Quote:
Originally Posted by jkv45
That I believe. No doubt there's limited traction left once you are at that point.
Is the tire running too hot, and losing grip, with minimal (but acceptable) rubber left? I'm not getting why else the traction would deteriorate just from reduced tread depth.
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There's an optimum rubber-thickness, about 4-6mm depending upon compound.
too thick
- excess weight
- contact patch distorted, especially with tread blocks
- insufficient cooling-rate (surface-area to volume ratio)
- overheated tyre tears pieces off and slides
- shear tearing of tyre between layers
too thin
- can't fully sink into crevices and irregularities of road-surface
- shed heat too fast (only concern for race tyres)
- lower hysteresis forces, less rubber not pushing back as hard,
- causing lower slip-angles before sliding
references:
The Racing & High Performance Tires, Paul Haney
Race Car Vehicle Dynamics, Milliken & Milliken