PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

t walgamuth · #32 09-27-2006, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim H

I have always understood that the rolling resistance of any tire is above its sliding or skidding resistance.

"Locking them up" looks good, and feels like you are doing your best, but it may not give the shortest stopping distance.

A quick search found this (there may be others, but I'm out of time: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-lock_braking_system

I will admit that a really skilled (professional race?) driver may be able to do this, but not necessarily each and every time, in the rain and snow, after a bad night's sleep, hungover, on the cell phone, etc.

So, in theory ABS can be beaten. In practice, it is a terrific helper when you mis-judge how much brake pressure to apply, in a panic or on slippery surface.

i dont recommend locking them up. but i have often read in car tests that locking them up results in the shortest distance. perhaps this is only true on clean good condition asphalt. the real world may well be another matter.

for myself i really dont think i need abs all that much but for my wife and my family i want it. and now that i have it in my vehicles i like having it too.

agian though, the main advantage is in keeping the car pointed the direction you desire to go and in being able to steer the car away from danger with the brakes fully applied.

i can think of a couple of times where i avoided a crash by letting off the brake pedal, unlocking the brakes and steering away from the inevitable rear end collision. this would be on rainy greasy pavement or snow or ice. and in cars before abs was a twinkle in the eye of dr. bosch.

tom w