Quote:
Originally Posted by CanAutM3
For the same weight and inflation pressure, by putting a wider tire you make the contact patch wider and shorter. This increases lateral grip but reduces longitudinal traction.
You are right about front and rear tires doing different things. Remember the friction circle, the rear tires also have to propel the car, so less lateral grip is available when you are on the throttle (maybe not on your quattro though  ) |
Wider, yes. Shorter??
Your contact patch will have more total surface area contacting the pavement, which will increase both lateral
and longitudinal grip. One of the best things about having the wider rubber up front is the increase in the braking ability of the car (longitudinal grip).