1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette Owner's Manual - Page 165

Some Other Rainy WeatherTips I 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, has little it or no contact with the road. You might not be awareof hydroplaning. You could drive along for some time without realizing your tires aren't in constant contact withthe road. You could find outthe hard way: when you have to slow, turn, move out to pass-or if you get hit a gustof wind. You could by suddenly find yourself of control. out Hydroplaning doesn't happen often. But it can if your tires haven't much treador 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. 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 headlightseven in daytimeif it's raining hard. Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be especially careful whenyou pass another vehicle. Allow yourselfmore clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restrictedby 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 defogger if it helps. Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See the Index under Tires.) 163