That fact was sharply made clear at the weekend in Hannover, Germany, where the Continental automotive group was offering hands-on experience in a number of tyre-related situations.
The side-aquaplaning one involved driving similar Volkswagen Golfs around a circuit at speeds of 60/70/80km/h, into a flood around a corner.
Complicating the issue was that each car had a different tread depth, 8mm on new tyres and 3mm part-worn, and finally 1.6mm, the legal limit in most countries including Ireland.
At 60km/h and 70km/h, the new tyres weren't affected when run into the 5mm flood, while at 80km/h there was a trace of a shimmy, easily corrected.
At 60km/h the 3mm tyres were marginally less efficient, but very noticably started losing adhesion at 70km/h. At 80km/h there was quite strong aquaplaning.
At all three speeds the 1.6mm treads showed serious loss of control, but particularly so at 70/80km/h, where the car would have been on the other side of the road without any chance of the driver regaining control. Possibly into an oncoming vehicle.
I've done these exercises before. It always sobers me when I do it again. A pity that all those people in Ireland driving on minimum tread or less don't get the opportunity to do it in safe conditions. When they do experience it, it's far too often serious or terminal. For themselves, or the even more unfortunates they hit.
Check the tread. If it's 3mm, or less, get new tyres. An investment in life.
(There were other exercises, including driving BMWs with Conti and budget brand tyres on a wet track to feel the difference. More on that, and other scary stuff, later.)
