Contact patch

TALK WRENCH

Choice of tyres - the balance between fuel economy and handling and braking efficiency.

I have purchased a Baleno recently. The width of the tyre is smaller than the Ikon or the Accent. On inquiring about this, I was told that thinner tyres mean an improvement in overall fuel efficiency. My question is whether this will affect the car's road grip at high speeds.

Srinath Iyer, Hyderabad

A thin set of tyres means improved fuel economy, thanks to reduction in rolling resistance - this is an obvious after-effect of decreasing the tyre-road contact patch. And a smaller contact patch will also, unfortunately, mean greater braking distances and lowered braking efficiency.

Especially in the wet. We have always maintained that the Baleno's tyres are a little too skinny and advocate shifting to a wider set while purchasing the car - you might lose marginally in fuel economy terms, but what you gain are improved, confident road handling and more effective emergency braking.

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