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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!aluxe!2141smh
From: 2141smh@aluxe.UUCP (henning)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: HOW TO TIRE safely
Message-ID: <477@aluxe.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 31-Oct-84 08:21:07 EST
Article-I.D.: aluxe.477
Posted: Wed Oct 31 08:21:07 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Nov-84 04:39:42 EST
References: <501@houxl.UUCP> <456@aluxe.UUCP> <10575@gatech.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Allentown, PA
Lines: 18

> > Oversized tires REDUCE traction since the lower pressure on the road
> > prevents the tire from conforming to the roughness of the road
> > and 'gripping' the surface.  
> I'm sorry but I disagree. If the inflation pressures are equal then the
> size of the contact patch will be the same regardless of tire width!


****                                                                 ****
From the keys of Steve Henning, AT&T Bell Labs, Reading, PA aluxe!2141smh

I would agree if we were talking about innertubes or some soft
compliant tire, but the radials that are put on the road today
are claimed to have flat footprints and provide more traction.
That is due to the rigidity of the steel belts.  If the tread width was
too wide, the tire would act like a snow ski.  Try using your shoe
as a crosscountry ski and you will find that area affects traction.
If you don't want the leg on a tripod to slip you put a sharp
point on it rather than increase its footprint.