Braking?

[lambert]

If one fits larger diameter tyres it follows that there will be a larger effort required from the brakes to effect a similar stopping distance. This will only be exasperated when fully loaded and or towing a big trailer.
 
Sooo. Does it then make sense to use a softer compound pad on the front to give more bite at the expense of pad life? Don't really want to go for bigger rotors as i like the look of smaller wheels and bigger side walls.

[Edge]

The only trouble i ever had in braking/stopping with 35" tyres fitted was after a session of river and deep mud driving at Drumclog.... other than that braking seemed pretty much the same.

[carbore]

I dont think larger tires mean you need more braking effort.  Braking converts the energy of momentum of the vehicle into heat via friction of pad to disc, thus casuing the slowing effect. OK there will be a little "flywheel" effect from the fact that they tire/wheel combo may be heavier, but not due to size.  The grip of the tire to the road is only "containing" the slowing effect caused by the friction heat loss.

A softer pad may give more "bite" but you will get fade anyway as the heat builds up and reduces the braking effect. That said a good quality pad, perhaps a "towing" spec if such a thing exists, may help?

If you want better brakes under load then bigger (or vented or exotic compound) disks and ducting to get more air on them, but beware the possibility for ducting water to them (spray).

I think.

[paradigm shift]

You're right, bigger diameter tyres would in theory reduce the effective braking force (think of it in terms of moment). I doubt you'll notice much different in real terms though.

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

Yaaaarrrrrr! Chuck a big anchor out the back o' yer car, me old matey bucko! That'll soon stop the forward motion! but make sure the anchor be tied to some rope and then to yer car coz otherwise there wouldn't be  alot of point chucking it out, if you see what I mean :?

[Range Rover Blues]

Yes you are right, fitting bigger tyres means you need to lean on the pedal harder to get it to stop.

Added to that the higher C of G means the front end can now have more braking effort in comparison to the back.

So yes, stick some softer pads on there.

But mainly I find leaving a decent gap helps

[lambert]

The problem with leaving a bigger gap, i find, is those in cars who follow you- especially when you are trailered up- and use your nice safe gap to cut you up into, hence needing a bit more bite for emergency stoppage.
 
After all as my instructor said all those years ago. 'You are not the problem, you know what you are about to do its the other loons that you can't control that you should worry about.'

[Range Rover Blues]

We are not recomended to tell pupils "that evceryone else on the road is an idiot" these days.

SO I tell my pupils that "if you assume everyone else ont he road is an idiot, you'll be proved right more often than you're proved wrong" :lol:
You never notice the good drivers.

As for rule 2, like my dad told me "if you see an indicator flashing, it's safe to assume there's a bulb in it, nothing more".

[Guardian.]

all ours ar on 35's there are not any braking issues, technically or on paper what you are saying is correct, but in the real world it isnt noticable, i can stop and lock the wheels up easy.

[matthew]

As others have said, yes in theory but in practice I doubt you'll notice any difference.

Most likely problem you'll get I'd have thought is fade due to the pads overheating, for which the remedy is HARDER pads, but go too hard and they won't work at all until you get them warm.