Reduced safety margins due to car modifications
Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 6:05 pm
Something that regularly comes to mind about car modification is generally, that although the performance of the car increases, the safety margin decreases. Let me explain.
Inched up Tyres
The process of decreasing the height of the tyre wall, and increasing (inching up) the size of the inner wheel. Usually in relation to adding some nice big alloy wheels.
Although this does have the general advantage of increasing cornering performance (and the look of your nice new ride). It also has the negative effects of making the ride less comfortable, and if you happen to take a bend too quickly you wont get any feedback in the steering, and less rear end twitch before the vehicle slides.
i.e. if it's gonna go...kiss your ass goodbye and hope you get out of the ditch alive...as there will be no warning, compared to a standard vehicle setup.
ESP/ESC - Electronic Stability Program/Control
Used to stabilise a car during cornering by distributing the suspension/wheel traction control to give maximum grip/more control.
The problem with this is similar to above. Although it will generally give the car higher performance when cornering, if you push too hard, you wont get any feedback as to the potential of "losing control".
I believe the problem with the majority of driver's these days, coupled with the inability assess risk, is based around feeling "too safe". Then the one time they push it, using all the latest toys, there is no reality check to say "hey big boy, slow down, or stop doing that because your gonna die".
I suppose, this also contributes significantly to the cost of insurance premiums for modified cars. Where the performance has been altered in one respect, the safety margins built into the car at manufacture have been decreased.
In simple terms, to avoid/prevent a skid...stop doing what caused it in the first place. If there is no feedback to tell you where you sit on the control curve, how does the driver know where they control loop becomes "unstable".
<for anyone who has studies electronics or any type of systems / stability control theory, the above I'm sure will all make perfect sense>
Darren
Inched up Tyres
The process of decreasing the height of the tyre wall, and increasing (inching up) the size of the inner wheel. Usually in relation to adding some nice big alloy wheels.
Although this does have the general advantage of increasing cornering performance (and the look of your nice new ride). It also has the negative effects of making the ride less comfortable, and if you happen to take a bend too quickly you wont get any feedback in the steering, and less rear end twitch before the vehicle slides.
i.e. if it's gonna go...kiss your ass goodbye and hope you get out of the ditch alive...as there will be no warning, compared to a standard vehicle setup.
ESP/ESC - Electronic Stability Program/Control
Used to stabilise a car during cornering by distributing the suspension/wheel traction control to give maximum grip/more control.
The problem with this is similar to above. Although it will generally give the car higher performance when cornering, if you push too hard, you wont get any feedback as to the potential of "losing control".
I believe the problem with the majority of driver's these days, coupled with the inability assess risk, is based around feeling "too safe". Then the one time they push it, using all the latest toys, there is no reality check to say "hey big boy, slow down, or stop doing that because your gonna die".
I suppose, this also contributes significantly to the cost of insurance premiums for modified cars. Where the performance has been altered in one respect, the safety margins built into the car at manufacture have been decreased.
In simple terms, to avoid/prevent a skid...stop doing what caused it in the first place. If there is no feedback to tell you where you sit on the control curve, how does the driver know where they control loop becomes "unstable".
<for anyone who has studies electronics or any type of systems / stability control theory, the above I'm sure will all make perfect sense>
Darren