A theoretical model of the drag tire is presented and performance predictions of Fuel drag cars is compared to race car data. The data comparison, in both magnitude and trends, substantiate the proposed Tread Momentum principle.
Top Fuel drag cars accelerate at over 4 “g's” for several seconds. The effective tire friction factor based on car weight is over four. But the average friction coefficient between the tire and the ground is less than two. The Tread Momentum principle explains how drag tire dynamics give added traction capability. High torque and power are required to generate the added traction capability. The principle can lead to improved high speed race tire performance in other fields.
