Braking force/Tyre slip
The diagram shows braking force as a function of tyre slip.
- Braking force
- Stable position
- Unstable position
- Tyre slip
The braking force is equivalent to the coefficient of adhesion or the friction between the tyre and the road surface. Each application of braking force gives rise to a certain degree of slip. The slip of a freely rotating wheel is expressed as 0% and of a locked wheel as 100%.
When the brake is first applied at 0% slip, braking force increases sharply but the degree of slip increases only gradually up to a certain limit. Beyond that point, braking force decreases with increasing slip.