How Tire Pressure, Tire Construction, And Road Surfaces Affect Traction
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- čas přidán 6. 07. 2024
- In this video I talk about how tire pressure, tire construction, and different road surfaces affect traction. This is something I've been researching and I found it pretty interesting. So, I thought I'd share it with you. First, the main reason tires are filled with air, is because when rubber flexes it generates heat. The more rubber there is and the more it flexes, the more heat there is. Eventually, the rubber get soft and it starts to melt. That's why modern tires are usually filled with air. Because air can flex or compress without generating a lot of heat. I didn't know this, but apparently 18 wheelers didn't roll the highways in the US until around 1918. That's because there weren't any tires that could take them over 40 miles an hour. They just didn't exist. The local delivery trucks ran around on solid tires that had to be operated at stop and go speed’s. Otherwise the tires would literally melt. So, less rubber and more air was the solution to less heat buildup. Modern tires are designed with a membrane made of layers or plies. The outside of this membrane is covered in a wear resistant rubber we call the tread. The inside of the membrane is covered in a low gas permeability rubber and there's a retaining ring that holds the tire to the rim creating an airtight seal. The air pressure inside the tire keeps the sidewall rigid enough to support the weight of the bike and rider. If the tire is radial, there's going to be steel wire running through the rubber for added support. Because the tires membrane or structure is flexible and the air inside is compressible, when the tire is under load, the tread flattens and the area that makes contact with the road surface is called the tires footprint. Lower tire pressure creates a larger footprint but the rubber has to bend more than it does with the higher air pressure. The bending is what mainly generates heat. The tread patterns on a tire are made up of grooves, blocks, and snips which allow for better traction and better braking. But, they also have an affect on overall handling. The tread pattern is largely designed for water evacuation. It lets water flow through the grooves to help prevent hydroplaning in wet weather. The grooves also give you better acceleration and braking on other loose surfaces. Tires are made up of compounds which are just different materials used to make the tire itself. Depending on the type of tire, the compounds can be either hard or soft. Harder compounds are more durable and support more weight. While the softer compounds are for performance and offer better traction. The softer the compound in the tire is, the higher the coefficient of friction is. You get more traction out of the tire but usually with a shorter lifespan. The softer compound tires just wear out quicker than the harder compound tires do. The softer side wall of a radial tire is going to give you better traction than a bias ply when you're leaning in heavy on corners. Also, the tread wear of a radial is going to be more even because the air pressure is distributed more affectively across the inside of the tire. Winter tires are made with a compound that’s designed to stay soft in really low temperatures. Summer tires are designed to perform at high temperatures and high-speeds. A summer tire is going to lose its performance in cold weather. If the grooves in a tire are near the same level as the contact patch, you should replace the tire. If the center of the tire is worn out and it's flatter than the sides of the tire, this is called a squared off tire and you need to get it replaced. If one side of the tire is worn down more than the other side, this is called a cup or scalloped tire and it should also be replaced. The tire manufacture date is usually a four digit number printed on the side of the tire that tells the week and year the tire was made. Five years is the typical lifespan of a motorcycle tire and it should be replaced after that. If your tires have cracks on the tread or sidewall, rubber peeling away, or other signs of damage, replace the tire is soon as you can. The last thing I wanna mention is road surfaces. I won’t spend a lot of time on this but the two main surfaces are concrete and asphalt. They both have their pros and cons but overall concrete is not as grippy as asphalt. Concrete is very strong and it holds up well under heavy loads. That's why you see it used a lot on highways. But, it can crack from freeze/thaw cycles and this creates uneven road surfaces. Also, vehicles spills and chemicals don't absorb into concrete the same as they do asphalt. So, oil spills are going to sit on the surface of concrete longer than they would an asphalt road. Asphalt provides better traction and skid resistance than concrete does but it's not as strong. It breaks apart and starts to crumble under stress leaving potholes and rutting. Therefore, in damaged areas like corners and intersections, it can feel like you're driving over loose gravel.
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Appreciation
Very informative presentation on something that is so often overlooked in a bike.
@Jon Sherry Thank you very much. I appreciate the comment. I've been wanting do do some videos like this. I love the history but the physics of it all just blows me away. Thanks again for the comment and thanks for watching.
Good one.
@Me And My Royal Enfield Thank you very much. Thanks for watching.
When people mention asphalt my reply is often..."whose fault?" 😂
@Frederick Woods That's funny. You had me cracking up for a minute.
Great video. Thanks! Will you eventually "upgrade" your tires? I have been reading that the stock tires on the Royal Enfields are not that great? *I have a GT 650.) Has this been your experience? I've been reading good things about switching-out to Bridgestone 46's. Thanks for any thoughts you might have on my questions,
@JJM51 Thank you. Yes, I am definitely going to change tires. I will probably have a few sets of rims with different tires mounted when it's all said and done. My opinion on the stock tires is just that, an opinion. There are a few tires I want to try. First, is the Michelin Anakee wild (aggressive scrambler). Second, Pirelli Scorpion MT90AT (I really like this one). I have heard really good things about the Bridgestone too. I am gonna get a tubeless kit for the wheels so I have more tire options. Also, I might get a set of 17's to run sometimes but I'm not sure yet. Hope that helps. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching.
Application
Congrats for your channel, I have an INTERCEPTOR 650 too,. So what do you think of using the sahara tire sealant?
@JEEU Thank you. I appreciate the comment. I haven't used the Sahara tire sealant. Also, I've never used a sealant on any of my vehicles. I only use it on my lawnmower, tractors, and bobcat for minor leaks. Personally, I wouldn't use the Sahara tire sealant on my Interceptor because it is a tube tire. I think that is designed for tubeless tires. Thanks again for the comment and thanks for watching.
Hi there mate, how are those engine mods going?