Tires and Brakes
The main role of vehicle tires includes supporting the weight of a vehicle, transmitting traction and braking forces to the road surface, absorbing road shocks, and altering and keeping the direction of travel.
Tires are made of resilient rubber and filled with high pressured air. The thick rubber layer can withstand exterior damage or wear. Tire tread is also vital to movement and stability of the tire.
Brakes are a vital part of a vehicle. Brakes help decelerate or decrease the speed of a vehicle. This is done by stepping on the brake pedal which in return makes the brake pads compress against the rotor attached to the wheel, the friction formed from this action causes the vehicle to slow down.
Brakes absorb kinetic energy either electrical or mechanical. In electrical brakes, electric energy forces a magnet to apply the brakes. In mechanical brakes the friction formed from pressing the brake pedal converts kinetic energy into heat.
Some other components that are part of the braking systems is the Antilock Brake System (ABS), brake pads, rotors, brake shoes, calipers and pins, and brackets. The hand brake or parking brake is important as well but works independently from the main brake system.
Antilock Brake System: An anti-skid emergency system that helps prevent brakes from locking up and allows the driver to safety steer the vehicle. ABS technology automates the brake pumping process.
Parking brake, hand brake, emergency brake: used in emergency situations when the main brake system fails however it will not allow vehicle to come to a quick stop only slows it down. The e-brake is mainly used to keep vehicle in place when it is parked.
