Quote:
|
Originally Posted by thstone
No Difference (that I can tell):
- Braking performance/distance
- Hydroplaning in the rain on the freeway
|
These are just physics 101. Braking distance is primarily a function of weight and tire grip. Any improvement in front tire grip where 80% of your braking forces happen and you will shorten your stopping distance. For a real eye opener, mount a pair of 255/40/17 R-comp tires to the front and compare your stopping distance... WOW!
Hydroplaning is the opposite effect. It is a function of speed, weight, and contact surface area for a given tire compound and tread pattern. All tires will hydroplane at some speed. Increasing tire contact surface area (wider tire) will result in hydroplaning at a lower speed through standing water. For a real eye opener again, mount those 255 R-comps to the front (very high contact surface area) and go out blasting through puddles on the next rainy day. WOW! Surf City!
My 205 PS2 street tires will hydroplane at around 65mph, 225 PS2s will hydroplane at around 57mph, my 255 R-comps will hydroplane at 40mph.
A good link:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=16