The track refers to the width between the left and right wheels of a car.
The wheelbase refers to the length between the front and rear wheels of a car.
When I try to search up wide tracks on google, all I get is literally results about tracks as in tank tracks or railroad tracks.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of wide tracks besides the obvious less top heavy, but needing a wider lane?
Google “wide track Pontiac”. Apparently, a wider track can have handling benefits. Increasing the wheelbase improves the ride quality and so can increasing the track width, within limits.
See H1 Humvee. Stability is the biggest advantage.
In short, it is an easy setup that contributes to keeping the vehicle from leaning when turning. It is a natural ‘anti roll’ setup… and not ‘roll’ in the sense of rolling over… just rolling somewhat on an imaginary axis.
When a car doesn’t lean/roll so much, more of the tire contact patch stays in contact with the road surface. The inside tires are ‘unloaded’, but less roll keeps the unloaded in check to some degree, and the outside tires are loaded, but it’s held more in check.
Traction and response are improved, because the cars attitude is better, it is tracking better and the contact patch of the tires is larger.
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Stability is the big advantage of wide track. The disadvantages will depend on the vehicle. There may be a reduced turning radius, or not. There will be increased drag from the wider profile of the car, or not if it’s low profile enough and aerodynamically designed. Depending on the type of differential and steering mechanism it may result in increase tire wear, or not. Wider tracks are more common on large bulky vehicles, so the general disadvantages of those come along. But small speedy cars may also have a wider track improving overall handling and not coming with any apparent disadvantages.
Not just a wider lane, but also wider parking space (or, less clearance for a given parking space).
Also, greater weight and larger air resistance (which means worse fuel economy), especially if the body is widened to match the track width.
Turning radius is also adversely affected, although there are many other variables to this.
In some countries, width can affect the legal classification of the vehicle, which affects cost of ownership (taxes and fees).