[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Dave McLaughlin

If it is the same type tread with the same CoF then why would the style of wheel, aside from round, make any difference?

There should be no difference if the treads are interacting with the carpet surface in the same manner (obviously).

There are two issues I can think of that may potentially cause a difference in traction (if one exists):
1. The retaining 'rim' on the plaction wheel has the ability to make contact with the carpet and therefore absorbs some of the normal force versus the smaller 'rim' on the performance wheel. I don't think this is the case though. If I were to guess it would be due to...
2. The draft on the injection molded plaction wheel creates a minor 'V' shape in the tread groove. This may result in only the edges of each piece of tread absorbing normal force and therefor results in a virtual thinner strip of tread versus a flat tread groove in the performance wheel.

That would be my hypothesis to test if I were to do so...

-Brando