Why do racing cars have big flat tyres?

Answer 1

because big flat tires give the best grip on the track, and therefore higher friction, necessary to go around curves faster

Answer 2

The amount of grip is governed by the area of tyre in contact with the tarmac.

Pressure (tyre pressure) = Force (weight of car + downforce) / Area (contact patch)

for a given car and tyre pressure it doesn't matter how fat or thin the tyres are the contact area is the same.
Race cars have big tyres for several reasons.
1. With a low profile tyre you have a stronger side wall and so can transfer more force through it.
2. With a stronger side wall you can reduce the tyre pressure and so increase the contact area.
3. As the contact patch is spread across the width of the tyre and not around the circumference you have more rubber available than a thinner tyre, and so the wear rate is lower.

I've added the link to a useful article on F1 tyre design.
http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2000/jan05/gray.html

Note the above refers to laws of physics, wider tyres do not give you more grip simply because they are wider, but because of what the width gives you in terms of construction, and useability.

Answer 3

2 words-- surface area. The greater the size of the surface of the tire in contact with the track, the better the "grip". Racers also spend considerable time and money KEEPING that surface area in contact with the track at different points on the track. Drivers and crews constantly adjust the angles of the tires in relation to the track and each other (toe, caster and camber) to maximize the surface of the tire that is in contact with the track. You will also hear about them adjusting the weight distribution and roll of the chassis with wedge (aka cross) and track bar adjustments.

All of this is to increase the surface area of the tires in contact with the track. Even as much as a half pound of air pressure in one of the tires can make a difference in how the car handles, and therefore how fast the driver can push it around the track.

Answer 4

The key here is friction. The more surface area touching the surfaceof the racetrack, the better. If you have ever seen climbing shoes, they are the same. NO tread whatsoever. The goal is to stick flat rubber against the climbing or racing surface.

Answer 5

the tread in tyres is only for water to escape. On a dry road a flat tyre works best.

Answer 6

An answer I didn't see is the fact that a fat tire has a lower profile sidewall.

This causes the tire to be much more rigid when biting in a turn. The contact patch due to this added stability is much greater than for a skinny tire, which would tend to move laterally and literally "roll over" and reduce the contact patch.

Answer 7

The F1 motor vehicle wins on each music: F1 music, mountain music, oval, right now line. this is speedier: precise out at 255 mph whilst in comparison with 220 for nascar or indy, and it additionally corners speedier. this is the main stepped forward variety of motor vehicle . To all the guy under. you preserve mombling approximately 220 for indy. SO WHAT? F1 get to 255 . era. For racer x are you blind ? F1 automobiles have been customary as in a position to tension up-area down for over 20 years. Even a Ferrari F50, Enzo, and different highway criminal automobiles can generate extra down tension than theyr weight and for this reason tension on the ceiling :) a guy above merely sayd that F1 automobiles generate 2,5 instances they very own weight in downforce. Lol champ motor vehicle 's the main stepped forward :)) That champ motor vehicle makes use of sideskirts for producing down tension. That technologies is many years previous in F1 , this is not even used immediately, besause it replace into to effectual so it 's banned. Even with out that the F1 automobiles make 2,5 time they weight in downforce.

Answer 8

In a word; traction.

The more surface area the tire has in contact with the road, the better the traction to go and the better the car will track.