Narrow tires

[Bruce Bowker]

In the many years of cars racing with really narrow tires, was it because the technology was not available or the rules did not allow wider tires?

Bruce

 

[Bugeye58]

Bruce, in my case, running both the Sprite and the Super Vee, it was a rules restriction.
Jeff

 

[Nunyas]

I'm thinking in the early days it was a technology limitation. Later, as technology allowed for wider tire designs, rule restrictions were developed for the different classifications of cars and races to keep things competitive...

 

[Bugeye58]

Rob, yes and no. In the early days, there were a very limited selection of tires to chose from. As wider and stickier tires became available, many of the suspension components weren't capable of handling the extra loads, hence some of the rules. My early Bugeye, on treaded Goodyear Blue Streak Sports Car Specials, couldn't hold a candle to the way my current car acts on 20x8x13 Hoosier slicks. Brakes, axles, and all the rest have vastly improved over the years, allowing us to push the envelope more, and do it <u>safely</u>.
One other reason for many of the rules was an attempt to keep the cost down for the amateur guys.
Just my take, based on nearly 40 years of insanity.
Jeff

 

[Nunyas]

sweet ! I just learned another something new today!

YAY! I'm still alive!

really though, that is interesting information. I hadn't thought about the impacts of stickier tires on older suspension designs.

 

[Roger]

Several reasons, really.
It wasn't until about 40 years ago that the carcase materials and compounds were developed that allowed stable wide-section tyres. You must also remember that surfaces were usually much more cambered, and narrow-section tyres work pretty well on steeply-cambered roads, particularly with suspension designs that had built-in camber change.