Quote:
Originally Posted by dremd
Not sure why everyone doubts such basic physics.
Easy test.....
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It is indeed unfortunate when we don't understand the experiences of others - in this case, tire test engineers. If the traction properties of a tire could be described by a simple laboratory test, then that would be the standard test. Why go through all the trouble of conducting a traction test with the tire mounted on a trailer being pulled by truck on an outside certified test surface (subject to the vagarities of the weather) where you have to replicate the test 3 times in order to get reliable results?
There is nothing wrong with classical physics, but it is important to know when to apply them. Newtonian physics works extremely well, but sometimes Einsteinian physics is the correct applicable theory.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Christ
This is still outside the realm of normal driving, though. Is it not? ....
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Why would it be? Is there something about harder rubber compounds that means they don't penetrate the macrotexture of the road? After all, even very hard rubber compounds are softer than stone.
Try this: Take your fingernail and press it into the tread rubber of your tire. Did you indent the rubber when you were applying the pressure? Doesn't this demonstrate that the principle is applicable to street tires?
And you have to ask yourself: Why do drag racers use such wide tires? Why do road racers use such wide tires? Why do rally cars use such wide tires - except for certain surfaces such as snow, and mud? Since there are penalties for using wide tires, wouldn't these folks have abandoned them long ago if they didn't work?
But to be fair: The only time this becomes applicable is when you push the tire towards the limit of adhesion. Are there situations where a normal driver would experience these limits - particularly when dealing with a small contact patch? wdb reports above that he has experienced such a situation.