Originally Posted by
john_tullamarine
"It should be pointed out that the hydroplaning speeds obtained from equations (3) and (4) are valid for smooth and closed pattern tread tires which do not allow escape paths for water, and for rib tread tires on fluid covered runways where the fluid depth exceeds the groove depths in the tread of these tires. Little quantitative data are yet available on the hydroplaning speeds for rib tread tires on fluid covered runways where the fluid depth is less than the groove depth of the tread."
So many seem to assume that hydroplaning speed is independent of tire tread design yet designers of road vehicle tires continue to develop tread designs optimized for water displacement.