Rain Grip and tire spring rates
09-26-2010, 04:14 PM
#4
Late Model Domestics
esoteric - 3 dictionary results
es·o·ter·ic
[es-uh-ter-ik] Show IPA
–adjective
1.
understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; recondite: poetry full of esoteric allusions.
2.
belonging to the select few.
3.
private; secret; confidential.
4.
(of a philosophical doctrine or the like) intended to be revealed only to the initiates of a group: the esoteric doctrines of Pythagoras
es·o·ter·ic
[es-uh-ter-ik] Show IPA
–adjective
1.
understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; recondite: poetry full of esoteric allusions.
2.
belonging to the select few.
3.
private; secret; confidential.
4.
(of a philosophical doctrine or the like) intended to be revealed only to the initiates of a group: the esoteric doctrines of Pythagoras
09-26-2010, 04:26 PM
#5
Melting Slicks
There are a number of things at play here, and yes as you suspected tire stiffenss is part of it.
In the wet the limits are obviously lower, and the difference between the steady state and transient grip limit is lower. That is, the difference in slip angle between steady state and max grip is not as great. So, if you have softer springs and tires you won't have as high a transient loading and that means you won't overshoot the available grip and go skiddering across the surface and into the weeds as easily.
Lower spring rates also work in the rain because you have lower sideways forces, less body roll and less loss of camber at that lower g loading, so letting the car roll some more compensates for that and gets you a better contact patch.
Finally, in the wet if you have a very stiff tire the same lower transient grip bites you because you can add steering input faster than the system can accept it. Driving more smoothly can address this to some extent, but with a more compliant tire greater slip angle at max g is higher this makes it a lot easier to feel the how hard you are working the tires and not overdoing it.
In the wet the limits are obviously lower, and the difference between the steady state and transient grip limit is lower. That is, the difference in slip angle between steady state and max grip is not as great. So, if you have softer springs and tires you won't have as high a transient loading and that means you won't overshoot the available grip and go skiddering across the surface and into the weeds as easily.
Lower spring rates also work in the rain because you have lower sideways forces, less body roll and less loss of camber at that lower g loading, so letting the car roll some more compensates for that and gets you a better contact patch.
Finally, in the wet if you have a very stiff tire the same lower transient grip bites you because you can add steering input faster than the system can accept it. Driving more smoothly can address this to some extent, but with a more compliant tire greater slip angle at max g is higher this makes it a lot easier to feel the how hard you are working the tires and not overdoing it.