Tyre width handling and grip

obi_waynne

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I thought it would be interesting to discuss the effects and principles involved in adding wider tyres to a car.

The common conceptions are
1) Grip is improved
2) Cornering is better
3) braking is sharper
4) Handling is improved

What are your impressions of wider tyres (same overall circumferance) and thier effect on these common conceptions.

Do tyre widths in your opinion actually make a difference to the cars handling?
 
in dry conditions wider tyres give more grip.
but in wet/icy/snowy conditions thinner tyres actually provide more grip
this is based on the same make/model of tyre being used just different tyre widths
 
when i had a mk4 escort i changed the tyres to about 20mm wider and this improved the cornering - in the dry - no end. In the wet it was as bad as normal, tyres at the cheaper end of the wedge as in those days pennies were very tight.
 
when i had a mk4 escort i changed the tyres to about 20mm wider and this improved the cornering - in the dry - no end. In the wet it was as bad as normal, tyres at the cheaper end of the wedge as in those days pennies were very tight.

New tyres always feel better than old, worn ones. Different makes can have different characteristics. 20mm wider on its own will make BA difference.

Buying cheap tyres can kill you. If you have to, then drive accordingly, ie VERY carefully.
 
physcologically it could corner faster, gave more confidence as opposed to real effect. Cheap tyres, agree, but was talking in the range of gbp60-70/tyre not remould price levels
 

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