danglerb

I've been reading a bunch of tire "science" type stuff and it sounds like wider tires don't really have much of a traction advantage. Anybody know of a measured difference in traction on the same car, same road, same tire, just different widths? Something like a car with the same model tires, but with 225 front and 275 rear and swapping them to see what its like.

CaMaRo67RS355

iTrader: (75)

this would be very helpful or with a 275 to a 315

01pewterbird

Once i put my 315's on it hooked better, but then just caused axle hop.

MeentSS02

iTrader: (11)

I didn't notice a significant change going from a 275 to a 295 tire in the back (the 295 on an 11" wide rim). I think the tire compound would have the biggest impact as opposed to width...although I would expect an equally sticky tire on different widths to show more traction with the wider tire. I went with extra width for looks only...

01FireTurd

iTrader: (2)

the wider the tire the bigger the contact patch so yes you would get better traction but there are variables like the softness of the rubber tire pressure ,you question is self explanatory

Hennytime

iTrader: (33)

265->315's hella difference

bLkWdOw SS

iTrader: (-1)

i would still spin my 11" rears like crazy, had some crappy sumotumos, once i got the 9.5 with the kumhos i wouldnt spin as much and axle hop went bye bye...

bjamick

iTrader: (31)

yes width will help tractiong its simple really ok

you've got this much rubber on the ground with 245's (______)[ ]
compared to 315's where you've got this much rubber (__________)
its common sense if there is more rubber on the ground then it should tell you that the wider the tire the more traction goes up. you might still spin but cant be as bad..

Xx01CamaroZ28xX

iTrader: (1)

^^^Yup thats what my conversion is going to be.

black_z

iTrader: (4)

Sidewall height plays more of a role in traction than width.

danglerb

What I would really like to see is something like the three "sames" with a rolling start and keep track of the rpm (torque) that each tire breaks loose at.

Contact patch does NOT increase on a wider tire at the same inflation level, it gets wider and SHORTER, and in many cases is smaller.

I get the feeling a lot of tire guys have been selling a CROCK OF **** regarding what a wider tire does or doesn't do. One thing I know for sure is that wider tires cost more money and cause more problems.

ls1mightymouse

Traction plays a better roll in the flexablity of the sidewall. I found i hook better on my 16 inch wheels with a sticky tire than i did with my 18's that had 315's

DannoWS6

iTrader: (5)

If you wanna hook you need more sidwewall and a stickier compound. You won't hook much better or better at all say going from a 275-315, the extra weight may play a roll in keeping traction but thats about it. The contact patch, although wider is stiff or stiffer with reduced sidewall.

This is why guys race w/ 15x8" rims. Sidewall plus sticky compound.

Width on street tires is for looks.

MrDude_1

iTrader: (4)

while its 100% true that an increase in tire diameter has more of an effect then a increase in width, there are too many variables to make a satisfactory conclusion on if its "better" based on performance alone.

really, i only want it on my car because it looks cool.... id love to have CCWs with 315s on the front and 335s on the back..... not for traction, but because it looks cool as hell.

when i want straight line traction, THEN i goto the 28" tall tires... or the slicks.... compound and build makes much more diff then the size

wabmorgan

True for "take-off".

But doesn't a wider tire with lower sidewall height help in the curves???

danglerb

Ten cent tour of turning follows.

Tires only roll in the direction they are pointed. When the wheel is turned from the path of the car, the tire flexes a bit, called the slip angle, and to a point progressively more turning force is applied to the car. Short sidewalls flex less, so have smaller slip angles, and that makes "response" faster, but also tend to give some drivers more road feel than they like or can compensate for.

Somehow I don't see something that looks and rides like a wagon wheel as progress.

-=Modified=-

iTrader: (3)

FWIW I noticed a significant difference from going 275 to 315 on all four. I've done loads of write ups at LS2.
I'm starting to hang out here a bit more now.

NHRAMAN

iTrader: (1)

I went from 275/40/17 yokohama to 285 kumho's on the rear and traction is alot better..9" wheel.

dailydriver

It all depends on suspension setup, but this is true to a point . When you pass that point (usually, over 18" wheel diameter on an f body), as in the "pimpyboyzz" and their dubs or donks, you go sooo backwards in handling that a 215/60 16 on a 7" wide wheel would be better handling.
"Rubber band" profiles KILL cornering on all but glass smooth roads, sometimes EVEN on those roads.