Tag Archives: theory

Motorsport

Wide Versus Narrow Winter Tires: It Doesn’t Really Matter Which You Choose

There’s an age-old theory that suggests using narrower tires in the winter for more grip due to increased pressure on a smaller contact patch. The alternative argument is in favor of wider tires, as they offer more surface area for increased grip. However, according to Jonathan Benson at Tyre Reviews, whether you opt for wider or narrower tires for your winter setup doesn’t make much of a difference.

Benson wanted to put the wider versus narrower winter tires theory to the test, so he obtained four sets of Hankook tires to test on a BMW 3 Series on a snow-covered closed course, with each set of tires being wider than the previous. The tires ranged from 205 section-width up to 275s, with the 205s fitted on 16-inch wheels, the 225s on 18s, and the 255s and 275s on 19-inch rims.

Although there were subjective differences in feel and feedback between the sizes, the data revealed that the narrowest tire performed the best in acceleration testing but the worst in braking. For lap times, the middle 225 section-width tire performed the best. However, the results were so close that any difference would likely not be noticeable.

The primary conclusion from Tyre Reviews is that the objective performance of a good winter tire versus a bad winter tire of the same size shows more variation. Therefore, when shopping for winter tires, it’s better to focus on brands with good reviews rather than stress about the tire size.

Motorsport

Shelby Super Snake Vs. Monster Pro Lite Drag Race Is American V8 Showdown

Although pickup trucks are usually not designed for racing and are typically used for work purposes or off-road adventures, there are exceptions to this rule. Some manufacturers create powerful and fast trucks, and there are even special racing series for these vehicles. In this drag race, we will see how a road-legal performance truck compares to a lightweight race truck.

The video at the top of this page, brought to us by Carwow on YouTube, showcases a drag race between two impressive machines. On the left, we have the Shelby F-150 Super Snake, which is a highly modified version of America’s best-selling vehicle, the F-150. Under the hood, this truck boasts a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine that produces a staggering 770 horsepower and approximately 640 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic gearbox. However, it must be noted that this truck is quite heavy, weighing in at 4,846 pounds.