If area doesn't enter into the equation for the amount of friction, why do racing cars have such wide tyres?

 

Thanks.

Because the equation assumes the surfaces areas are homogenous.

 

In the real world, there can be a vast difference for the coefficient of friction of the road for points even a few centimeters apart. Think about a road with a few ice patches; a wide tire will have a better probability of contacting a surface with the desired high coefficient of friction (i.e. a part of the road without ice).

Sorry but I still don't understand why F1 cars need such wide tyres.

Suppose there is a small oil spill on the road. A wider tire would have a greater chance of at least some of it being NOT on the oil. Therefore the friction between the tire and the road would be approximately that of the Non-oil covered part of the road. In this case, the tires will not slip and the car remains under control.

 

With a small tire, maybe the entire tire surface is then on the oil. Then the friction is that of only the oil surface; which could cause the car to crash.

This might help:

http://www.f1technical.net/articles/1

 

 

Also, since you asked specifically about forumla 1 tires, I'd suggest that it's part of the regulations put in place by the FIA. After all, the use of the word "Formula" means the car has to meet very specific guidelines.

Suppose there is a small oil spill on the road. A wider tire would have a greater chance of at least some of it being NOT on the oil. Therefore the friction between the tire and the road would be approximately that of the Non-oil covered part of the road. In this case, the tires will not slip and the car remains under control.

 

With a small tire, maybe the entire tire surface is then on the oil. Then the friction is that of only the oil surface; which could cause the car to crash.

 

But on the other hand a wider tyre may have a greater chance of hitting the patch of oil because it's covers a greater surface area unlike a narrower tyre which would have a lower chance of hitting it.

 

The website more or less covers my query.

 

Thanks.