Originally Posted By: oil_film_movies
Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
Tires that last forever don't really handle that good
Old wives tales you're repeating.
A similar subject keeps coming up like this one: "Low rolling resistance (LRR) tires can't have good friction.", another thing said with absolutely no proof of the technological limitations. On the LRR subject, I pointed out before that there is no real linkage between LRR low-hysteresis physics and surface friction. IOTW, you can have high friction and LRR low-hysteresis rubber at the same time. One doesn't negate the other. We're actually seeing this with some new rubber compounds tire makers have.
Here, just because a plasticizer (303, etc.) increases rubber flexibility and possibly tensile strength, that doesn't mean friction is reduced.
It might be, we just need to test it in a real engineering lab or field test.
Don't jump to conclusions with no basis.
Ah ..... Mmmmmmm ...... Not exactly.
First let's start with IANARC (I am not a rubber chemist!), but I play one on TV .... No, that's not right. I'm still not a rubber chemist, but I've worked alongside some of the better ones and have picked up a few things.
One of the things I picked up was that there is a 3 way relationship between rolling resistance, traction (especially wet traction!), and tread wear. You can't get better values for one without sacrificing one or both of the others.
Having said that, every so often the rubber chemists will come up with an improvement that changes the basic relationship a bit. The operative word here is a bit. But the 3 way relationship still applies - albeit at a different level.
So tires with very low rolling resistance values have poor traction and/or wear properties. That's why OE tires (the ones that come on new cars from the factory) wear out so fast or have wet traction issues.
Plus the term LRR (Low Rolling Resistance) is a bit of a misnomer in that it means lower rolling resistance compared to other tires with similar wear and traction properties. This is where you see the effects of the rubber chemists' improvements.
So while it isn't exactly correct to say LRR tires have poor traction, it isn't exactly wrong either.
And to expand on this - I used to use a traction compound on my race tires. I think it was called Formula V (Looked it up and that's what it was!) I recall something called VHT that was supposed to be similar - BUT - my memory might be faulty here as those were among the words used to describe that traction compound being used at the latest NASCAR race at Bristol.
At any rate, I am not sure what Formula V was (is!), but I suspect it's a solvent laced with resin and rubber compatible oils that soften the rubber and add some grip. What it did for my old, dried out race tires was rejuvenate them to the point where they were usable again. I suspect this would work on street tires, too!
- BUT -
Formula V is completely different than 303 protectant. The only part where the video makes any sense is where the protectant extends the point where the rubber cracks due to age. I very much doubt that some spray on product would increase treadwear without sacrificing something else (and I suspect it would be traction, especially wet traction). If something did work as described, I am sure the folks that make 303 (or some entrepreneur!) would market it as such.
