What is tire rolling resistance and how does it affect your cars performance

What is tire rolling resistance

Are you wondering what exactly is tire rolling resistance? Tire rolling resistance is the amount of force required to keep a tire moving and overcome in order to keep it maintain its speed.

This force is created by the friction between the rubber and the road as well as other things. The more rolling resistance there is, the harder it is for your car to move.

In this article, we will discuss how tire rolling resistance affects your cars performance and what you can do to reduce it.

What is tire rolling resistance?

Tire rolling resistance is the amount of force required to overcome a tires resistance and keep it moving.

This force is created by the friction between the rubber and the road and is also influenced by a tire composition as well as other things. The more rolling resistance there is, the harder it is to move the tire.

There are two types of rolling resistance: static and dynamic.

Static tire rolling resistance is the force required to start moving a tire from a stop. This is influenced by the weight of the vehicle, the coefficient of friction between the rubber and the road, and how much contact area there is between the tire and the road.

Dynamic rolling resistance is the force required to keep a tire moving once it is already in motion. This is influenced by the speed of the vehicle, the coefficient of friction between the rubber and the road, and how much contact area there is between the tire and the road.

What does a high rolling resistance mean?

A high rolling resistance means that it takes more force to keep a tire moving. This can be caused by several factors, such as the weight of the vehicle, the type of tires you are using, or the amount of contact area between the tire and the road.

If you are concerned about your car’s performance, don’t worry as there are a few things you can do to reduce rolling resistance.

How does rolling resistance affect your car’s performance?

The amount of rolling resistance has a direct impact on your car’s performance and fuel economy. The more tire rolling resistance there is, the more fuel your car will use. In fact, it is estimated that for every one percent increase in tire rolling resistance, fuel economy will decrease by 0.35%.

A higher tire rolling resistance will also increase your cars emissions.

Not only does this affect your car’s fuel economy, but it also affects your car’s acceleration. The more rolling resistance there is, the longer it will take for your car to reach its top speed.

This is because it will be harder for your car to overcome the force of rolling resistance, meaning that more of your engines power is going into simply moving the tires, leaving less power available to accelerate the vehicle.

Tires with a high rolling resistance will also work against your vehicle and will try to slow you down faster once the vehicle is moving. Having tires with less rolling resistance will allow the car to coast for longer and also lose less speed.

What factors affect rolling resistance?

Tires are the biggest factor when it comes to rolling resistance. The type of tire you choose can really make a difference in how much rolling resistance there is.

For example, all-season tires typically have a higher rolling resistance than summer tires. This is because all-season tires are designed to be more versatile and durable, which comes at the expense of performance.

A tires specific compound, make up, tread pattern and design all impact a tires rolling resistance. Run-flat tires also have a higher rolling resistance compared to their equivalent competitors due to their extra weight.

The weight of your vehicle is another factor that affects rolling resistance. The heavier your car is, the more force it takes to move it. This means that a heavier car will have a higher rolling resistance than a lighter car.

Another factor that affects rolling resistance is the amount of contact area between the tire and the road. The more contact area there is, the higher the rolling resistance will be.

This is because there is more friction between the tire and the road, making it harder to move. This is why wider tires typically have a higher rolling resistance than narrower tires.

The type of road you are driving on can also affect rolling resistance. Smooth, paved roads have less rolling resistance than rough, gravel roads.

This is because the smoother the road surface is, the less friction there is between the tire and the road. This means that it takes less force to move on a smooth road than it does on a rough road.

What can you do to reduce rolling resistance?

There are a few things you can do to reduce rolling resistance and improve your car’s performance.

Check your tire pressure

The first thing you can do is make sure your tires are properly inflated. This will help to ensure the correct amount of contact area between the tire and the road.

This is because if your tires are under inflated, this will increase their surface area and this larger contact patch with the road increases the rolling resistance. This increased surface area will mean that the tire is deforming and flexing as it rolls down the road which increases rolling resistance.

Check wheel alignment

It is also important to make sure that your tires are properly aligned. This will help to ensure that the contact patch between your tire and the road is correct and that the tire and wheel rolls with the least amount of resistance.

A misaligned tire will have a larger contact patch because it will be sitting at an angle on the road. This will mean that the wheel and tire do not roll at the optimum angle and will increase rolling resistance. It will also lead to your tires wearing prematurely and potentially wearing unevenly.

Reduce vehicle weight

You can also reduce rolling resistance by reducing the weight of your vehicle. This can be done by removing any unnecessary items from your car that you are not using.

Having a lighter vehicle will mean that there is less force required to move it and this will reduce rolling resistance.

Use narrower tires

Another way to reduce rolling resistance is to use narrower tires. This is because a narrower tire will have less contact area with the road and this will reduce friction. Narrower tires are also lighter which will also help decrease their rolling resistance.

It is important to note that using narrower tires can have a negative effect on your car’s handling and grip. This is because there is less contact area between the tire and the road.

Invest in lighter wheels

You can also reduce rolling resistance by using lighter weight wheels. This will reduce the amount of force required to start moving the wheels and tires due to the lower weight and will also help to improve your car’s acceleration.

Use tires with a lower coefficient of friction

Another way to reduce rolling resistance is to buy tires that are specifically designed to reduce rolling resistance. These tires are usually made from a different type of rubber compound that is designed to minimize friction. 

You can find the coefficient of friction for different tires by looking at the tire’s label or by searching for it online.

Conclusion

Rolling resistance is an important factor to consider when you are trying to improve your car’s performance. There are a few things you can do to reduce rolling resistance, such as ensuring your tires are properly inflated, using narrower tires, and investing in lighter weight wheels.

By taking these steps, you can help to improve your car’s acceleration and fuel economy.

If you’re looking to replace your tires, then click this link for the best price on GoodYear Tires.

I hope this article was helpful in explaining what rolling resistance is and how it can affect your car’s performance. If you have any questions then please leave a comment below or get in touch via email or through social media and we will read and respond to every comment, email or question. Thanks for reading!

Do wider tires increase rolling resistance?

Yes, a wider tire will have a larger contact with the ground, thereby increasing the amount of rolling resistance that it generates.

Does rolling resistance increase with speed?

Rolling resistance does not increase because of an increase in speed. However more more power is needed to work against rolling resistance, and this can also change depending on the surface and the resistance that if causes.

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