Question

What is the typical coefficient of friction between a tire and the road?

It seems that with cars now doing 0-60mph (0-~27m/s) in shorter and shorter times that the coefficients must be approaching or exceeding 1. Is this correct?

Edit:

Upon further examination, the fastest wheeled vehicle (0-60mph) is able to reach 60mph in 1.08 seconds. source - killacycle. It's electric, too!

This would require a coefficient of friction of 2.65:

ma = μmg

a = μg where a = 27m/s ÷ 1.04s = 25.96m/s² and g = 9.81 m/s²

so μ = 2.65

Are there materials with coefficients of friction this high that are suitable for tires or am I missing something else?

Answer 1

From Holt Physics c. 2006, p. 138, rubber on dry concrete is 1.0 for static and 0.8 for kinetic friction.

Answer 2

I was at a talk by tire engineer about 10-15 years ago. He said they could make tires with a static coefficient of greater than 3.

Answer 3

According to the reference table used for the NY Regents exam

Rubbber on asphalt (dry): 0.67 kinetic and 0.85 static. Rubber on concrete (dry): 0.68 kinetic and 0.90 static.