What is the definition of "rear track" ?? | FerrariChat
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What is the definition of "rear track" ??

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Mike C, Oct 8, 2004.

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  1. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
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    Aug 3, 2002
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    Mike Charness
    #1 Mike C, Oct 8, 2004
    Looking at the specifications for my 308QV on the www.FerrariUSA.com website, it says that the body width is aprox 68 inches, but the "rear track" is aprox 58 inches (same for "front track"). What does that mean? I can't come up with a 58" measurement -- 10 inches less than body width -- no matter what I try with a tape measure at the wheels. It's not the distance between the insides of the tires, which is nearer to 50", and not the distance measured between the outside of the tires (which is what I would have thought it would mean... edge to edge of rubber on the road, but that's only an inch or two less than maximum body width).

    The numbers on the website are essentially the same as in my owners manual. So what DOES it mean? How are they defining it?
     
  2. ferrarifixer

    ferrarifixer F1 Veteran
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    #2 ferrarifixer, Oct 8, 2004
    It's the distance between the centres of the contact patch of the tyres. And the spec refers to a car with std camber settings. If you change camber the track changes small amounts, but it's mostly incidental.
     
  3. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
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    #3 Mike C, Oct 8, 2004
    Ah, thanks Phil!
     
  4. Ferrari_tech

    Ferrari_tech Formula 3

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    #4 Ferrari_tech, Oct 11, 2004
    This is what Phil means............
     
  5. bert308

    bert308 Formula 3

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    #5 bert308, Oct 11, 2004
    or inside one wheel to outside other wheel
     
  6. ferrarifixer

    ferrarifixer F1 Veteran
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    #6 ferrarifixer, Oct 11, 2004
    technically Bert...the camber angle means the track is not in the centre of the wheel, so unless running zero camber, it's between contact patches if you're getting all scientific etc
     
  7. bert308

    bert308 Formula 3

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    #7 bert308, Oct 12, 2004
    See what you mean, but my Alfasud has -2 degrees front camber, if you pump up the tires real hard, technically the front track would be the width between the insides from the wheels, at low pressure 1 bar the full tire width is pressed on the ground, resulting in a track that would be much wider...
    On the original post, note that due to the way the track is measured, it doesn't matter how wide the tires are. If you replace standard 225/50/16 late 308/328 rear tires with 205/55 or 245/45 the track is still the same. You could even replace the 8x16 real wheels with 13x17 and 335/30 tires, if the offset from the wheels is the same, the track is the same.
    This also explains why some rear or mid engined cars have a narrower rear track, but look wider on the rear: they have much wider rear tires.
     

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