B+O

Same theory over and over again. That same theory is assuming that EVERY single tire has NO tread on it. The more tread grooves the less surface area, which reduces that theory's effectiveness simply because a wider tire with more tread blocks in it will have less surface area than a skinny tire with absolutely no tread blocks.

It comes down to a lot of factors, and no...just be cause it's wider doesn't mean it will hydroplane easier.

And misdiesmo your take on the theory with that Pen and the Wooden board is off as well. The pen's Density is what caused it to sink, no so much its surface area. a Ball point pen's density, or its Mass over its Volume is higher than the density of the water. Wood is actually less dense than water...well most woods are, and that's why it would float.

and Murderotica....the more open area there is inside of a sea-faring vehicle, the less its density is, relative to water. The whole "surface tension" is a factor, but more so the ability to float on something is the ability to have a less dense accumulation of parts. This is why water is down, and why air is up. Air is less dense than water. The more "surface area" you have between vertical partitions, the less dense that vehicle becomes. The less dent it is, the easier it is to float.

Surface tension is really only referenced in Ballistic analysis when describing water in itself. Unless the surface tension of a puddle is enough to withstand hundreds of thousands of pounds in force (relative to a car moving forward and the gravitational forces pushing the car down) then i don't believe it's SOLELY based on surface tension.

Again, if the tire was without tread blocks, this all would be different. but the blanket statement that a "wider tire hydroplanes faster" is pretty misleading. It's more about the ability of the tire to displace water versus its buoyancy.

EDIT:


Idon't know about you, but those tires sure don't look skinny to me.