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Old 14th October 2011, 08:31 PM
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sloss sloss is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 505
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Tonupkid,

I'm being simplistic with my hypothesis.

If you want maximum grip on a dry road then you need a slick, sticky tyre.

Unfortunately we need to compromise as we get wet roads so we need to introduce some way to get rid of the water - grooves and sipes - so that the rubber meets the tarmac or concrete.

The rubber squirming about creates heat, melts the surface and causes blistering and severe loss of grip - it does not help grip.

You hear expressions such as 'that tread pattern grips the road' - it doesn't - the rubber's coefficient of friction governs grip. I like directionals as I feel they disperse water more efficiently, very complicated tread designs don't.

Real chunky tyres for Offroad vehicles are good(ish) in mud because the mud gets in the tread and the vehicle then has to release that mud from the ground which does help grip however slightly. If a tyre has to remove 50 kilos of mud over time think of how much work that would be with a shovel, that work energy is trying to propel the vehicle forwards so it just might move it a bit

As before - grip or life - not both

However really poor tyres can give Rubbish grip and Rubbish life - it sure works that way!
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