Help with tires for a solar panel car???

Question

I'm constructing a small solar panel car and its going to be in a race. I'm wondering if its better to have thick or thin tires and also big or small tires. Each have their pros and cons...for example I would assume thin tires would make the vehicle weigh less but if there was a rock or some other sort of obstacle in the way it wouldn't work out to good. Also if you have any other advice towards my construction that would be great!

Thank you!

Answer 1

Put and parellel a small size Ni-Cad battery pack  with your solar cell if it allows to do it. You may choose the small telephone rechargable battery pack (3.6 volts) if the motor runs with this voltage. The solar cells total output at least 4 volts or higher ( 8 solar cells in series). Then you car has more stable power than others when the light becomes dimmer at a certain area of the race.

Answer 2

No need to reinvent the wheel.  Bicycle tires provide what you want - low drag.  Some claim to reduce the drag of spokes by using three to five solid supports.  Some claim to reduce drag by covering the spokes with a flat sheet - on both sides of the wheel.

Answer 3

Narrow hard large diameter tires reduce rolling friction and go over small bumps and holes with less jarring.  In big cars they have less air friction/drag, but that doesn't apply to models.

Answer 4

Fun!  Your tires should be narrow and not to small.  See these examples:

http://www.sunwindsolar.com/a_scripts/n_...

http://www.elexp.com/kit_race.htm