What are the signs of poor tire grip?
3 Answers
Tires with insufficient grip will make the car feel unstable while driving, and understeer may occur when cornering. For cars with poor grip, it is necessary to reduce speed when entering a corner to ensure that understeer does not occur. Drivers will feel that the car is difficult to control. Grip mainly depends on parameters such as tire tread pattern, tread depth, road surface conditions, and vehicle load. There are two ways to increase the friction between the tire and the ground. The first is to increase the friction coefficient of the road surface. The so-called "friction coefficient" refers to the road surface's ability to provide grip for the tire. The higher the friction coefficient, the greater the grip. Different road surfaces, such as asphalt, concrete, and gravel, have different friction coefficients and thus provide varying levels of grip for the tire. The second method is to increase the tire's own friction coefficient, which can be achieved by choosing softer tires. Softer tires provide stronger grip but wear out faster. To increase the tire's contact area with the road surface, the simplest method is to switch to wider tires. Another option is to use tires with fewer tread patterns, which can increase the actual contact area between the tire and the ground, but this may affect grip performance on wet or slippery surfaces. With a given contact area, the tire's potential can be fully realized through correct tire pressure and precise suspension tuning. The tire's contact area is always smaller when driving on a flat straight road compared to when stationary, and it decreases even further when driving on uneven roads or cornering due to vertical or lateral forces, sometimes even losing contact with the ground entirely. The ultimate goal of suspension improvement is to keep the tire in contact with the ground as much as possible, especially when cornering or driving on uneven surfaces.
In my daily driving experience, I've noticed several signs of poor tire grip: during acceleration from a standstill, the tires easily spin, the engine roars loudly but the car moves slowly, as if spinning in place; when turning, the car body feels unstable, especially on slippery roads—just a slight turn of the steering wheel makes it feel like the rear end is about to swing out, which is quite frightening; the braking distance significantly increases, for example, stopping from 40 km/h normally takes 10 meters, but with poor grip, it requires 15 meters, making it very dangerous in emergencies; at high speeds, lane changes or acceleration cause increased vehicle sway, and the tire noise is louder than usual, making the entire driving experience bumpy and unsettling. For safety, I check tire pressure and tread depth weekly, and replace old tires early to ensure smooth driving.
From my safety-focused perspective, the most direct manifestation of poor tire grip is increased driving risks. On wet and slippery roads during rain, tire slippage becomes more severe, and hydroplaning may occur at speeds exceeding 60 km/h, leading to loss of vehicle control. During turns, noticeable side slipping occurs, causing the vehicle to deviate from the intended path and increasing the likelihood of hitting obstacles. The braking system becomes less responsive, resulting in longer stopping distances, which poses extremely high risks in traffic jams or potential high-speed rear-end collisions. I believe regular inspection of tire wear is crucial, and tires must be replaced when wear exceeds the warning indicators. These manifestations should never be overlooked in any road condition, as they directly impact life safety.
