Traction FAQ

[sgrizzle]

With the current weather, I thought it a good time to discuss the very important vehicle topic of traction.

Many vehicles come with many different types of tires. Many people get a false sense of security because their car handles well in good weather or because they bought expensive tires. Now it's time to know the facts.

Tire width:
Wider tires aren't always better. They provide more traction area but when crossing standing water, solid ice or hard-packed snow, they are actually worse for you. In any of these conditions are kia will run circles around a big truck any day. The wider tires provides more gripping surface but it also spreads out the vehicle weight more. To counter some of the effect of wider tires, manufacturers have started putting grooves in the tread. This essentially breaks one large tire into 3 side by side tires. By adding grooves, and appropriate tread patterns, standing water can be expelled to the sides and hydroplaning can be cut down.

Temperature and Traction ratings:
Always buy all A's. This is pretty much the standard on all tires now. An "A in temperature just means it is okay above 115deg outside (anything less is really meant for cooler climates). An A or AA in traction is a test of the tire compound's gripping power when tested in a braking condition over wet roadways.

Inflation
The proper inflation pressure of your stock tires is listed on a sticker on the driver's side door. For most vehicles it runs 30-35lbs. This needs to be tested everytime the climate changes (pressure is related to air volume and temperature). If the tires on your vehicle are not the ones that came with it, this numbers gets opened a little to interpretation. Some tire experts suggest to stay with the door sticker while others say to inflate based on the max pressure on the tire. Improper inflation will cause bad tire wear. Lower inflation will give a smoother ride, better grip on dry roads, but less on unclean roads. Higher inflation lower mpg but ives a bumpier ride and better traction in some cases. Use your best judgement.

Tire model/treadpatterns
Many people don't know that the tires that came on their vehicle are usually worthless. Many manufacturers carry two tires, one for the base model vehicles who have wheels with hubcaps, and a nicer tire they put on their expensive alloy wheels. This is not always true, but is in most cases. Best bet is to try a place like tirerack (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirebran.jsp) and look up reviews on tires when it's time to replace them. Since you're in oklahoma, look only for "all-season tires" unless you plan on changing your tires seasonally. There are reviews for about every vehicle and weather situation you can imagine on there. Keep in mind that big open tread is meant for meant for soft surfaces (mud, snow) and tight treads are meant for pavement. Also, "unidirectional" tires are becoming more common as they tend to feature somewhat of a "V" pattern which provides better grip and expels water better.


Feel free to ask questions, add to, or correct me.

[guido911]

good post

[RecycleMichael]

I saw lines of cars at every QuikTrip today waiting to add air to their tires. I also saw an amazing amount of people driving around on a baby spare tire.

I went to Sutherlands and bought 40 pound tubes of sand for three dollars each and put them directly above my rear axles.

I have had no problems with traction.

[sgrizzle]

I got 6 40# sand bags last night. I could probably use a couple more.

I was out all morning starting around 2am. There were almost as many stalled cars as moving ones.

[RecycleMichael]

I got ten bags. It is one of the few times in my life that more weight is better.

We got the same truck, but yours has all that fancy pinstriping and customization.

[Transplant]

"Tire model/treadpatterns
Many people don't know that the tires that came on their vehicle are usually worthless. Many manufacturers carry two tires, one for the base model vehicles who have wheels with hubcaps, and a nicer tire they put on their expensive alloy wheels. This is not always true, but is in most cases. Best bet is to try a place like tirerack (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirebran.jsp) and look up reviews on tires when it's time to replace them. Since you're in oklahoma, look only for "all-season tires" unless you plan on changing your tires seasonally. There are reviews for about every vehicle and weather situation you can imagine on there. Keep in mind that big open tread is meant for meant for soft surfaces (mud, snow) and tight treads are meant for pavement. Also, "unidirectional" tires are becoming more common as they tend to feature somewhat of a "V" pattern which provides better grip and expels water better."

