When measuring the frictional forces between a rubber tire and a wet road, how would the static and kinetic friction coefficients likely compare if the temperature of the tire increases due to prolonged braking?

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Seekh · Accepted Answer

When a tire brakes for a long time it heats up, making the rubber softer and able to press more firmly into the wet road surface. This increased deformation raises the static friction coefficient, because the tire can grip the road better before it starts to slide. The kinetic friction coefficient, which governs sliding once motion begins, does not benefit as much from the softness and may even stay the same or drop slightly as the rubber becomes too pliable. Consequently, the static coefficient will usually rise more than the kinetic coefficient as temperature climbs. For instance, a tire at 70 °C might have a static μ of about 0.

When measuring the frictional forces between a rubber tire and a wet road, how would the static and kinetic friction coefficients likely compare if the temperature of the tire increases due to prolonged braking?

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