Meet the Tire Contact Patch

What is the tire contact patch?

It's just what it sounds like: The external part of the tire that comes into direct contact with the road, or any other kind of surface you happen to be driving over. We're not talking about a very large area here. In fact, a typical tire contact patch is about the size of your hand.

Tire contact patch facts

• A short and wide tire contact patch, which is usually found on low profile or performance tires, can provide you with more control, corner stability and tire traction.

• Longer and narrower tire contact patches are most often found on passenger vehicles. They provide a smooth ride with more reliable and predictable handling, including in snowy conditions.

• High profile tires, like most passenger and light trucks tires, usually have a long and narrow contact patch.

• Low profile tires typically have a short and wide contact patch, for better performance.

• Not surprisingly, the larger and heavier the load on the tire, the larger the tire contact patch.

• The more a tire is inflated, the smaller the tire contact patch.