Hydroplaning Speed Calculator

Estimate the speed at which a tire begins to hydroplane based on tire pressure, width, and water depth.

Input Parameters

Results

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Hydroplaning Speed
mph
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Hydroplaning Speed
km/h
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Recommended Max Speed
mph
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Risk Level
Note: NASA hydroplaning formula developed for aircraft tires but widely applied to automotive. Higher tire pressure increases hydroplaning speed. Worn tires dramatically reduce the threshold.

Reference

V_hydro (knots) = 10.35 × √(Tire Pressure in psi) [NASA] V_mph = V_knots × 1.15078 Tread Factor = 0.7 + 0.3 × (Tread Depth / 8mm) Water Factor = 1.0 − 0.05 × (Water Depth − 1) Adjusted Speed = V_mph × Tread Factor × Water Factor