Hanover Park Auto Repair

The road looks wet, but nothing about it seems especially difficult. Then you reach a leaf-covered turn, and the car doesn't respond quite the way it did on the clear pavement. Wet leaves change the surface beneath the tires. They also hide details you'd normally use to judge the road, including standing water, painted markings, and small defects. Treat a covered patch as a reason to slow down before you reach it, especially if you need to turn or stop. Why Wet Leaves Reduce Tire Grip A tire needs contact with the road to steer and brake. A layer of wet leaves puts another material between the tread and pavement. As vehicles crush and move the leaves, the surface changes again. The exact grip varies with the amount of cover, moisture, temperature, and tire condition. A single comparison such as saying every wet leaf patch is identical to ice oversimplifies it. The driver doesn't need that comparison to act: slow before the patch and leave room for a less ... read more