A vehicle's tires riding on a layer of water on the road is known as

At speeds of up to 35 mph, modern tires will usually channel water away to maintain contact with the road. However, in deep water at higher speeds, the channeling action of the tires becomes less effective and the tires start to ride on a layer of water similar to water skiing. This is called “hydroplaning.” It may result in a loss of braking and steering control.