MPSS Cup 2s At last..
Discussion
Xpuffin said:
If the compounds good then the width difference won't matter.

I went through this with motorcycle tyres. When the width is greater, the contact patch is larger, but as the mass acting on the tyre is constant, the pressure on the tarmac per square inch is less, which affects the friction between tyre and tarmac. I didn't try any fancy maths, but decided that a wider tyre will aquaplane easier.
At about 4% difference in width (275 v 285) I don't think it will be noticeable.
ARAF said:
When the width is greater, the contact patch is larger
Not quite!Can't believe I'm thinking of correcting ARAF, but here goes.
When the tyre is wider, the contact patch is a different shape, but it isn't larger.
Why? The contact patch is dictated by the pressure in your tyres.
34psi say? So there'll be 34 pounds per square inch.
So say the car weighed 3400 pounds, there's going to be 100square inches of contact patch, whether you like it or not.
I assume wider tyres aquaplane easier because you're making the contact patch very wide but very short in the direction of travel
SturdyHSV said:
ARAF said:
When the width is greater, the contact patch is larger
Not quite!Can't believe I'm thinking of correcting ARAF, but here goes.
When the tyre is wider, the contact patch is a different shape, but it isn't larger.
Why? The contact patch is dictated by the pressure in your tyres.
34psi say? So there'll be 34 pounds per square inch.
So say the car weighed 3400 pounds, there's going to be 100square inches of contact patch, whether you like it or not.
I assume wider tyres aquaplane easier because you're making the contact patch very wide but very short in the direction of travel

007 VXR said:
begs the question,
what is the best psi for a 285 tyre, with best grip being the goal?
For straight line traction? Something lower. what is the best psi for a 285 tyre, with best grip being the goal?
For cornering grip? Something higher.
For all round? Whatever Michelin recommend I'd assume

Although this isn't the answer you're after, unfortunately, the real answer is "It's really complicated" hence why listening to Michelin is probably your best bet
007 VXR said:
ARAF said:
Plenty have done it before, and you're quite right. In my defence, we were playing with pressures as well and I've omitted that. 
begs the question, 
what is the best psi for a 285 tyre, with best grip being the goal?

We were looking at smaller contact areas being better in the wet, as less chance of aquaplaning, so using higher pressures - but then the tyres were going cold as the rubber wasn't flexing as much, and therefore not gripping as well.
Everything you do will be a trade-off.
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