Tyres skid on purpose

Special tyres are now being made for driver training, to teach control without needing to use a skid pan.  Skid Tyres Australian distributor Joel Neilsen, of Safe Drive Training, says the tyres allows people in regional areas -- who are often far from a skid pan facility – to get advanced training.

The tyres can be used on any sealed surface including airport runways and taxiways, closed roads or car parks and at small go-kart circuits, drag strips and other race circuits without the need for purpose-built skid pans, water features or expensive skid frames.

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"It will revolutionise driver training particularly when it comes to teaching drivers how to cope with wet and slippery road conditions including snow and ice which many Australian driers struggle with," Neilsen says.   "In the past this sort of driver training has been very limited due to availability and cost of skid pans or skid frames. Now for just a few hundred dollars we can give drivers the experience and training need to learn car control in marginal conditions."

"You can teach drivers how to control understeer by putting the Skid Steer tyres on the front wheels of the training car or oversteer technique by fitting them to the rear of the car. It is very simple and extremely versatile."

Neilsen says other Skid Tyre advantages include low noise and the use of normal street cars. They also don’t require fast or aggressive driving to replicate slippery conditions.  He says the Skid Tyres have been tested by various police forces around Australia, including the Federal Police.

Skid Tyres can be applied to cars, SUVs, trucks, buses and even specialised military equipment.  The tyres are available for passenger cars in these sizes: 13 175/70; 14 185/65; 15 195/65; 16 205/55; 17 225/55; and 18 235/45.

Bus and truck tyres come in sizes 22.5 315/70 (truck), 22.5 385/65 (trailer) and 19.5 265/70 (dolly).  As tyres are only used in low speed training, the correct rolling diameter is not necessary so long as tyre does not foul on inner guard or suspension.  Neilsen says new sizes will be added based on demand.