Monsoon Car Care: What Actually Matters

The monsoon punishes cars in ways summer doesn't — standing water, permanent damp and dramatically less grip. A short checklist before the rains beats an expensive repair during them.

Tyres come first

Tread depth is what clears water out from under the tyre. Below 3 mm your stopping distance in the wet increases sharply, and aquaplaning becomes a genuine risk. Check with a coin if you don't have a gauge.

Wipers and visibility

Wiper blades harden and split in the summer heat, so replace them before the first heavy shower, not after. Top up the washer reservoir and check that both jets aim properly.

Brakes take longer to bite

Wet discs need a moment to clear. Leave significantly more following distance, and after driving through deep water, dab the brakes gently a few times to dry them off.

The drainage holes nobody checks

Sunroofs, door bottoms and the scuttle below the windscreen all have drain holes that clog with leaves and grit. Blocked drains are the usual reason a footwell mysteriously floods.

If you must drive through water

• Don't attempt anything above the bottom of the door
• Go slow and steady in first gear, keeping the revs up
• Never restart an engine that stalled in water — that's how you turn a tow into an engine rebuild