Wide wheels, whats the deal?

[Mrk_Mickey]

This is what I initially thought as well until I was told otherwise in a Physics lecture at uni. A smaller footprint should give more grip, as there's less surface area for the weight to be spread.

Try putting an eraser on a folder or something on the smaller side and see the angle at which it begins to move. Then try it with the broader side of the eraser and you'll see what I mean.

But, then a larger tyre will spread the heat around more so you'll get less wear. I'm sure there's a reason why car companies, F1 teams etc. run wider tyres...

My brain hurts now...

Dude, that's a very interesting point actually. I'd have never thought of this!
At the end of the day, there are heaps of variables in handling. Sidewall flex, tyre height, tyre width, comparison of wheel-to-wheel length to standard, blah blah blah. It's a lot to accomodate.

If my heavy lump of beautiful machinery let me use smaller tyre sizes for more stretch, I'd do it. It's the simple fact that my car's a fatty I have to get to that 86 load rating!!!

[ScienceVR6]

A wide tire, so i am told, has the samew contact area as a narrower tire (to a point) when the weight of the car is added. I narrow tire wil deform the sidwall and tread area, and lay out a square pattern on the ground. a wide tire won't deform as much, unless you run realy low pressures, and wil create a narrower, rectangle contect patch.

[zjm]

wider tyres generally have a larger contact area with correct pressure
and when it rains they have to pump out more water if it cant move it all youll start to float (aquaplane) and the lighter your car the worse it gets
eg polos mk1s and mk2s etc

[Mrk_Mickey]

this gives me very silly ideas......

[Bubu]

Also narrow tyres grip better over uneven surfaces. Rally cars dont use really wide tyres for that reason.

If you are after grip go for wider tyres! I have heard the example about weight over a given surface area and it is true.
Think of a woman wearing high heels or a football boot, they would sink into soft dirt/sand/mud easier than a flat shoe. But then think of the football player or woman in heels tying to walk up something smooth like a slippery slide at a childrens' playground.

So at then end of the day it depends on what type of road surface you drive on. Most of the time you have to come to a compromise between the two.

[Preen59]

Look, it's this simple..

Wide wheels are cool. Really cool.

And if you don't like wide wheels, then you're a deprived human being and your parents don't love you.

[GoLfMan]

Look, it's this simple..

Wide wheels are cool. Really cool.

And if you don't like wide wheels, then you're a deprived human being and your parents don't love you.

ohh AMEN BROTHER

[Mrk_Mickey]

Look, it's this simple..

Wide wheels are cool. Really cool.

And if you don't like wide wheels, then you're a deprived human being and your parents don't love you.

You just relayed the almighty wise words of God himself!