Vehicle owners are urged to inspect tire treads during the monsoon season to prevent accidents on wet roads [1].

This maintenance is critical because shallow treads cannot effectively evacuate water, leading to hydroplaning and a loss of vehicle control. For drivers of electric vehicles, the risk is heightened due to the increased weight and higher power output of these cars [1].

An experiment conducted by YTN tested braking distances on wet pavement at a speed of 80 km/h [1]. The results showed that a vehicle equipped with normal tires required 36 meters to come to a complete stop [1]. In contrast, a vehicle with worn tires required 58 meters to stop under the same conditions [1].

This difference of 22 meters can be the deciding factor between a safe stop and a severe collision. The lack of tread depth prevents the tire from gripping the road surface, causing the vehicle to slide across the water film [1].

"If tires are worn out during the rainy season, the risk of traffic accidents on rainy roads increases due to slipping phenomena," Lee Sang-gon said [1].

Electric vehicles require even more diligent monitoring than traditional internal combustion engines. Because they are typically heavier and produce more immediate torque, the stress on the tire tread is greater [1].

"Electric vehicles, which have recently increased in supply, are more important for tire management because of the vehicle weight and high output," Lee said [1].

Experts recommend checking the tread depth regularly to ensure the grooves are deep enough to channel water away from the contact patch. This simple check can significantly reduce the likelihood of losing control during heavy rainfall [1].

“A vehicle with worn tires required 58 meters to stop at 80 km/h, compared to 36 meters for normal tires.”

The data highlights a critical safety gap in vehicle maintenance as electric vehicle adoption grows. Because EVs possess higher mass and torque, they accelerate tire wear faster than gas-powered cars, making the transition to hydroplaning occur more rapidly. This suggests that standard tire replacement intervals may need to be shortened for EV owners to maintain the same safety margins as traditional vehicles during extreme weather.