Odd technical question
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,292
Likes: 0
From: Hockessin Delaware
Odd technical question
So I'm looking out my window at the car, and the wheel spokes are almost lined up perfectly, i.e. front a rear wheels are in the same position.
Now, I know they are always in different spots and I was trying to think why. First I thought - if the rear wheels break loose - then it would alter their position. But - I drive slow - so they never break loose.
So then I thought - the wheels are different diameters - 17in. v. 18in. Therefore the mathematician in me starts thinking - for every X distance my car travels, the front wheels total more rotations than the rears - because the circumference of the wheels varies.
Does this make sense to anyone? Or am I just :crazy:
:seeya
Now, I know they are always in different spots and I was trying to think why. First I thought - if the rear wheels break loose - then it would alter their position. But - I drive slow - so they never break loose.
So then I thought - the wheels are different diameters - 17in. v. 18in. Therefore the mathematician in me starts thinking - for every X distance my car travels, the front wheels total more rotations than the rears - because the circumference of the wheels varies.
Does this make sense to anyone? Or am I just :crazy:
:seeya
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,351
Likes: 38
From: New Milford CT
Re: Odd technical question (DsC5)
Keep in mind also, that if you go around a corner, then the outside wheels travel farther than the inside wheels, sorry to complicate your computations.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,133
Likes: 144
From: Ex-SF Bay Area; now happily Denver area
Re: Odd technical question (CJS)
Also keep in mind that the GY Runflats have such hard sidewalls that when you hit a small bump the tires bounce up and down off the pavement, so the backs turn more than the fronts when that happens. I would say that this happens around 1.3762 times per 3.224 miles, depending on whether it is in a construction zone, which in CA is about every 14.63 miles. Now if you figure in potholes, which cause more bouncing, then you have to go to San Francisco to measure those, but they are probably around around 3 per block and about 14 inches in diameter...enough to eat a tire...soooo Let us know when you get the answer and we can line up our tires. :D
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,735
Likes: 5
From: Tennessee
Re: Odd technical question (tscales)
The diameters are different. The fronts turn more rotations then the back for the same distance.
Nothing magical.
Tom
Nothing magical.
Tom
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,450
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City Missouri
Re: Odd technical question (Corvette Poor)
The diameters are different. The fronts turn more rotations then the back for the same distance.
Nothing magical.
Tom
Hummmmmm.. :confused: Then WHY do the rears always wear out first ?
Nothing magical.
Tom
Hummmmmm.. :confused: Then WHY do the rears always wear out first ?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 7
From: Sunnyvale CA
Re: Odd technical question (DsC5)
You might try switching the left rear and the right front. This way they will average out all the effects others mentioned. Unless of course you also make left turns. Then you periodically need to switch them back and then switch the left front with the right rear. This should do it for you. Unless you don't keep exactly the same tire pressures in all wheels. :rolleyes:
:seeya
:seeya
