1993 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner's Manual - Page 149

Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires that they can actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you're going fastenough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road. You might not be aware of hydroplaning. You could drive along for some time without realizing yourtires aren't in constant contact with the road. You could find out the hardway: when you have to slow, turn, move out to pass-or if you get hitby a gust of wind. You could suddenly find yourself of control. out Hydroplaning doesn't happen often. But it can if your tires haven't much tread or if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on the road. If you can see reflections from trees, telephone poles, or other vehicles, and raindrops "dimple'' the water's surface, there could be hydroplaning. Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn't a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when it is raining, and be careful. Some Other Rainy Weather Tips Turn on your headlights-not just your parking lights-to help make you more visible to others. Look for hard-to-see vehicles coming from behind. You may want to use your headlights evenin daytime if it's raining hard. Besides slowing down, allow some extra followingdistance. And be especially careful whenyou pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by road spray. If the road spray is so heavy you are actually blinded, drop back. Don't pass until conditions improve. Going more slowly is better than having an accident. Use your defoggerif it helps. Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See the Index under fires.) I47