The risk of hydroplaning is higher when
- tires are worn and have little tread ✓
- a car is very heavy
- a car is on a steep slope
- snow tires are in use
Answer: A. tires are worn and have little tread
The risk of hydroplaning is higher when your tires are worn and have little tread.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says plainly that vehicles with low tire pressure or worn tread are more likely to hydroplane. It explains that hydroplaning is when the tires lose contact with the road and float on a film of water, and the driver loses steering and braking control. That is why the handbook's prevention list starts with checking your tires for proper tread and inflation, along with scanning for puddles and slowing down in heavy rain.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. a car is very heavy — Vehicle weight is not mentioned anywhere in the passages as a factor in hydroplaning; the handbook points to tire condition and speed instead.
- C. a car is on a steep slope — Being on a steep slope is not listed as a cause of hydroplaning, which the handbook ties to water on the road and tire tread rather than the grade of the road.
- D. snow tires are in use — The passages never mention snow tires in connection with hydroplaning; they talk about tread condition, inflation and speed.
Remember it
Think of tread as the grooves that push water away: smooth, worn tires have nothing to channel the water, so the car floats.