Front Tires Getting Bigger and Bigger
10-08-2015, 09:11 AM
#1
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Front Tires Getting Bigger and Bigger
Reading Car and Driver over the last couple of years, I've noticed a trend on front tire sizes getting really wide:
Corvette Z06: 285
Camaro Z28: 305
AMG GT: 265
These are massive (OK, the AMG isn't that bad).
On the flip side, you look at a 458 and it reportedly only has 235 width on the fronts.
Was just curious what others thought of this trend and what the pitfalls of wide front tires are.
Corvette Z06: 285
Camaro Z28: 305
AMG GT: 265
These are massive (OK, the AMG isn't that bad).
On the flip side, you look at a 458 and it reportedly only has 235 width on the fronts.
Was just curious what others thought of this trend and what the pitfalls of wide front tires are.
10-08-2015, 09:23 AM
#3
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I'm no expert but I sure noticed the "scrubbing" on my 991 when I first drove it w summer tires in the winter colder temps while turning at slow speed! Never felt that on a 997 w 235s up front! I think some other considerations are ride comfort (wider may mean rougher/firmer) and wheel well clearance since front tires are the "turning" tires! Can really be an issue in a dip in a turn! I think Porsche really tests the cars well so as to put the right amount of rubber F/R! My $.02
10-08-2015, 10:35 AM
#4
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My reasoning is that. Front engine cars have a much greater weight bias due to the motor hanging out front. Porsche's along with other mid engine design vehicles don't require as much rubber to hold traction when the weight is shifted.
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10-08-2015, 11:25 AM
#8
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I'm no expert, but logically larger fronts=larger contact patch=more grip. My thought is that the increased grip is an inexpensive way to overcome design deficiencies with the chassis itself in these front engined cars, and yield lower lap times at the expense of ride quality and noise.
10-08-2015, 11:37 AM
#9
Larger front tires are used to tune out the understeer from having those big engines mounted in the front of the car. It also should help with braking and turn in since there's so much mass up front.
The down side is more tire noise, higher tendency to "tram line", More $$$ when it comes time to replace them, and also the possiblity of a reduced turning circle.
Bigger isn't always best.
EDIT: I believe the AMG has the engine mounted far enough back to be considered front mid engine, as well it has a rear mounted trans axel. This would explain why they didn't need to put as large of a tire on the front of the car.
The down side is more tire noise, higher tendency to "tram line", More $$$ when it comes time to replace them, and also the possiblity of a reduced turning circle.
Bigger isn't always best.
EDIT: I believe the AMG has the engine mounted far enough back to be considered front mid engine, as well it has a rear mounted trans axel. This would explain why they didn't need to put as large of a tire on the front of the car.
10-08-2015, 01:33 PM
#10
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10-08-2015, 01:34 PM
#11
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Larger front tires are used to tune out the understeer from having those big engines mounted in the front of the car. It also should help with braking and turn in since there's so much mass up front.
The down side is more tire noise, higher tendency to "tram line", More $$$ when it comes time to replace them, and also the possiblity of a reduced turning circle.
Bigger isn't always best.
EDIT: I believe the AMG has the engine mounted far enough back to be considered front mid engine, as well it has a rear mounted trans axel. This would explain why they didn't need to put as large of a tire on the front of the car.
The down side is more tire noise, higher tendency to "tram line", More $$$ when it comes time to replace them, and also the possiblity of a reduced turning circle.
Bigger isn't always best.
EDIT: I believe the AMG has the engine mounted far enough back to be considered front mid engine, as well it has a rear mounted trans axel. This would explain why they didn't need to put as large of a tire on the front of the car.
10-08-2015, 01:49 PM
#12
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But guys get tire envy.
10-08-2015, 02:12 PM
#13
Let me throw this out: About 10 to 15 years ago I ran in a PCA Parade autocross driving my 97 Boxster. I think there were only a few classes for that vehicle back then. It was either stock, somewhat modified and highly modified. Well, in the stock class a bunch of us were posting all about the same time. We were all blown away by one guy. The main difference that we could see was that he ran the normal rear tires in the front and the fronts in the rear. I doubt if it is legal now but back then we all grumbled but nobody paid to protested.
10-08-2015, 02:25 PM
#14
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10-09-2015, 10:27 AM
#15
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Remember that the lawyers from all manufacturers want all cars to understeer. So, for lap times (track or auto-cross) usually the first thing you need to do is get more front grip. (Or get less rear grip, but that's not usually the first thing on your list.)