Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site pyuxt.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!pyuxww!pyuxt!marcus
From: marcus@pyuxt.UUCP (M. G. Hand)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: HOW TO TIRE safely
Message-ID: <212@pyuxt.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 1-Nov-84 17:56:17 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxt.212
Posted: Thu Nov  1 17:56:17 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 2-Nov-84 06:50:14 EST
References: <477@aluxe.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J.
Lines: 21

>> > 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.

So you'd have us all driving around on studded ice tires?   >:-)
I'll stick to my soft wide radials for most of the year, thanks.

		marcus hand	(pyuxt!marcus)