This Is Why Racing Cars Are Broad And Low
Ever wondered why racing cars are broad and low? Is that look just for show or can it really help the car go?
Racing cars are broad and low to counter the effects of inertia when doing tight turns on the race track. It’s also designed to be broad and low for aerodynamic purposes.
Racing cars are broad and low for the specific purpose of racing on the race track and getting the fastest lap. The body design is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of achieving that. Engine modifications, body adjustments, weight reduction, proper tire assignment, and fuel are also put into consideration.
Driver height, weight, age, and skill also plays a major part in winning a race. The terrain and lay of the land is another aspect that race engineers consider before getting down to building the race car.
Last but not least, aesthetics are included in the list because these eventually find their way into production cars.
Anatomy Of A Successful Race Car
Try to remember what enters your mind when someone says “race car”. Chances are you already have an image of what it’s supposed to look like even before you see it. For the most part, your mental image of what racing cars look like is correct.
There’s a reason for that.
And it took decades and thousands of engineers, designers, mechanics, and companies to bring that to fore.
Take a look back at the history of car racing, you’ll see developments showing up, competitors adapting, and eventually making it a standard feature for all before the cycle starts again.
It’s a case of if it works, it works and if it ain’t broke don’t fix it too much unless something awesome comes out of it. When that happens, the entire racing world blows up and follows suit. In the process, whoever innovated it first gets lost in the mix.
This is why racing cars are broad and low and what you would see on one vehicle is basically on the next one down the line.
Low Profile
Racing cars are broad and low because of how their bodies are designed. These cars aren’t made for comfort. It’s definitely a tight squeeze getting in one. Let’s start with the car’s total height.
The height encourages down-force to happen, bringing the entire car lower to the ground as the speed picks up. Racing cars are also equipped with functional fins to further encourage this. This down-force helps racing cars stick to the ground.
In theory, an F1 race car, with the right velocity, terrain, driver, and innovations, can essentially run upside down without fear of plummeting to the ground. That’s in theory though. No one’s proven it yet. And no one has tried an actual demonstration.
But it gives you a really nice picture of what could be possible with racing cars given the right mix of technology and human determination, right?
Wide Stance
Racing cars are broad and low thanks to its wide wheelbase. At 180cm, it’s almost double what conventional commercial cars have.
The reason for that is because the wide wheels have to be taken into consideration to ensure uniformity amongst all racers.
The wide stance also allows racing cars to speed through the race track at over 200mph without fear of flipping over due to body roll.
Specific Car Length
There are specific car lengths assigned to race cars. Although there’s no set dimension for that, most racers have settled on a rough estimate that makes each one as long as each other and only off by a few centimeters or so.
Equipped With Race Track Specific Tires
Racing cars have race track specific tires. These are smooth, wide, and have a low profile. For their size, they are generally light. But then again, this is a relative term.
The rubber compound used on these tires are also “stickier” allowing the car to grip the road better than conventional tires. This increases the car’s performance and driver’s confidence to attack these corners at full speed without fear of rolling over.
Check out the Pro-Line 10157-17 Hoosier Drag Slick if you’re looking for reliable smooth racing tires.
Rock Hard Suspension
You already know that racing cars are broad and low because they’re specifically designed to just be driven on the race track. A basic race track is a smooth flat road with twists and turns. There are no unnecessary bumps, holes, and other imperfections on these roads.
If ever it gets damaged, it is immediately repaired, flattened, and levelled.
Because of that, there is no need for a sophisticated suspension system on a racing car.
The rock hard suspension does come with a disadvantage though. Because it barely moves, when it does, there is a jarring effect on the driver inside. There are reports of race car drivers complaining about the “porpoise effect” that causes symptoms akin to sea sickness.
The porpoise effect is basically the result of the car rocking back and forth from front to back as the suspension tries to adjust to slight imperfections on the race track. These imperfections may just be a few millimeters to an inch in deviation but they still have a massive effect on the way the car handles.
Pros And Cons Of Wide Tires
There are definitely some pros and cons to having wide tires. On a racing car, it totally makes sense. On a daily car, you’re in for some headaches and heavy workouts.
Pros
Wide tires are definitely here to stay. They’ve proven themselves on the race track as an important facet of the car that helps increase performance and speed. But that’s for the race track. It’s an entirely different thing for conventional cars on regular roads.
Increased Traction Adds To Racer Confidence
You already know this. The more contact area, the better the traction. The better traction you have, the better you’ll be able to negotiate tight corners.
This helps increase your confidence as you speed along the race track. Without the fear of rolling over or veering off the path, race car drivers find it easier to push the pedal to the metal around corners.
Wide Tires Really Look Good
‘Nuff said, right?
Wide tires really make any car stand out from the rest of the crowd. And this isn’t just for race cars. Kei cars, vans, SUVs, motorcycles, basically anything that has wheels on it can benefit from this aesthetic upgrade just by slapping on some wide tires.
