Quote:
Originally Posted by zonker
i guess i should clarify - on a production made passenger car, mounting the thinnest tires possible will help fuel economy but at a huge sacrifice to safety, braking, cornering, and general roadholding.
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Again, I have to ask if this has been tested. I can't see it myself. (But since I'm not an automotive engineer & have done no testing, I can't say for sure.) I'd agree, intuitively, that wider tires would have advantages on smooth, dry roads, but how about in the rain? Seems as though wider tires would make hydroplaning more likely. (And if you've ever suddenly found yourself doing 65 mph down the highway, backwards, you'll know hydroplaning is nothing to joke about.)
Similar arguments would seem to apply for gravel, snow, etc. Looking at what's best for Formula 1 cars, which run on a prepared track, is perhaps not the best source of data for general road use.