Matt is right. Tire pressure and weight of car are the determining
factors of contact patch size. Wider tires just make it a different
shape; i.e. extended crosswise. But for the purpose of snow braking, it
may very well be that you want the patch extended lengthwise, as it would
with narrow tires.
Matt Pringle had this to say:
>I could be wrong here but isn't the "weight per square inch" (ie.,
>contact pressure) dictated by the tire pressure and not the width of the
>tire. I would think the a narrow tire would have a contact patch that's
>longer in the axial direction of the car but not any smaller.
>
>Matt
>
>Ajhsys@aol.com wrote:
>>
>> In a message dated 12/16/99 11:47:37 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>> niederst@telerama.com writes:
>>
>> << One question. It is supposed to snow
>> around here a bit tomorrow. If I would happen to buy the car, how are B's
in
>> the snow (if the tires are OK)? >>
>>
>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>>
>> I have driven all my LBCs in the snow in years past. They handle fine AS
>> LONG AS YOU KNOW HOW TO DRIVE in the snow. Narrow tires give you more
weight
>> per square inch than wide tires. Decent treads will grip the snow. Don't
>> slam on the brakes...don't try to turn while braking (which you shouldn't do
>> in the dry either)...and don't spin the wheels when you start up.
>>
>> Go to an empty parking lot and "cut some cookies" to get a feel for the car
>> in snow. If you use your head, there is no problem driving any car in the
>> snow. (SUV's not included!)
>>
>> Good luck with the B. Hope it is an early Christmas present (read "almost
>> concours quality" and they don't know it)!!!
>>
>> Allen Hefner
>> SCCA Philly Region Rally Steward
>> '77 Midget
>> '92 Mitsubishi Expo LRV Sport
>
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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