If you have the money for it, get wide tires with low sidewall height and you’ve got something that’s elegant, classy, and fit for the screen. But buyer beware, these tires are rather pricey. You can check out the Sedona Rock-A-Billy Radial Tires, which is ideal for ATVs, SUVs, and off-road motorcycles.
Cons
Here are some of the disadvantages of having wide tires on your conventional car. And as you can see, the cons far outnumber the pros. So, think twice before buying those wide shoes for your car.
Waterslides Are Fun. Hydroplaning Is Not.
Hydroplaning is a definite possibility for cars with wide tires because they can’t displace water fast enough as the tires roll over it.
Race track tires are smooth and practically have no treads to allow proper venting. A small patch of water is enough to cause you to slide out uncontrollably.
You can try to correct your position but depending on the proximity to other vehicles on the road and your speed as you begin to slide, it might just be too late. If you have to get wide tires, at least get those that have treads that can help you not slide in the rain.
You’ve Got Four Big Nail Magnets On Conventional Roads
A wider profile equals a bigger contact area. It’s not a problem if the only thing you have to consider is hitting the corner at the highest speed possible. This only happens on the race track. There are no nails, tacks, sharp rocks, and other objects that can tear your tires up into little ribbons.
On conventional roads, your wide tires are constantly at risk of being shredded.
Wide Tires Are Excellent For Heavy Workouts
Wide tires are heavy. Not by design though, these tires are engineered to shave off the maximum amount of weight so as not to affect the engine’s ability to transfer power to the axles. There’s just no way to physically displace the weight that comes with that amount of mass.
But why should you be concerned about this when you won’t have to carry them? Well, if you get a flat tire, you will have to carry not just one, but two tires. Pushing a car with wide tires is any driver’s nightmare. I’ve pushed my Mitsubishi Celeste with flat, wide tires over a short distance and gained muscles I didn’t know I could have within seconds.
Changing tires will require a jack and rolling skiff. It’s not going to be an easy task doing roadside repairs.
The added weight of the spare tire in your boot is also going to add to the vehicle’s entire heaviness and that is going to affect your mileage.
Conventional cars should use conventional tires to get the rated mileage set by the manufacturer. Leave wide tires for sports cars on the race track.
These Tires Cost A Lot Of Money
Wide tires cost double, triple, quadruple, what you’d expect to pay for a conventional car. And that’s just for the generic wide tires available in the market today.
Get one from the big name companies and expect to pay more than that. That’s because these tires are race track tested with all of the innovations developed on the circuit incorporated into the end products offered.
Still want those tires? Prepare to put your home up for a second mortgage.
Or you could move to a tiny house and put all your funds into your car.
Whatever floats your boat.
Is It Practical To Drive A Sports Car With Wide Tires As A Daily Driver?
We’ve seen sports cars on the road driven by the most unlikely people. Everyone also knows how much fuel these cars guzzle on a daily basis. So why do people do it?
It’s never a practical choice to drive a sports car on the road. These cars are too fast, sometimes temperamental, have very limited passenger space, and loud. Fuel consumption hasn’t even been figured in that list yet.
A sports car stuck in traffic, is a total waste of a car. Sure, people will look and admire but they don’t know that inside, you’re sweating and thinking about the possibility of overheating kicking in. these cars aren’t designed for that. Eventually something’s going to come loose.
It’s ok if you have a long commute where you get to open up the valves and really let the turbocharger kick in. A short amount of time stuck in traffic is okay as long as you have a well-maintained sports car.
The biggest reason why people would drive a sports car on city roads is to exude an image of success. It works. People know these cars don’t come cheap. Maintenance takes up a lot of your budget and you need a near bottomless pocket to finance that.
Sports cars are head turners. If you want to arrive in style and have everyone’s attention, drive a sports car.
Just don’t get caught doing road repairs or that “successful” image goes out the window.
In Conclusion:
And that’s why racing cars are broad and low.
It’s all about improving road traction and aerodynamics. It’s a good thing they look so good that they improve the aesthetic qualities of the car when equipped.
Related Questions:
What’s The Lowest Ground Clearance On A Race Car? What’s The Highest?
1/10th of an inch. Racing cars are broad and low to counter inertia and improve its aerodynamic qualities. Keeping it that low to the ground presents unique issues like ground scraping. The more acceptable ground clearance is 2 to 4 inches. The highest would be around a foot off the ground.
Why Do Race Cars Have Broad Tires?
Race cars have broad tires to provide traction. The wider surface provides more interaction between the rubber and asphalt providing the grip needed to tackle extreme corners with ease. Because of their girth, racing cars have to be modified to effectively house these tires by cutting into the body.
Are Wide Tires Practical For Daily Use On Conventional Cars?
No. Wide tires are heavier than your conventional car tires. You’d be spending more fuel than what your car is rated for. It also poses danger on wet roads where hydroplaning is a definite possibility. Wide tires are also prone to running over nails. Let’s not get started on how hard it is to push.