Best way to increase downforce ??

[smitty12]

Thought wider wheels had nothing to do with grip, I remember reading autospeed that tire width had nothing to do with the grip coefficient. The material/compound is what dictates the grip coefficient, wider wheels just allow the heat to disperse properly from what I remember reading. Anyone care to dwell on this?

Well wider wheels will definitely improve grip, the bigger the surface area contact between the road and the tyre the greater the grip from the tyres. Slick tyres will give great benifits but again when up to temperature will create drag in a straight line. The weight of the car will also be better balanced with wider tyres.

[golf-sib]

Also on the serious side, what people think of that wide arch w12 replica body-kit?

Another thing for food for thought is, my spare tire/wheel is really light in comparison to my alloys, same size in rim and width, would 4 of them be better for the track over the alloys, also give reasone why  In short steelies vs alloys?

[golf-sib]

http://www.autospeed.com/A_108915/cms/article.html
and
http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_110774/article.html

What actually influences the size of the tyre's contact patch? Is it the width of the tyre, or the profile? The simple answer that it is neither of these; the size of the tyre's contact patch is related to:

    * the weight on the wheel
    * the tyre pressure.

Okay, most people will come to the conclusion that if you have "more rubber on the road" you will have increased grip. Sorry to say this folks, but to very close to 100% accuracy, the size of the contact patch is irrelevant.

[jake]

So if i run a 7.5j wheel on my track car, it's the same as me running a 12j wheel on my track car??

[golf-sib]

So if i run a 7.5j wheel on my track car, it's the same as me running a 12j wheel on my track car??

According to autospeed and physics is appears so  But since your gonna be a rwd ferrari from what the article says you could use with wider wheels to disperse the heat?

[jake]

hmmm interesting lol

[golf-sib]

hmmm interesting lol

I love reading autospeed, some intresting stuff they do do on there, just not enough off it, the car aero side is what's intresting me at the moment to see how things can go together with to my idea of what I want from the golf. It's all adding up very quickly and I'm not even thinking of serious power!

Do track cars with the arch diffusers have the arch lining or not as I imagine that would aid in air flow around the wheel?

[smitty12]

hmmm interesting lol

I love reading autospeed, some intresting stuff they do do on there, just not enough off it, the car aero side is what's intresting me at the moment to see how things can go together with to my idea of what I want from the golf. It's all adding up very quickly and I'm not even thinking of serious power!

Do track cars with the arch diffusers have the arch lining or not as I imagine that would aid in air flow around the wheel?

adapted arch liners, but yes.

And about the width of the tyres, yes that makes sence, but! the width will definitely have some importance, imagine going round a track on Ford Model T wheels, the grip wouldnt be there and the car would constantly want to roll or buckle the wheels! The width with the tyres will disperse the weight better and the correct pressure will give better traction so really the width does play a crusial part as the weight through the corners would be despersed better and give better road handeling as the car wont want to roll as it would on smaller wheels, the castor and camber angels will be crusial aswel as mentioned

[Horney]

Too much rubber and you go slower as you have more resistance.

Nick

[smitty12]

Too much rubber and you go slower as you have more resistance.

Nick

as said, inceases drag 

lots of maths would work this out