dual Tire 2 13 5 Rib Number Source: Recent evaluations at a MICHELIN facility in South Carolina. 7 9 11 X One Tire ® Operation and Handling 59 Contact Pressure