Contact patch is the portion of a vehicle's tire that is in actual contact with the road surface. It is most commonly used in the discussion of pneumatic tires, (i.e. pressurized tires), where the term is strictly used to describe the portion of the tire’s tread that touches the road surface. The term “footprint” is used almost synonymously.
The following discussion only applies to pneumatic tires.
Famous quotes containing the words contact and/or patch:
“Dr. Scofields equipment, which you have just seen, radiated waves direct to Professor Houghlands laboratory. When these waves came in contact with those the professors equipment was radiating, they created the interstellar frequency, which is the death ray.”
—Joseph ODonnell, and Clifford Sanforth. Arthur Perry (Bela Lugosi)
“I sing a heros head, large eye
And bearded bronze, but not a man,
Although I patch him as I can
And reach through him almost to man.”
—Wallace Stevens (18791955)