Texx
Super Moderator
Guys after doing some research maybe this is something to consider. Have a read through this and see what you think. I dont think its as simple as what your saying Texx. Seems like there is alot more to it.
And dont get me wrong i really value your views here im just throwing this out there, Im no expert. And your obviously very knowledgeable.
http://www.performancesimulations.com/fact-or-fiction-tires-1.htm
Just had a quick skim through that (couldn't bring myself to read the whole lot word for word).
The data suggests to me that the contact patch area may deviate slightly between a wide/narrow tyre when looking at various loads and tyre pressures, however I would imagine some of that is to do with the design of the tyre carcass to cope with racing conditions. After all the tyre would need to maintain most of it's shape when the car is thrown hard into a corner.
Though the data does suggest that with at the extreme increase in load a wider tyre may in fact have a slightly larger contact patch area, at the same time there is a reduction in the amount of pressure that larger contact patch is putting onto the ground.
All of this won't add up to more grip from a tyre anyway. The weight of the car is the force pressing the tyre onto the road, the area of the tyres contact patch just spreads that weight out. Why do football players have studs on the bottom of their boots rather than playing in smooth bottom flip flops? The higher contact patch pressure due to the lower contact patch area (the same weight acting down on small studs rather than the whole surface of a flip flop) provides them with better 'grip'.
This can be demonstrated by putting the open palm of your hand flat onto a table, push your body weight down onto the table through your hand and then try to slide your hand across the table. Then do the same but use the tip of your index finger rather than the palm of your hand (i.e. a smaller contact patch area but higher contact patch pressure). You should find it more difficult to slide your finger across the table than you did with the palm of your hand, however if you did this quickly you would find that your finger would start to burn (overheat) where as the palm of your hand would remain at relatively the same temperature.
Now go back to your 'palm of the hand' exercise but give a heavy exhale of breath onto your hand first, this will increase the coefficient of friction of the surface of your skin and suddenly the amount of 'grip' or resistance to sliding across the table should be increased.