Re: I have seen 225/50-15's on a 4kq

[Huw Powell <human@nh.ultranet.com>]

> If the amount of
> weight on the surface area on the ground is too little, the tire won't
> have enough pressure (not air pressure, but downward/gravity pressure)

actually on this list I finally learned that the tire pressure = weight
of the car divided by the contact patch area.

The problem with wider tires is that the water piled up in front of them
has further to go to get out of the way.  Good design will help.  This
can be even worse in snow, a narrow tire will cut a better path down to
the pavement.

PS the 215-45-15 Sport Contacts on my coupe feel like the best tire I've
ever driven on.  Well, that's because they are.  I haven't had much rain
to deal with yet, but what little I've encountered has been no worse
than the D60's I was running (185-60-14).  Can't wait for snow to really
see how they do.

PPS wider tires change the feel of the car, too, I think.  Mine seems
more twitchy now - ie the steering response is a bit quicker, less
forgiving of lazy driving.

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.thebook.com/human-speakers

82 Audi Coupe; 85 Coupe GT
http://www.nh.ultranet.com/~human