Rain changes a familiar commute. Painted lines can become slick, spray can hide what's ahead, and your car can take longer to stop than it does on dry pavement.

Knowing how your tires handle water makes it easier to adjust before you lose grip. It also helps to know what to do if the steering suddenly feels light.

Check Your Tire Tread and Pressure

Tread grooves give water a path out from beneath the tire. As the tread wears, the grooves get shallower and have less room to channel water away. Check your tires with a tread gauge before the rainy season, and look across the tread for areas that have worn faster than the rest.

Proper inflation matters, too. Check the pressure when the tires are cold and use the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation, usually on a label inside the driver's door or in the owner's manual. The pressure stamped on the tire sidewall isn't the target for your vehicle.

Slow Down Before the Curve

Braking and steering at the same time asks a wet tire to do two jobs with less grip available. Do most of your slowing while the wheels are still pointed straight, then steer through the bend smoothly. How much you slow depends on the curve, the pavement, and how far ahead you can see.

Routine braking is different from an emergency stop. If you need to stop quickly and your car has a four-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS), press the pedal firmly and keep pressure on it rather than pumping it. ABS helps prevent the wheels from locking so you can still steer when the tires have grip.

When the Steering Feels Light

Hydroplaning happens when tires ride on a film of water and lose contact with the pavement. The steering may feel vague, or the car may start to drift. Ease off the accelerator, keep the steering steady, and let the car slow until the tires regain grip. Avoid sudden braking or sharp turns of the wheel.

Look ahead for pooled water so you can reduce speed before reaching it. Go around a puddle only if you can do so without an abrupt maneuver or moving into another vehicle's path. Leave cruise control off on wet pavement so you can adjust your speed as conditions change.

Leave Room and Keep the Glass Clear

Leave more space behind the vehicle ahead than you would on a dry road. That extra gap gives you time to notice brake lights and start slowing, as well as room to stop. Increase it again if spray makes it hard to see what traffic is doing farther ahead.

Switch on your low beams so other drivers can see you, and replace wiper blades when they leave streaks that obscure your view. If the windshield fogs up inside, use the defroster. Air conditioning can help remove moisture from the cabin air even when the heater is on.

Watch for Slick Pavement as Rain Starts

Oil and dirt can build up on dry pavement and mix with the first rain, making the surface slick even before puddles form. That's a reason to ease your speed when drizzle starts, especially as you approach intersections where traffic often stops and starts.

A lull in the rain doesn't mean the pavement has dried. Keep watching for wet patches, especially where the road dips and water collects. If rain or spray makes it hard to see far enough ahead to stop, look for a safe place away from moving traffic to wait for visibility to improve.

Before your next rainy trip, find the headlight and defroster controls while you're parked, especially if you're driving an unfamiliar car. That way you won't need to look down for them when rain or fog suddenly obscures the windshield.