What occurs during hydroplaning?

During hydroplaning, the tires of a vehicle lose their contact with the road surface. This phenomenon occurs when a layer of water builds up between the tires and the road, preventing adequate friction. As a result, the vehicle can skid or slide uncontrollably because the tires are effectively riding on top of the water rather than making solid contact with the ground. This situation can lead to difficulty in steering, braking, and controlling the vehicle, which emphasizes the importance of driving cautiously in wet conditions to avoid hydroplaning.

The other options pertain to effects that could happen during or as a result of hydroplaning but do not define the condition itself. For example, while a driver may experience reduced visibility or the potential for brakes to feel ineffective in certain situations, these are not the core issue of hydroplaning where the primary factor is the loss of tire-road contact.