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Old 06-06-2008, 10:29 AM   #20 (permalink)
SuperTrooper
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Auburn, NH
Posts: 451

Wicked Wanda - '99 VW Beetle GLS
90 day: 29.59 mpg (US)

Green Monster - '99 Ford Explorer Sport
90 day: 16.73 mpg (US)

Dad's Taxi - '99 Honda Odyssey EX
90 day: 24.23 mpg (US)
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First of all, you'd be better off with a car WITHOUT ABS. The common misconception is that ABS improves braking. Wrong. On dry surfaces you get quicker stops without ABS since it is easier to feel the lockup point of the tires and make minor pedal pressure adjustments to maintain maximum braking without skidding. The point of ABS is to maintain DIRECTIONAL control in low traction situations, allowing you to steer around obstacles rather than running into them.

There are many variables involved in this type of test that make repetition difficult:

Tire temp
road temp
road traction
brake fluid temp

You'd wind up testing the braking system on the car as much as the tires. For testing cars, magazines do several braking tests in succession and use the statistical mean in generating the number they use. This would be a difficult test to generate consistent results that I would want to use to make intelligent choices with.

I think we could all agree on the concept that, for a given tire, traction is inversely proportional to rolling resistance.

How do you decide HOW MUCH traction to give up to justify lower rolling resistance? I'd hate to be on the wrong end of that equation even once.

After reading most of threads on the inflation subject I don't see the point of inflating tires over the maximum recommended pressure listed on the sidewall. MetroMPGs rollout tests (though a teeny tiny sample) show limited results beyond max recommended. I see no reason to "push the envelope" in everyday driving.
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