Investigation of the Effect of Various Tire Pressures and Surfaces to the Coefficient of Rolling Resistance

摘要

This essay serves to answer the question “What effects do varying tire pressures and surfaces have on the coefficient of rolling resistance?” The investigation attempts to solve the question in hand through the means of experimentation and theoretical models, by three means. Firstly by answering the question “Is the coefficient of rolling resistance reduced if the material of the surface is more compact and smooth”. Secondly by answering “Is the coefficient of rolling resistance reduced if the tire pressure increases?” This is then further elaborated by combining the two, “What are the best conditions of surface and tire pressure to obtain the optimum rolling resistance coefficient?” For the experiment a car was speeded up to exactly 60 km/h every time and the gear was slipped into neutral at a certain point. Then the time and distance for the car to stop was measured with the help of a chronometer and check points set next to the experimentation road.udThe conclusion leads to the inevitable fact that there are very important correlations between the surfaces compactness and the tires pressure to the coefficient of rolling resistance. It is inferred from the drawn conclusion that the coefficient of rolling resistance is inversely proportional to the compactness of the material on the surface and the pressure of the tires. However there is an optimum level for the coefficient of rolling resistance as the wheels are impossible to displace the car without it.