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"skinny" Tires??

BaldGuy

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That video shows an Elio driving over a well plowed road. I am talking about trying to forge a path through 12 inches of snow. This is all conjecture on everybody lambasting me about how great the Elio will handle with skinny tires, seeing that none of you have ever actually driven it in deep snow. I do plan to get the fenders with wider wheels on the front. Wider to me equates to more stability and better grip/surface area on the pavement. Everyone will have differing views on this. To each his own.
How will it do in the snow/bad weather?
August 23, 2016 01:25
The Elio will do well in all kinds of weather! The front engine, low center of gravity, front wheel drive and ABS will create some great traction action to help pull the Elio through the snow or other bad weather. Word of caution though, we are not a 4-wheel drive urban assault vehicle, so if there are 5' snow drifts, stay home and wait until the plows come through!

I think you should skip the Elio and get a urban assault vehicle, and perhaps you can get a job telling us Elio owners when its safe to drive to work.
 

Coss

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Ok, this has changed from a discussion to an argument.
I suggest everyone take five from this argument and come back when you can carry on a discussion.

Nickskeys if you are this set in the way you're going to do your Elio, great, but if you are really convinced that everyone else is wrong , I suggest you contact Elio Motors and tell them what they're doing wrong.

Carry on in the tone this has gotten to, and I'll close and delete the thread.
 

Elio Amazed

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Nickskeys, you do realize that you're challenging almost all the available research out there, right?
Not only that, but you're also challenging almost all of our collective driving experience.
Sand is a lot different substance than snow. As you said, to each his own.

Believe what you believe and proceed accordingly. There's nothing stopping you.
It appears that some of us find it amusing that you seem to be getting upset...
Simply because we're not being persuaded by your broad rationalizations.

I'm in a good mental place about most things Elio. What I don't like, I'll change on mine.
 

CrimsonEclipse

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I'll take another wack at it.

Car tires, bicycle tires, truck tires, airplane tires, all have the same rules of physics.

In a previous life, I've worked in tire shops and am intimately familiar with manufacturers, components, dimensions, tread, tire size, weight and conditions. I've also built road bicycles with tires less than 1 inch wide to 120psi to snow bicycles with 5 inch wide tires filled to 5-7 psi.

The term "float" is used when you want to stay on TOP of the snow/sand/mud and is almost exclusively for off road applications with a wide tire with a large contact patch and low psi.

On road use will almost exclusively use a tire combination requiring 28-45 PSI

If you place a wider tire (with all other considerations remaining constant) and keep the original PSI, the tire will deform to keep an equal area contact patch with the pavement. (usually wearing in the middle with the outer tread relatively untouched)

If you place a skinnier tire (with all other considerations remaining constant) and keep the original PSI , the tire will deform to keep an equal area contact patch with the pavement. (usually wearing on the outside with the middle bowing in)

Now floating over snow while on the road is exactly what you DON'T want. Contact with the road, even rough ice, is greatly desired over snow or slush. A skinnier, higher pressure tire will cut or plow through the snow/slush to the pavement with more efficient tire/pavement contact.

In northern states, changing to snow tires will commonly select a skinnier size, AKA minus sizing.

http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=126

Skinny tires are NOT a silver bullet. Snow specific tread will be a major assistance as will studded tires in really nasty conditions IN ADDITION to proper tire size selection and driver technique.

Finally, with wider tires and a constant weight, AND assuming you lowered your PSI accordingly, your hydroplaning speed will DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY!!

Hydroplaning speed (MPH) = 10 x the square root of the tire PSI (in lb)
Less pressure = more hydroplaning
and will be even MORE pronounced in slushy conditions.

in hard packed conditions, the snow will act more like a solid than a liquid.
 
Last edited:

outsydthebox

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How do you equate skinny tires being better at anything other than lighter weight and less drag? Ever try riding a road bicycle through sand? Those skinny tires offer no traction and you get bogged down. Now, try riding through that same sand on a mountain bike or wide tired bicycle. You can ride right through with no difficulty. The skinny tires on the Elio will have an advantage only on smooth clear pavement. Anything else, look out!
That video shows an Elio driving over a well plowed road. I am talking about trying to forge a path through 12 inches of snow...
You may as well stay home because everything will be closed until the streets are plowed. :becky:
Wider to me equates to more stability and better grip/surface area on the pavement. Everyone will have differing views on this. To each his own.
The laws of physics disagree with you.
 

3wheelin

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Ok, this has changed from a discussion to an argument.
I suggest everyone take five from this argument and come back when you can carry on a discussion.

Nickskeys if you are this set in the way you're going to do your Elio, great, but if you are really convinced that everyone else is wrong , I suggest you contact Elio Motors and tell them what they're doing wrong.

Carry on in the tone this has gotten to, and I'll close and delete the thread.
Cut him a little slack Coss...his version on the laws of physics is very interesting and we need to hear more if it!
 

3wheelin

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I'll take another wack at it.

Car tires, bicycle tires, truck tires, airplane tires, all have the same rules of physics.

In a previous life, I've worked in tire shops and am intimately familiar with manufacturers, components, dimensions, tread, tire size, weight and conditions. I've also built road bicycles with tires less than 1 inch wide to 120psi to snow bicycles with 5 inch wide tires filled to 5-7 psi.

The term "float" is used when you want to stay on TOP of the snow/sand/mud and is almost exclusively for off road applications with a wide tire with a large contact patch and low psi.

On road use will almost exclusively use a tire combination requiring 28-45 PSI

If you place a wider tire (with all other considerations remaining constant) and keep the original PSI, the tire will deform to keep an equal area contact patch with the pavement. (usually wearing in the middle with the outer tread relatively untouched)

If you place a skinnier tire (with all other considerations remaining constant) and keep the original PSI , the tire will deform to keep an equal area contact patch with the pavement. (usually wearing on the outside with the middle bowing in)

Now floating over snow while on the road is exactly what you DON'T want. Contact with the road, even rough ice, is greatly desired over snow or slush. A skinnier, higher pressure tire will cut or plow through the snow/slush to the pavement with more efficient tire/pavement contact.

In northern states, changing to snow tires will commonly select a skinnier size, AKA minus sizing.

http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=126

Skinny tires are NOT a silver bullet. Snow specific tread will be a major assistance as will studded tires in really nasty conditions IN ADDITION to proper tire size selection and driver technique.

Finally, with wider tires and a constant weight, AND assuming you lowered your PSI accordingly, you hydroplaning speed will DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY!!

Hydroplaning speed (MPH) = 10 x the square root of the tire PSI (in lb)
Less pressure = more hydroplaning
and will be even MORE pronounced in slushy conditions.

in hard packed conditions, the snow will act more like a solid than a liquid.
You're no fun CrimsonEclipse, you could have stretched this thread a while longer had you not revealed all this info in one shot!:D
 
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