Contact Patch

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12-23-2005, 08:15 AM

WaterDR

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Join Date: Sep 2004

Posts: 6,613

Contact Patch

Did you guys know that if you change tire sizes on a car, the size of the contact patch stays the same? Only the shape of the patch changes.

This makes total sense after I thought about it.

There is a nice article in MM&FF this month that explains it.

12-23-2005, 09:23 AM

floppy

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Join Date: Jun 2005

Location: royal palm beach, florida

Posts: 1,805

yeah i read that last night, it's pretty good. i never thought about the contact patch staying the same before...

12-23-2005, 09:36 AM

B-rett

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Join Date: Jan 2005

Location: north ridgeville, ohio

Posts: 1,735

how does that make sense?

12-23-2005, 10:44 AM

stanger00

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Join Date: Nov 2004

Location: Pinole, Ca

Posts: 3,842

that makes since for the width of the contact patch but what about how long it is. 315 tire is 12.5 inches across would that make the contact patch 12.5 inches across as well?