20 Centimeters
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 598
Likes: 3
From: Farmington MI
20 Centimeters
I run in a street tire class for AutoX. If I go 20 cm wider front and rear with the same tires, will I notice an appreciable difference. (Issue of most importance is improving understeer)
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,895
Likes: 84
From: Darien IL
20 cm !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Like 275 to 475?
You must mean 20mm.
Feel the difference? Depends on how sensitive your posterior is. I went from 275 fronts to 315 and could feel the difference.
Adding 20mm to both ends should not change balance.
Like 275 to 475?You must mean 20mm.
Feel the difference? Depends on how sensitive your posterior is. I went from 275 fronts to 315 and could feel the difference.
Adding 20mm to both ends should not change balance.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 101
Likes: 5
From: Bromma
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 598
Likes: 3
From: Farmington MI
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 101
Likes: 5
From: Bromma
I probabley misunderstod you here.
As you mentioned the same tires I thought you meant wider track width. Wider tires will give better grip, not only from having larger, but also from the altred shape, of the contact patch. The wheel should be matched to the tires used. However, the contact patch will not grow according to the width of the tire since the contact area is partly following load and inflation pressure. A wider but shorter contact patch will produce less cornering slipp area, but for straight line acceleration, and braking, it is more the gain in area that is important.
Goran
As you mentioned the same tires I thought you meant wider track width. Wider tires will give better grip, not only from having larger, but also from the altred shape, of the contact patch. The wheel should be matched to the tires used. However, the contact patch will not grow according to the width of the tire since the contact area is partly following load and inflation pressure. A wider but shorter contact patch will produce less cornering slipp area, but for straight line acceleration, and braking, it is more the gain in area that is important.
Goran
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 598
Likes: 3
From: Farmington MI
However, the contact patch will not grow according to the width of the tire since the contact area is partly following load and inflation pressure. A wider but shorter contact patch will produce less cornering slipp area, but for straight line acceleration, and braking, it is more the gain in area that is important.
Goran
Goran
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Alignment settings give you the ability to use your whole tire. Tire compound, air pressure, and age is more important than additional width.
IMO - get a tire temp gauge and set up your car first.
IMO - get a tire temp gauge and set up your car first.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 598
Likes: 3
From: Farmington MI
A bit of oversteer - nothing excessive or that I can't control with a little restraint. I'm happy with the car as is. I've had two alignments and have played with temps and am getting close to what I believe is optimal. I'm just thinking more grip = more fun and I don't mind spending a little money. I'm trying to stay away from switching to Rs on event days for convenience...
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
IMO - The problem with max performance AA A Z rated street tires is that they have too many tread grooves for rain. Like my street tires are 315 rears - 20-30% for the air gaps. It makes them have less traction than something like a 245 width slick.
Some guys use toyo's and Nitto DOT tires for a whole race season. I use up hoosier r's in 6-9 sessions. But a few weeks ago my fellow racing buddy did not make an event with me. I cut down a rear slick in the first 10 minutes of practice. All this prep and I didn't have my buddy with our spares in his trailer. I in the SCCA points so I needed to run.
So I threw on my Rear street tires. I completely destroyed my rear 315's in qualifying and the race. I might add with a loss of 6-8 seconds a lap.
So you are money ahead to get near treadless tires. They last longer and work much better
Some guys use toyo's and Nitto DOT tires for a whole race season. I use up hoosier r's in 6-9 sessions. But a few weeks ago my fellow racing buddy did not make an event with me. I cut down a rear slick in the first 10 minutes of practice. All this prep and I didn't have my buddy with our spares in his trailer. I in the SCCA points so I needed to run.
So I threw on my Rear street tires. I completely destroyed my rear 315's in qualifying and the race. I might add with a loss of 6-8 seconds a lap.
So you are money ahead to get near treadless tires. They last longer and work much better