Tire traction is a complex issue, "particularly when considering the road/tire/vehicle/driver system interactions involved," says tire engineering legend Jacques Bajer, who covers everything you ever wanted to know about traction in the March 2009 issue of Modern Tire Dealer.
Traction depends on a number of factors, writes Bajer, including:
* tire friction properties
* vehicle properties
* road surface characteristics
* vehicle speed, driver input and driver reactions.
* weather conditions.
Manufacturing variations also play a critical role, he says. "When severe and undetected, (they) can have dramatic safety consequences, regardless of the original tire approval procedures used."
For more about tire traction, see Bajer's article, "Get a grip on traction," in the March 2009 edition of MTD.
