As 2023 comes to an end and the colder months arrive, some might notice their car tire pressure light illuminating for no apparent reason. This is due to the decrease in temperature which causes air to take up less space, resulting in lower air pressure. According to one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world, Continental Tires, “Inflating your winter tires according to your car manufacturer’s recommendation helps maintain good traction and handling on slippery icy surfaces, no matter the temperature change.” In fact, a vehicle’s tires are one of the most important parts of a car’s suspension, as it is the only part of the suspension system that actually touches the ground. This poses the question: How does suspension actually work?
While there are many different kinds of suspension, at its very basis, a suspension consists of springs or coils, which control the height and weight of the vehicle, and shocks or dampers, which absorb energy that the vehicle’s tires receive when they’re in contact with the road. There are also more complex and costly suspension systems using compressed air or even magnetic systems that provide an even smoother ride. Without any of these systems, driving a car anywhere besides the most perfect of surfaces would be very uncomfortable.
A car’s tires are meant to be in contact with the road surface constantly, so every imperfection in the road that displaces the tire displaces the entire car. With the help of suspension, this displacement is dampened but varies depending on the surface or size of the imperfection in the road. Think of it as running on a road with very supportive and cushioned shoes versus having no shoes. The cushioned shoes are much more comfortable, as most of the force from the ground is dampened and dispersed by the shoe sole. Without shoes, every force will be felt through the entire body, causing considerable discomfort. The type of suspension also varies for the purpose of the vehicle, and there are cases where performance is prioritized over comfort.
In the case of race suspension, the system is significantly stiffer than road cars, with the main purpose being to keep as much contact between the tires and the road surface as possible. This would be like comparing walking shoes to track spikes. While the walking shoes provide more comfort for long-term reliability, track spikes ensure that the maximum amount of traction and energy is being used to its greatest potential.
Suspension systems involving tension and flexibility also exist in many other ways. One way is how large skyscrapers are designed to flex back and forth in the case of an earthquake or high winds. In some buildings, a large weight is used as a dampener that counteracts high winds. Additionally, suspension bridges, like the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge next to Poly Prep’s campus, are possible thanks to engineers’ understanding of tension and distribution of weight.
Without suspension, many things used everyday like cars and bridges would be extremely unsafe or impossible to use.
