The contact patch is the small area of contact between the tire and the road surface. It is responsible for generating the friction necessary to stop and turn the vehicle. The remainder of the tire is used to support the vehicle's weight and provide stability.
To stop a vehicle, the brakes apply friction to the contact patch, which causes the vehicle to slow down. The amount of friction depends on the coefficient of friction between the tire and the road surface. The higher the coefficient of friction, the more friction there will be and the faster the vehicle will stop.
To turn a vehicle, the steering wheel is turned, which causes the front tires to turn. This creates a difference in the contact patches of the front and rear tires, which generates a side force that turns the vehicle. The amount of side force depends on the angle of the steering wheel and the coefficient of friction between the tires and the road surface. The greater the angle of the steering wheel, the more side force there will be and the faster the vehicle will turn.
The size and shape of the contact patch can affect the vehicle's handling and performance. A wider contact patch will generate more friction and provide more stability, while a narrower contact patch will provide less friction and make the vehicle more responsive to steering inputs. The shape of the contact patch can also affect the vehicle's handling, with a rounded contact patch providing more progressive handling than a rectangular contact patch.
