Outside the brakes themselves, tires play the major role in the braking power of a car - the total amount of grip limits the total amount of stopping power available to the vehicle in motion. They are the friction/rolling point between the moving object (car) and the non-moving object (ground).
That said, the brakes in a car can provide some improvement in total stopping distances for single-stop situations. The ability of the braking system to apply even pressure to a large surface area of brake can help generate additional friction without hitting the maximum on any given location on the rotor.
Additionally, the ability to apply even, solid pressure can overcome the generation of gasses created during hard braking. Although they play a greater role in repeat stops, brakes do heat up dramatically in the first hard stop, creating gasses that can push against the pads and reduce braking power.
Finally, some systems deal with heat, expansion, and other environmentals better. These systems can apply more consistent force to the rotors/drums and provide better stopping distances.
ABS brings a whole new set of concerns, but as I know even less about how ABS modulates, I'll skip that.
The majority, however, is in the tires. I considered on several occasions a post about how tires basically are the single best upgrade for most cars (not necessarily including the G or other true sports cars). The improvement in cornering and braking provided by high-performance tires and make all the difference in a panic situation.
Try an autocross on typical street tires (again, not in a true sports car, more like a stock Neon or Corolla), then put performance tires on the same car and try it again; you'll be amazed.
Kal.
'04 G35 Coupe 6MT, Black/Black, Premium Package, Aero Package w/Spoiler
|