Whats the best tyres?

Bummer1234

Hey all,

Had this discussion during the weekend and it had some of us devided. So it was split in context of having smaller
tyres (145/60 r13) that would have less grip but take in less water or another tyre (165/60 r13) with had more
rubber for more grip but take in more water than the smaller tyre.

So what would be the best... We were talking about sticking them on a Toyota starlet(front).

T-Maxx

How does a tyre "take in water"?

Bummer1234

T-Maxx wrote: »

How does a tyre "take in water"?

As in on a very wet day...Water would go into the threads of the tyres.

tossy

would you get a 30" tyre on a starlet? Or did you mean 13?

Anan1

Surely you two understand what the guy means?

T-Maxx

Displaces water.

165, although with pizza cutters like that I suppose it's much of a muchness really.

bmstuff

It is not so much the size that matters, but rather the overall design and quality of the tyre and thread.
Try to pick up a few models that would fit your car from Camskill.co.uk for example then check reviews on tyresreview.co.uk to get feedbacks.

Bummer1234

tossy wrote: »

would you get a 30" tyre on a starlet? Or did you mean 13?

Cheers...Can change the thread words but can't change the poll.

b318isp

I'd go with the 165. Depending on the air pressure, it may have more rubber available in the contact patch. However, rubber compound and thread design would be a huge factor as said.

Please also note that you have quoted the same 60 profile on both. I don't know which is the standard size, but this should be different too to maintain the diameter of the tyre.

CJhaughey

b318isp wrote: »

I'd go with the 165. Depending on the air pressure, it may have more rubber available in the contact patch.

The two tyres would have the same contact patch if the weight and air pressure are the same, the only difference would be the shape of the patch.

b318isp

CJhaughey wrote: »

The two tyres would have the same contact patch if the weight and air pressure are the same, the only difference would be the shape of the patch.

Yep, that's why I mentioned it. However, it is likely the air pressures would be slightly different.

CiniO

CJhaughey wrote: »

The two tyres would have the same contact patch if the weight and air pressure are the same, the only difference would be the shape of the patch.

No way.
I understand your idea, that wider tyre has more rectangular shape patch, while narrower tyre is more square.
But it definitely doesn't work the way, that surface of contact is the same.
Generally the wider the tyre, the bigger the surface of contact.

It absolutely doesn't mean that grip is better, as grip depends on fraction, while fraction doesn't depend on area of contact.
And that's probably the most important fact here.
If OP thinks, that he will get better grip (f.e. for braking) by putting wider tyres, then he is far from being right.

b318isp

CiniO wrote: »

But it definitely doesn't work the way, that surface of contact is the same.
Generally the wider the tyre, the bigger the surface of contact.

Is that not a contradiction?

CiniO wrote: »

It absolutely doesn't mean that grip is better, as grip depends on fraction, while fraction doesn't depend on area of contact.

I think you mean friction, or maybe traction! Friction is area dependant, as the force on the road diminishes with increased surface area. Grip is a complex subject, not just dependant on friction (of which there are two types!).

CJhaughey

CiniO wrote: »

No way.
I understand your idea, that wider tyre has more rectangular shape patch, while narrower tyre is more square.
But it definitely doesn't work the way, that surface of contact is the same.
Generally the wider the tyre, the bigger the surface of contact.

It has to be the same if the weight and the air pressure are the same.
Picture a balloon with 5psi in it and a flat plate with 1 kg on it.
The balloon will squash to a given area.
Now picture the same balloon constricted by a book each side of it, and the same weight on top.
The end result will be the same, it can't be any different, it has to obey the laws of of physics.
It feels different with a wider tyre because the sidewalls deflect less because of the shape of the tyre.

Mycroft H

CiniO wrote: »

No way.
I understand your idea, that wider tyre has more rectangular shape patch, while narrower tyre is more square.
But it definitely doesn't work the way, that surface of contact is the same.
Generally the wider the tyre, the bigger the surface of contact..

Afraid not. Only the air pressure and the weight upon the tyre determine the size of the contact patch. If the air pressure is constant and you double the width of the tyre you halve the lenght of the contact patch. All things be equal, you get the same contact patch no matter what.....

It's physics, my dear Watson.