It never ceases to amaze me when I read things such as this. Where do you get this infomation?? Manufactures carry 2 models??? This is something I have always said - tribal knowledge is BS! Yes, years ago (and I mean years 30 - 40 years) most new vehicle manufactures installed base tires. But for the last 20 plus years the manufactures have for the most part been supplying top of the line tire models. Why? Because tire manufactures learned that the tires  that came standard equipment drove the replacement market. Think about, if you had a bad experience with your original tires why would you want to replace them with the same manufacture?

Tire Width - the wider and lower profile tire will provide you increased traction on dry pavement both in forward and lateral conditions. When it comes to forward (or rearward) in snow or mud the narrower tire will out perform a wider tire as the contact patch area of a tire is displaced forward and rearward, helping the tire roll easier. The traction comes from the open shoulders on the tire. That is where the true traction comes from, not the tread design per se.

Inflation - ALWAYS utilize the vehicles door placard to see what the proper inflation should be. Tire inflation is an engineered spec that the vehicle manufacture, the tire manufacture, and the RMA has all agreed upon to provide the best ride, tire performance, and tire life. Keep in mind that tires of one size can fit many different applications, thus the reason for matching the correct tire pressure to the specific vehicle.

Unfortunately many so called "tire experts" have little training and continue to spew incorrect info. I miss the days tire manufactures provided the education to sales people so the correct info was being delivered. The reality is we have no one but to blame but ourselves. As a rule, tire prices haven't increased over the last 30 years. This has forced all of the manufactures to cut programs such as schooling. Instead they spend the money on marketing and rely on tribal knowledge. Poor choice!

[mspivey]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle



Tire width:
Wider tires aren't always better.


Inflation

Since you're in oklahoma, look only for "all-season tires"

Tire width. One of the best cars for mud and snow in history was the Model T. The skinny tires would cut through mud and snow to the more solid  ground and there was much more weight "per square inch of contact patch" than with wider tires.

As for inflation, many people let air out of their tiers in wet conditions, trying to increase the size of the tire patch. This worked ok on the old bias ply tires with their stiff sidewalls. But with radials, all it does is close up the grooves in the tread. One theory says to put in more air to force the groves open. I'm not sure I agree with this, but I always want plenty of air in my tires.

In Oklahoma, it is not really worthwhile to really prepare for winter. Not enough of it and too much trouble. Just my opinion.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Transplant

Where do you get this infomation?? Manufactures carry 2 models??? This is something I have always said - tribal knowledge is BS!

Chevrolet Impala
Base Model - Goodyear Integrity
(Has a B temperature grade and gets fair-good ratings)
Upper Model - Goodyear Eagle RSA
(Graded all A's and rated fair-excellent)

Dodge Charger
Base Model - Goodyear Integrity
(Has a B temperature grade and gets fair-good ratings)
Upper Model - Continental ContiTouringContact
(Graded all A's and rated fair-excellent)

Ford Fusion
Base Model - Continental ContiTouringContact
(Graded all A's and rated fair-excellent)
Upper Model - Michelin Pilot HX MXM4
(Graded all A's and rated fair-excellent)


Thank you for your stirring insight.

[inteller]

how funny. Ford starts out in their base model what dodge pushes in their upper model.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

how funny. Ford starts out in their base model what dodge pushes in their upper model.

Yeah, I was pretty impressed with what the ford is pushing. The high-end tires on the Chevy, the Eagle RS-A's are pretty good grip tires but are pretty pricey to replace and never lasted long for me when I had them. They are still better than the Integrity's however.

I think it's funny that since I posted the tires of the "full size" cars from all 3 american manufacturer's, all 3 used "american" branded tires. However that doesn't necessarily make them american tires. I believe cooper is the only one still making their full lines in the U.S.

If you check the ratings, people like Yokohama and Toyo are really putting ut some good stuff for good prices.

[inteller]

Yokohama is actually a premium tire brand.  Detomaso Panteras used them back in the 70s/80s.  Toyo sponsors a lot of drifting and other performance rancing, though some of their **** is stupid, like the tires that make pink smoke.

[Rowdy]

[:O]  Don't give any Tulsans any ideas!