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Cambered Tires Can Improve Fuel Economy

thecarchik writes with an excerpt from Green Car Reports: "We already know that it's possible to curb your fuel consumption just by having your tires properly inflated, or better yet, installing a set of low rolling-resistance tires, however, soon there may be an additional avenue to look at when picking the most fuel efficient rubber for your ride. The answer is the camber of your tires, more specifically, the negative camber. This is when the tops of your car's tires are angled inwards towards the chassis. Of course, there are negative effects too — namely increased tire wear and impaired ride quality — which is why production cars almost always have zero camber." The linked article, as well as the New York Times article from which it draws, describe a new tire which is designed to minimize those negative effects.

4 of 317 comments (clear)

  1. Re:"Negative Effects" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Unless your fat. But apparently being fat decreases fuel efficiency, so that should be outlawed or taxed soon. But fat people basically have told me that they want to drive a big soft couch while watching tv, eating potato chips and talking on their cellphones.

  2. Re:How? by PinkyGigglebrain · · Score: -1, Troll

    Think you could actually cite something we can read on line? Both the link you give are for book that you have to buy.

    And you insult someone who was trying to answer a question, so what if he was wrong? Calling him a retard only shows how limited your vocabulary is.

    Great way to back up your statements and boost your credibility.

    Now I suspect your going to try and make some biting remark about me and anyone else who calls you on this.

    Funny thing is, either way I win. If you don't understand that, well, perhaps you need to work on subtly.

  3. Re:How? by PinkyGigglebrain · · Score: 1, Troll

    Wow, a few seconds on google and I found something that contradicts your statement about camber.

    The amounts of camber gain varies from car to car, team to team and even by the engineer’s philosophy on suspension set-up.

    and

    Pushing the bodywork down (such as when the wings develop down-force) compresses the suspension, and if the car has a camber gain curve, the camber angle will increase. This change in camber may be desirable during high speed cornering

    Found this here.

    Since your such the expert perhaps you would care to summarize the article for us?

  4. Re:Skinny tires by Joce640k · · Score: 0, Troll

    Yes.

    (But you also lose braking/cornering ability...not that American car designers seem overly-concerned with that - I think they only put big tires on American cars because consumers prefer them).

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    No sig today...