do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

[wpg manitoba]

Say for example you had 2 identical 2wd trucks exept one had bigger tires on it. Which one would have the better traction? Everyone knows that in winter bigger tires are wose since they float on the snow, where as skinny tires dig in deeper and grab the ground better, but how about on a boat ramp, does it make any difference?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

within reason skinny tires will always get better traction

higher psi = higher coefficient of friction

Everyone knows that in winter bigger tires are worse since they float on the snow, where as skinny tires dig in deeper and grab the ground better

Sadly, not everyone knows that.... I hear all the time how wide tires are better but the only thing they do better is reduce psi to the ground to prevent sinking in... ANY time there is a soft slick surface and hard bottom within reach (you won't bottom out) the pizza cutters rule.

 

[bigdee]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

within reason skinny tires will always get better traction

higher psi = higher coefficient of friction .

Dead on. In the days of the model T Ford most roads were unpaved,rutted and muddy and that is why the wheels and tires were so skinny. I was in a bar with a bunch of 4x4 guys bragging about the hill they had just climbed. An old man looked over at them and said "sonny, ya'll ain't done anything that I haven't already done in my model T"

 

[tazrig]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

Agree with smoke on the water. Within reason thinner tires will give you more bite on a hard ramp, especially if you have a slick surface (seaweed or scum) on top. What ever you do on the ramp avoid this:

This Is How Not To Pull A Boat Out Of The Water

 

[jimbo_jwc]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

Locomotives have a contact point the size of a dime and traction effort will move metal. For slippery boat launches that cement is roughed grooved and Green or unapproved off road launching with my 4 wheel drive high/low I like mud/snow all terrain no knobbie types serve me best for old 18' and new 19.6 foot fiberglass boats . You cant dig down on cement but in strip mine lakes the skiny work till you bury and have to find someone with tractor to pull your rig out.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

a blanket statement of skinnier tires get better traction is not true. There are FAR to many variables to make that a true statement. More or less, the more rubber you can put on the pavement, the more traction you get. Another way to think of it, the less tire you put on the slippery stuff, the better. Big fat wide tires are great if you have clean pavement, you can put lots of rubber down, and the contact patch is huge. Now if you have rough, uneven pavement, gravel, or seaweed, the story changes... Ice tires are a great example. Since you really don't get any tire on the pavement, you want to minimize tire size to the smallest reasonable dimensions.

a really good read by some really smart guys about tire size vs traction...
Automotive tire/wheel engineering - wider is better? or not? size of contact patch arguement


Anyway, just a couple examples of some really skinny tires...

 

[tazrig]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

You are joking right? We're talking specifically about what will give you overall better traction going uphill on a slippery boat ramp. Although I have no doubt you could tow a boat much faster than me on a hard flat surface with the above vehicles, (even if I put my truck into 4 wheel drive :laugh I think you'd be hard pressed to argue that racing slicks would do a better job with traction than a much skinnier conventional tire going up a slippery boat ramp.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

Ask anyone who has winter driving experience in a tractor-trailer equipped with super singles. They definitely get LESS grip on slimy surfaces than their true dual cousins. A super single is as wide as two duals pressed together, but doesn't bite as well. Nor does it self clean as good a duals will. Just look back at WWII, Korean and Vietnam era military Jeeps. Did they have big fat tires under the fenders. NO! They were really tall and skinny. Me thinks the Army may have been on to something early. YMMV!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

nobody made any blanket statements to that effect... there were QUALIFIERS included..... Obviously very high horsepower and very soft tire compounds and high speed would require wide tires but not for lack of traction but rather to prevent overloading the traction surface of the tire.

Of course NONE of that has anything at all to do with the O/P's question

 

[rolmops]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

Nice theories. The skinny high pressure idea does give more traction per square inch. But more square inches of contact will give you much more overall traction
What works best on sloped slippery surfaces is increased contact surface. We used to partly deflate our tires when they started slipping on steep wet and slippery surfaces while hauling heavy loads and the same on unpaved sand desert crossings. I have actually successfully helped someone pulling a boat (21 foot Islander) out of the water on a wet ramp by taking half the air out of his 3.3 liter Dodge caravan front wheel tires. With the full tire pressure he was spinning his wheels with the air down he just moved instantly.
Marines use what works in the field!

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

All anecdotal "evidence" and other forum discussions aside, I don't worry or care about the width of my tires. I simply mount the manufacturers recommended size. If I get on a wet ramp and start to slip I simply throw more weight in the bed. Works every time.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

My personal experience says that even just a tire type can make a change. Example being same load, same ramp, same size tire. With some Firestone LT tires I used to slip some on wet ramps and spin gravel on our unimproved ramp. Changed to some Hancooks and it all disappeared. Pulls out nice and easy.

Still don't know that I can say I'm in love with a tire but it might be close. The reason I bought the Hancooks was because of their traction rating in snow and wet roads. So I don't know if it's the tread design or the tire compound but they sure do what they say they'll do.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

My personal experience says that even just a tire type can make a change. Example being same load, same ramp, same size tire. With some Firestone LT tires I used to slip some on wet ramps and spin gravel on our unimproved ramp. Changed to some Hancooks and it all disappeared. Pulls out nice and easy.

LT tires are designed for heavier loads. They are usually stiffer/higher ply/load range...

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

now what are we going to do with all this knowledge? Is anyone going to base his tire-buying decision on what works best on a slippery ramp, used 15/365 days, 300ft v. 12,000 miles?

One way to help traction for a pick up truck on a slippery ramp is to put a power washer in the truck bed over the axle, and use it to clean the ramp!

 

[bonz_d]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

OK. The Firestones were Destinations LE.

I did concider which tires to buy based on traction ratings. I drive my truck daily and this winter they have paid for themselves with all the snow we've been getting. Not much difference between a snow covered icey road and a slick ramp. Also have just about 20000 miles on them and they still look new. Also the wifes Kia came with Hancooks on it. She has 64000 on them and I believe she can still get another 10000 on them.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

Not much difference between a snow covered icey road and a slick ramp.

Exactly, slick is slick. Skinnier tires will prevail...............

 

[bonz_d]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

Exactly, slick is slick. Skinnier tires will prevail...............

So how do you explain the performance difference with two tires the same size and profile?

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

So how do you explain the performance difference with two tires the same size and profile?

Tire compound and tread pattern/siping etc........ I have 2 sets of tires for my truck, identical size/load range/plys. One set is only used for plowing(can be used year round) and work great, the other set(original) I only use in summer. Not as good for plowing....

 

[bonz_d]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

So I guess it's not just a matter of size then.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: do bigger tires have more traction on a boat ramp?

No, there's all kinds of variables depending on what a person wants to accomplish.....