Re: [Phys-l] Another tire question

[John Denker <jsd@av8n.com>]

On 11/06/2007 04:06 PM, LaMontagne, Bob wrote:
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-
> > bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Philip Keller
> >
> > At the Way Things Work site they talk about the footprint area of the
> > tires
> > times the pressure equalling the weight of the car.  
>
>
> This is correct if you specify the pressure as that between the road and
> the tires - not the air pressure inside the tire.

It should come to pretty much the same thing.  

As I mentioned earlier, stiffness isn't a big part of the
story.  Tire manufacturers try to minimize stiffness, because 
it makes for a harsh ride, bad handling, et cetera.

The ideal tire would have the same pressure everywhere over
its footprint, in accordance with Pascal's principle, i.e.
with no corrections due to stiffness.