2006-10-22 04:58:33 · 3 answers · asked by bernieclum 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Contact patch is the term applied to the portion of a vehicle's tire that is in actual contact with the road surface. The shape of a tire's contact patch can have a great effect on the handling of the vehicle to which it is fitted. Specifically, for the type of wide tire fitted to many modern performance cars, a contact patch that is wider than it is long will increase the tendency for the vehicle to 'tramline' or follow uneven road contours. Furthermore in front wheel drive cars, the offset between the centroid of the contact patch and the point about which the wheel steers can lead to a condition known as torque steer.
2006-10-22 05:07:18 · answer #1 · answered by oldhippypaul 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That is where "The Rubber Meets The Road"..It is where the tire surface and the road surface actualy contanct each other.The amount of tire that contacts the road has a direct reaction on how your vehicle handles and rides. t can be affectted if you change the Ride Level or Height ,or the caster or camber is incorrect,or the vehicles thrust angle has been changed,or you just have balled tires with no contact to the road.
This problem is most common in cars and trucks that have been lowered by novices,or by using incorect or "discount" parts,or if the job is inproperly done.
The second most common cause is that the car has been involved in a mjor collision and was improperly repaired or just cosmeticaly repaired.
A good front end shop should be able to tell you the cause.
2006-10-22 05:21:52 · answer #2 · answered by DJ_BammBamm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Also refered to as road wander. A good alignment shop may be of some help even with wider than stock tires.
2006-10-22 05:12:04 · answer #3 · answered by John Paul 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