Wide vs Narrow Winter Tires Tested - What's REALLY Better on Snow and Ice?

[Vercingetorix]

All else being equal it seems if snow driving is your thing, smaller, but higher quality tires are the way to go. Probably cheaper in smaller sizes also.

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[DougFrisk]

I asked Tire Rack to perform exactly this test some time ago. For my entire life it's been just accepted that "narrow tires are better in snow." I've never seen anyone who actually compared side by side though and no manufacturer changes tire width between winter and summer tires as far as I know.

It's good to know that width has very little impact and if anything wider tires are marginally better at braking.

 

[whitex]

The theory of narrower tires providing more weight is probably moot for EVs which put down a ton (or rather tons) of weight already. In the end, width not making much difference on snow and ice, it will definitely make a difference in dry and wet - wider means more rubber on the road - if that was not true, Taycans would be riding on super narrow tires to increase range.

 

[WasserGKuehlt]

I love it when a new YT video attempts to "settle once and for all" a question that has been answered ~50 years ago.

Exhibit A: WRC wheels/tires throughout the season.

 

[hifi239]

The theory of narrower tires providing more weight is probably moot for EVs which put down a ton (or rather tons) of weight already. In the end, width not making much difference on snow and ice, it will definitely make a difference in dry and wet - wider means more rubber on the road - if that was not true, Taycans would be riding on super narrow tires to increase range.

It isn't just more rubber on the road that makes wide, low profile tires have higher performance. In fact, all else being equal, increasing tire width trades a narrower, longer patch for a wider, shorter patch of the same contact area. See this Video. The other benefits of wider tires are needed for a Taycan and not so much for a BMW i3.

 

[f1eng]

In fact, all else being equal, increasing tire width trades a narrower, longer patch for a wider, shorter patch of the same contact area.

This is very true, a narrow but long contact patch has many advantages over a short wide one for stability, control and camber sensitivity. Tyre diameter was restricted in the F1 rules because of this, punters like the look of wide low profile tyres and that is therefore what the manufacturers wanted to spend development money on.

The BMW i3 is, from an engineering standpoint, still the most logical EV out there IMO but obviously, from sales figures, people want styling familiarity over clever engineering

Twas ever thus I suppose.

 

[Alpha]

The old rule "narrower = more weight per cm² = better grip" still holds true.. But for studded tires. And keep in mind, in the olden days a winter tire was always studded. Then during the 90s the unstudded winter tires became so good they were a serious alternative.


As for maximum grip on snow and ice we always can count on motorsports to give us the correct answer...

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