Hypothetical Flat Spot Question?

Posted by pigwona@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 6 comments

I can't find a good answer for brake performance when you have a flat spot on one tire. Say I have an ideal car that brakes perfectly even without pulling one way when braking. Now say I replace the front right tire with one that has a significant flat spot and threshold brake. Does the flat spot cause less traction and result in pulling left? Would the pull be affected differently at different speeds?

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6 Comments

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jrileyy229@reddit

Put that one in the back and it'll make virtually difference at all

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ruddy3499@reddit

Swap the front tires

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bubajofe@reddit

I would expect an increase of rolling resistance to the side with the flat spot and a pull toward that side, the only time you'd pull away from the flat spotted tyre would be if it were to lock up and the braking force applied to the other wheel is greater than the sliding friction of the offending wheel

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rudbri93@reddit

I would expect the flat spotted tire to lock up much easier.

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pigwona@reddit (OP)

If we pretend it won't lock up would the out of roundness mean less ground contact and more of a pull to the left where the good tire is?

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rudbri93@reddit

Yea i wouldnt be surprised if that was an outcome.