Quote:
Originally Posted by Thermal
If surface area didn't mean anything why do dragsters use wide racing slicks instead of lighter skinnier wheels?
|
The surface area vs. traction issue has been beaten to death on these forums, so here's the Cliffs Notes. Ideally, surface area doesn't change frictional force. In past FIRST applications, surface area typically has impacted frictional force, because of how common tread materials tend to interlock with the carpet. This is also what happens with soft rubber on asphalt, as in your example. However, since there's little to no interlocking going on with this year's materials, the results should conform much closer to the results expected in Ideal Land.