What material has the lowest coefficient of traction for rubber tires?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The material with the lowest coefficient of traction for rubber tires is typically ice.
The coefficient of traction (also known as the coefficient of friction) measures the resistance between two surfaces in contact. In the case of rubber tires, this refers to how much grip the tire has on the road surface. The coefficient varies depending on the tire material and the surface it interacts with.
Ice has an exceptionally low coefficient of traction for rubber. The coefficient of friction between rubber and ice can range from approximately 0.1 to 0.3, which is much lower than that for most dry or wet road surfaces. This low value occurs because the surface of ice is relatively smooth and slippery, offering little resistance to the rubber of the tire.
When rubber tires come into contact with ice, the molecules of the rubber don’t interlock well with the molecules on the icy surface. Ice can also be very smooth at a microscopic level, making it difficult for the tire to “grip” or “bite” into the surface. In addition, the rubber’s ability to deform and create traction is limited on icy surfaces because there is minimal friction. This is one reason why driving on ice is so hazardous, and why vehicles often require snow tires or tire chains, which are designed to provide better traction on such low-friction surfaces.
In contrast, materials like dry asphalt or concrete have a much higher coefficient of traction (ranging from 0.7 to 0.9), which explains why tires grip these surfaces much better. Thus, ice remains one of the most challenging surfaces for tire traction due to its low friction.
