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Difficulty: HardWet Weather and Aquaplaning

Under-inflated tyres reduce the likelihood of aquaplaning on water-covered roads because the larger contact footprint creates more grip.

Answer: Answer

Answer

The statement is false. Under-inflated tyres significantly increase the risk of aquaplaning because internal tread distortion prevents water from being effectively channelled away.
The statement is false. Correct tyre pressure is vital for maintaining an even contact patch across the road. Under-inflation causes the tyre tread to buckle inward at the centre, compromising the tread channels' ability to disperse water. This allows a wedge of water to form underneath the tyre at lower speeds, substantially increasing the risk of aquaplaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze how tyre inflation pressure affects tread contact geometry.
Under-inflation causes the outer shoulders to bear excessive load while the centre of the tread bows inward away from the road surface.
Tyre tread channels require correct internal air pressure to stay open and maintain a flat, uniform contact patch.
2
Evaluate the hydrodynamic consequences of this tread distortion in wet conditions.
The collapsed central grooves cannot evacuate water efficiently, allowing water to collect beneath the tyre.
Without clear drainage pathways, hydrodynamic water pressure rapidly builds up under the tyre carcass.
3
Determine the resulting effect on the vehicle's aquaplaning threshold.
The tyre rides up on a film of water at much lower speeds compared to a correctly inflated tyre, increasing the risk of loss of control.
Because under-inflation impairs water dispersion and lowers the aquaplaning speed, the statement is false.

Key Concept

Impact of tyre pressure and tread geometry on hydrodynamic water dispersal and aquaplaning thresholds
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Wet Weather and Aquaplaning

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